Bright sparks welding course

[monahan94]

Hi yeah I have the contract and if I’m right I’m thinking I also have a guaranteed pass thing but will check that when I am free

[Setmefree3]

Ok. So you do have notification from Bright Sparks that you have passed your course? If the course has ended and it was a guaranteed pass, then I would assume everyone on that course has passed. Did you miss any payments due, for this course?.

[monahan94]

Hi no haven’t passed any of the course as I wasn’t even aware it was expired till I phoned up today to find out what was going on

[Setmefree3]

Ok. If possible post up your redacted contract, many others on here will know contract law.

[monahan94]

Its not letting me saying too big

[Setmefree3]

I think you might be able to email it to admin on here. Wait a little bit and hopefully someone will tell you what to do. Or try to screenshot it and then upload.

[kurtkwondo]

Hi all,

Did I read saying that bright sparks are soon to stop trading? I am four weeks (practical weeks) away now from finishing so wanted to complete the course get all my certification than look into taking matters further as to getting a full refund.

What would be the implications if bright sparks are no longer? Im guessing it will just be another "take it on the chin"?

Thanks

[Amethyst]

BrightSparks are only a trading name of Marlborough Information Services, who have stopped taking new students on under the BrightSparks trading name.

Have you booked your practicals ?

[kurtkwondo]

I am waiting to hear back from bench mark media solutions RE the extension. I am aware that ERR watford (closest training provider) are not running weeks 5 and 6 until the end of April maybe even later.

I spoke with bench mark media and even though there is no practical weeks soon I will still lose that time in the 12 month contract, they wont even let me wait to start the contract as spaces are "limited". So I have to just pay to extend and finish asap.

I have been quite persistent with asking bench mark media questions about the course and every time they seem alarmingly defensive on the phone.

The staff at ERR also have almost no affiliation with bright sparks what so ever. Also for the benefit of anyone in the future, every single person on my last two weeks of practical are in the same boat with regarding the course apparently being miss sold etc

[Amethyst]

The staff at ERR have affiliation with Brightsparks and Marlborough AND Bench Mark Media for that matter.

Rakesh Shamar is director of ERR ( https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/c...05023/officers ) and until May 2018 was director of Marlborough.
Jan Dvorak is director of Benchmark Media and is also the director of the BrightSparks Welding Ltd dormant company ( and numerous other related businesses)

Doesn't help you to know that but just so you know they are all the same circle of people.

Are weeks 5 and 6 the last two weeks of training to obtain the C&G qualification or do you have other bits you need to do?

What are 'bench mark media' actually saying that's defensive?

[kurtkwondo]

Well firstly I rang bench marks and the woman sounded exactly like the woman I had spoken to from bright sparks literally 5 mins prior. I decided to ask for their name on the next two calls ( a couple of days later) and both bright sparks and bench mark (female voice) did not want to give me their names.

i understand fully that they dont have to but I explained on the phone that I thought it was a bit un professional as I wanted to record whom I spoke to abd when going forward and both companies said that it would be in their records

I asked if bench mark and bright sparks were under the same management or partner companies and I had also asked why bench mark can offer this extension for so cheap and the woman replied because the company bulk buy extra training time at a reduced price.

When I was asking these sort of questions I was not getting the most welcoming of responses and both the females I spoke to did come across as a bit rude.

[AFelst]

Hi ADMIN, on your advice I sent both (GDPR) and a request for my Credit Agreement. I have now received my credit agreement which I will attach. But am still waiting for the GDPR from Bright Sparks.

When I first posted on the forum I tried to contact Bright Sparks using there Info email address asking why I couldn't access my online portal. They sent me a letter which is attached, saying "thank you for your request on an extension"...! and "enrolment procedures confirms a max study period of 36 month"
I haven't requested a extension when I email them. Just stating why I couldn't get on the my student portal! There has been no correspondence at all with Bright Sparks, my tutor or anyone else.

In light of the letter sent from Bright Sparks stating my study period has expired. And feel my contact as a student enrolled on a welding course has not been sufficient enough to be paying £165 a month, with no online help at all and as stated above no contact from bright sparks or tutor.

Where do I stand? I have been hounded on a daily basis by phone calls and answer phone messages about payments I have been unable to pay due to the nature of my current job fluctuating for week to week. I have also been struggling with a payment since August 18, I have my bank statement showing I paid the monthly payment. I have had several phone call about this and have also contacted Ardent who use to deal with payments. Asking if they can trace the missing money but they could not even find my name on there database, and aske me to contact CF4TS about it again.

I have now received a notice from CF4TS saying if I do not pay £618 by the 10th of Feb they will be taking further action. What do I do?

Thanks

[Amethyst]

They will have removed access to the portal because the 36 months expired in December.

Your finance is for 43 months so there are 4 or 5 left.

If you hear nothing back by 20th Feb ( they have 30 days to reply) send a chasing letter for the GDPR to Brightsparks and make a complaint to the Information Commissioner.https://ico.org.uk/make-a-complaint/...tion-concerns/

Also put a formal complaint in writing to Brightsparks ( Marlborough Information Services ) about the course and issues you have had with it and copy it to CF4TS.

Im not sure I understand where Ardent come into it - have you made payments to CF4TS that they are claiming not to have received ? Who is calling you ?

Since I started the course I have received 2 work books, I tried to download the programme for the online training and could not download it. I was told I would be contacted by my own tutor and haven't. There is 11 weeks of practical that I have not even done 1 day of.

That certainly doesn't sound very good. Have you got through the assignments that you need before taking the practicals ? I'd think the practicals are the main part of the course as it's meant to be training for a career in welding - which is a skilled manual job - yes you need to learn tge theory and health and safety as well - think there's 8 weeks? of practicals so for you to have got through 3 years without doing any, and without having received any support from your training company seems crazy.

Are any of the certificates/ qualifications you are working towards theory only that you could try salvage something from this ?

[Landy101fc]

I have issues with them too, i had no way of logging in and they still grabbed the £165 a month. Can we team up? Any others that have issues that you know off?

[kurtkwondo]

I am happy to join forces if it would be beneficial and not counter productive. I have 4 weeks practical left (im currently waiting to be paid to send payment for my 12 month extension) once I have completed all of this I will be looking into taking matters further professionally. I am happy to share my progress as long as I am not other wise advised to legally.

i have also found this article which may help anyone having issues http://www.collativelearning.com/SKI...%20REFUND.html