Valkyrie Posted October 27, 2009 Share Posted October 27, 2009 DD's driving test is just under 2 weeks away. Fortunately she has already passed her theory. Her current instructor has been unable to continue teaching her for "personal" reasons. Turns out that he is a trainee and has forgotten to renew some paperwork and failed his own test. At the moment she has a fully qualified instructor who gave her a mock test - which she failed. He also discovered that she was unable to do reversing properly and parking. She had her first lesson with him today. Apparently the Government allows trainee instructors to teach youngsters to drive. We did laugh at some TV adverts where they say "fully qualified instructors" because we believed they were all supposed to be fully qualified anyway. Seems that isn't the case. So after forking out for a fair few number of lessons - part were grandparents gift and we matched it, any more is paid for by DD herself - now totals well over £1000. Not impressed at all as we see it as using her as a guinea pig. Her new man asked her if she noticed any difference with his badge and her previous instructor. She said "no". The other guy has "trainee" on it. Well, who would even think to look? She is now under intensive training before her test. And to add insult to injury, had she gone with the new instructor who has his own private company it would have been a lot cheaper for her. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted October 28, 2009 Share Posted October 28, 2009 That's really infuriating . Not something I'd have thought to look out for either . Good luck for her test . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Speckled Hen Posted October 28, 2009 Share Posted October 28, 2009 Crikey I didn't know it was that expensive. I think my daughter paid £20 per lesson six years ago and she had about 10. It's the insurance that is breathtaking. £1500 fully comp when she was 18 for an old Fiesta Best of luck to your DD Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted October 28, 2009 Author Share Posted October 28, 2009 Thanks peeps. I think it would have been far more decent of them to point out that he was a trainee therefore she would only have a few lessons with him and make sure that she also had a fully qualified person too to spot any irregularities to be sorted out long before the test. Lessons are now 2 hours long - still counts as 2 though. When I did mine the lessons were 1 hour and cost £5 each. I think it's in excess of £30 nowadays. You have to book blocks of lessons - hers came with a DVD to practice with - hazard spotting and all sorts of questions to practice. (BSM). Say goodbye to £300 plus in one fair swoop. Not counting the 2 tests either. I think it's something like £60 for the driving part, so she really needs to pass first time. Also you need to keep track of when the instructors actually turn up, because some lessons were cancelled and they hadn't been noted at the admin centre. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poachedegg Posted October 28, 2009 Share Posted October 28, 2009 Not every driving instructor enforces 2 hr lessons - I learnt with BSM over 20 years ago and their policy then was 2 hr lessons, so it has been a long term thing. I have heard about BSM and their trainees before and their not so good reputation, so it obviously isn't just a regional thing. However on the 2hr lessons, ES took his test last year (and passed ) and after he had had a few lessons, he asked whether he could have 2hr ones as he thought he got more out of it - it then took him less weeks, so added up to the roughly the same number of lessons overall. As ES wasn't 17 until the May, plenty of his friends had already started lessons so we went with recommendations. Good luck to DD - are you able to take her out for practice too? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Chick Posted October 28, 2009 Share Posted October 28, 2009 Thats madness, you think they would tell you if it was a trainee, AND give you a considerable discount. I hope your daughter passes Koojie, can she go out to practice with someone? I know when I was learning I would go out and practice with my Dad, and I have helped people learning in the past too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chick wiggle Posted October 28, 2009 Share Posted October 28, 2009 Oh that is infuriating, I would have been blazing. I never knew trainees could do that! I wish your daughter all the luck in the world Koojie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Couperwife Posted October 28, 2009 Share Posted October 28, 2009 good grief I passed my test when I was 18 (phew) I remember hints that people gave me then: move the mirror slightly so you have to physically move to see into it properly, this shows the examiner that you are doing the "mirror, signal, manoever" thing I also spoke constantly throughout mine I went over the curb on the way out of the test centre and said "oh, I miss-judged that a bit didnt I" the examiner said "hmmm, you did rather", I also wasnt confident pulling out onto a busy road - so I told him the traffic was too fast for me at the moment, but I would pull out when I saw it as safe I passed (he probably didnt ever want to get in the car with me again ) good look to your daughter cathy x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted October 28, 2009 Share Posted October 28, 2009 I have been saving up my Tesco Clubcard vouchers to swap for BSM driving lesson vouchers - Devon is 17 in March next year. When can they do the theary test, & when can they start driving - anyone know? Personally,I wouls send a VERY strong letter to head office about that trainee..............if they are advertising lessons with fully qualified staff,thatas what you should get,otherwise they are in breach of contract,surely??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubereglu Posted October 28, 2009 Share Posted October 28, 2009 Flip. That's really bad and precisely why I cannot afford to learn to drive either, as everything is so expensive and I have no income... Hope she passes her test anyway! