Cancellation on online course

[Selkie]

I wonder if you can help me.

I booked a language course with a university a couple of weeks ago online. I have already completed seven terms of language classes with them, and am a former student of the university.

I paid for two terms as it was cheaper, the first term cost £390 and the second £110 total £500.

Half way through the first lesson (6 days ago) I realised that it was too advanced for me, as the other students seemed quite fluent. I can’t drop down a grade as I’ll just be repeating what I covered last term. I’ve not been well and decided that I wanted to drop out and maybe pick up at some point in the future.

They told me that due to strict cancellation rules (i.e. you have to cancel 14 days before the course starts – although at that point I hadn’t even booked) they would not refund me anything for the first term, and would take an admin fee out of the refund for the second meaning that I would only get £60 back out of the £500. Their terms and conditions are set on on the web page where the fees are listed. Here are the relevant points:

• Applicants should note that the cooling off period (at clause 10) in the Online Store terms and conditions does not apply to Evening Courses.
• Once you have been accepted on to a course, if you wish to cancel your registration and receive a refund you should inform us that you wish to withdraw at least 2 weeks before the start Term

I was never sent a hard copy or pdf of their T&C’s and I think they are being unreasonable. Are they allowed to exempt themselves from the 14 day cooling off period? I believe that I should be covered under the Distance Selling Regulations. Of course I’m happy to pay for the first lesson (£39) and their £50 admin fee if necessary. But to charge me £440 seems completely over the top and I have told them so. The classes are of course all online these days.

I would be grateful for your advice on this.