PurpleTree Posted July 8, 2009 Share Posted July 8, 2009 My sister-in-laws husband lost his job at the beginning of the year (he walked before he was pushed), and decided he'd train to be a driving instructor. He signed up with Red, who I've noticed seem to be constantly advertising everywhere. He was told he'd be trained and ready to teach by July. It's now July and he hasn't even sat his theory test. He's been getting increasingly fed up (SIL only works a few hours in Sainsbury's and they have 2 young children), and a couple of weeks ago decided to write to the college and ask them for his money back (apparently he had to pay out £4000) and look into getting trained by someone else. He's now been told they won't give him his money back, so I think he'll just have to grit his teeth and get on with it, they do have a 'fast track' course which he's going to try and get onto. Just wondering if anyone else has any experience of Red? Has anyone actually trained to be an instructor with them or know anyone that has? Is his experience a bad one-off or do they have a bad reputation? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted July 8, 2009 Share Posted July 8, 2009 One of my friends trained with them, got lots of 'guarantees' about earnings etc... Four years later and he has never taught anyone to drive and is several thousand pounds poorer for the experience Happy to provide details by pm if you want them In general I do know that many instructors have to lease their car from the company when they are qualified and the cost of this can be high. The guy that taught me to drive started lessons at 8am each morning and ended at 9pm yet was still not making the earnings he was led to believe (not Red) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Looney Posted July 8, 2009 Share Posted July 8, 2009 I'm sorry to hear this Purpletree....I've just googled Red driving school and there seems to be a lot on there about how it is a scam or how rubbish the company is Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PurpleTree Posted July 8, 2009 Author Share Posted July 8, 2009 I wasn't convinced by them just by seeing the TV adverts and having a look on their website - seemed too good to be true. I'm naturally wary of anything that asks me for money before I even begin. He'd already signed up before we found out what he was up to. I had no idea it was quite so much money he'd paid out though, I thought it was more hundreds rather than thousands. Just found out that he's re-read the T's & C's and they say you've got 30days to change your mind after that you don't get your money back. They can't afford for him not to be working any longer - they're not the best at money management as it is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WarrensWorld Posted July 8, 2009 Share Posted July 8, 2009 >>>>>Looks Like a Scam<<<< Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jules. Posted July 8, 2009 Share Posted July 8, 2009 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluekarin Posted July 8, 2009 Share Posted July 8, 2009 Facebook has an Anti Red Driving school page and on there it said this (just in case you can't read Facebook pages, I've copied and pasted it) Update, 15/05/09 Time for an update, thanks to everyone that has joined, please tell your firends about this group because we need to get the word around about this. Remember the Training instructor College/ Red Driving School are as yet doing nothing wrong in the eyes of the law, they are working the system. They are however doing something wrong in our eyes because they sugar up the inductee meetings. If you go to one you'll see what i mean, The adverts on TV do the same. £30,000 a year!! does sound brillaint. work your own hours, this sounds great also, you will rarely get any driving instructor working when they want to, remember your pupils choose when they can have lessons, that sometimes means evenings and weekends. The credit agreement as has been mentioned ties you in, Red give you 7 days to get out of that agreement. Most credit agreements are 14 days cooling off, so how red have got round that one is amazing, after 7 days you have to pay 50%. remember all these fees are payable regardless wether you do the course or not, pass or not. Imagine doing the course and not being able to pass, it has happened, so be careful. here is a list of people you can contact to help you, some free, some not. the Ombudsman Consumer Direct Trading Standards Your Local MP A Solicitor Barclays Finance (be warned these drag their heels also) the Instructor College Red Driving School LVG who own both the Instructor Training College and Red The Driving standards agency all these will in some way be able to either offer you help, advice, ok the last five maybe the people you have agripe with but remember persistence is the key. Don't be fobbed off!! Ann I hope this might be of some help to your SIL's husband. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted July 8, 2009 Share Posted July 8, 2009 How low Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy-Mama Posted July 8, 2009 Share Posted July 8, 2009 that all sounds so awful and such a scam. I hope he manages to get through the training quickly or there is some way he can get his money back. Must admit when i was first made redundant I considered this too as it sounded a good opportunity and was so heavily advertised but on reflection I decided it wasnt really for me, but i can see how people are being drawn into it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PurpleTree Posted July 8, 2009 Author Share Posted July 8, 2009 I just so wish they'd done some research before signing up. What makes it worse is that my in-laws took out a loan for them, so they'd have enough to live on whilst he was doing the training. Not sure how much of that money they'll have left now as they hoping he'd be starting to teach by now. He's been through so many jobs over the years, when we heard he'd signed up for this, my husband and I just prayed he'd knuckle down and it'd all work out. Half the time I just feel like giving him a good shake the amount of things they've bought, sold, signed up for, lost money on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted July 8, 2009 Share Posted July 8, 2009 Oh no, what a disaster Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted July 8, 2009 Share Posted July 8, 2009 On the plus side any training already done would help them towards doing this independantly of Red Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia W Posted July 9, 2009 Share Posted July 9, 2009 Complain to Trading Standards who should be able to investigate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubereglu Posted July 9, 2009 Share Posted July 9, 2009 Complain to Watchdog on BBC too, they'll bring it to light and warn off other people. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PurpleTree Posted July 9, 2009 Author Share Posted July 9, 2009 seems ITV have already done a programme about it. Typically it was shown while we were all on hols in Holland together a few weeks ago, so we missed it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Treekeeper Posted July 9, 2009 Share Posted July 9, 2009 When I lost my job I went to one of their inductions and kept asking the guy for provenance with regards to the earnings promised, he couldn't give me any. I also asked to speak to someone who was actually one of their instructors who had recently qualified. Guess what he wouldn't allow it saying he could answer any questions I had, so being a cynical type of chap I quietly withdrew, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy chickens! Posted July 9, 2009 Share Posted July 9, 2009 In some ways it may be good he took a loan out - the finance company could be liable for delivery of the product equally with the company, like if you pay for a bed and it doesn't get delivered. Consumer credit act i think. Def contact trading standards or consumer credit - from their website As long as the cash price of the item is over £100, (but not more than £30,000), the credit company may be equally responsible for faulty goods, poor quality work or inadequate services. Contact Consumer Direct for further advice. Good luck to him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