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WarrensWorld Posted October 28, 2009 Share Posted October 28, 2009 I took my driving lessons with the 'Cherry Tree, Driving School', Northwood Middlesex. Cost £1.00 per hour or 6 lessons for £5.00, also it cost £2.00 for a lesson and the car for the driving test. Cost me all of £7.00......... I'd been learning to drive from the age of 10 sat on my Dads lap. Passed my test first time, been driving on the public roads for 43 years... Best bit of advice I ever had about driving, My Dad told me always look at the car in front, of the car in front. You'll always see what the car in front of you is doing, indicating or brakeing. Look through his windscreen then you can anticipate what's happening sooner. Problem is if you're behind a bus or a lorry!.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted October 28, 2009 Author Share Posted October 28, 2009 OH asked for extra lessons as compensation. I think they agreed a couple, but quoted the law as saying they are entitled to do just that, so not much else. Perhaps that's a law that should be amended. Cinammon there are places on the internet that you can test yourself on the theory, and you have to pass that first before the driving. Although you can have lessons and be on the road - again there was a delay there, but mainly down to DD not getting her act together and by the time she arranged it the only available time was 3 months after she called and a further couple of months for the driving test - perhaps an experienced instructor would have been more on the ball, because mine sorted that out the first day I went out with him. OH and DD have been out doing reversing and parking. Sometimes she drives him around for work bits and to go to college or come home from college and generally around and about locally. She did drive nearly all the way to the DTB and back when we went in the summer (I vowed not to go in the car again unless she had more practice - er, braking is like STOOOOOOOOOOPPPPPPPPP! from the back seat driver followed by eyes shut tightly). I did a lot of my learning in the New Forest narrow tracks. Going from Virginia Water to Ringwood, bearing in mind the M3 didn't exist then - you do get a good idea of how wide the car is particularly when you meet a huge haywagon in the back streets of Winchester! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jenuk99 Posted October 28, 2009 Share Posted October 28, 2009 Hi My ex is a driving instructor and there seems to be a lot of variety in instructors. He taught as a traniee (sp?) The best way to go is with recommendations, BSM may not be the best as they are very good at getting money from the customers and the instructors. Fingers crossed for her!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted October 28, 2009 Author Share Posted October 28, 2009 If DS gets his job then he will go back to learning - I think we may just get him to try the new fellow privately, as he couldn't get on with his instructor (possibly partly to do with his own attitude though). Madam Mim currently out L'ing and much happier - his technique is apparently much easier to understand while reversing, so hopefully everything will be in order when it comes to the test. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A chickychickychick-ENN!! Posted October 28, 2009 Share Posted October 28, 2009 Turns out that he is a trainee and has forgotten to renew some paperwork and failed his own test. Good luck though. Good luck! Good luck! Good luck! Good luck! Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted October 28, 2009 Author Share Posted October 28, 2009 The new instructor says her reversing is fine - I think that's down to him explaining a different technique that she understands better. He reckons she'll be fine, but she still has her own doubts. What a pity. Anyhow thanks peeps - I think the test is on the 8th. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sadietoo Posted October 28, 2009 Share Posted October 28, 2009 I think that it's appalling that trainees are used to give lessons at full price...it would be ok if you'd agreed and had a discount. After all you don't expect to pay the same for the monkey as you would for the organ grinder....In any other contract you would/ should have been given all the information up front...Are you sure you can't ask for more recompense??? Edited to say, Sorry,... so incensed with the injustice forgot to wish your learner the very very best of luck for the test. When I took my driving test I had to do an emergency stop for real..but was so unconfident that I assumed I had done something wrong and therefore failed. So drove the rest of the test perfectly, and passed and was commended for dealing with the emergency stop so well...If only my driving was that good now... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted October 28, 2009 Author Share Posted October 28, 2009 After all you don't expect to pay the same for the monkey as you would for the organ grinder That's a good one. It is the underhand way that really makes us cross. Still we will know for next time - thank goodness we only have 2 children! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted October 29, 2009 Author Share Posted October 29, 2009 You make perfect sense to me Laura. I'll remind her about blind spots. I hit the kerb in my test after reversing into a road - that was fine, but because it happened to be on a blind bend I took more notice of what may be coming round the corner (overgrown with shrubbery). My instructor said "whatever you do, don't say "ooer" when you make a mistake". So I said "ooer" out loud and from that point I felt I was really doomed and couldn't wait to get back. Perhaps that stopped any more nervous driving because I passed. I questioned the examiner and he said "would you like me to change my mind?" and laughed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickvic Posted October 29, 2009 Share Posted October 29, 2009 That is quite strange Koojie - I passed my test first time (14 years ago) ands I asked my examiner if he was joking Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chick wiggle Posted October 29, 2009 Share Posted October 29, 2009 Rule No1. never question the examiner AFTER he has said you've passed! My ES failed his 1st test because after indicating to pull out, the indicator never turned itself off and my son failed to cancel it! just another hopefully helpful tip. Fingers crossed for your DD Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
