Trades Gateway

[Gilly9784]

So I signed up to do a Welding course with Trades Gateway on the 16th May 2014 and now I've found myself unemployed. Now I've always thought I'd been had off with this course but I didn't realise the seriousness of the situation until I tried to cancel the payments. I have completed some of this course and received 2 certificates out of it so far, both of which have got me nowhere in regards to employment. The guy that turned up to my door to do the interview etc made it sound as if I'd be walking into a guaranteed 30k a year job with these certificates, told me I could have them after a couple of months, that welders where desperately needed etc etc. It took nearly 4 months to get onto my practical exam after completing the relevant coursework, despite phone call after phone call I was given no reason as to why. When I attended the practical weeks my instructor actually said "you will not get a welding job that will pay you more than £8 an hour with these certificates". You are also expected to pay your travel costs and accommodation for the practical weeks which cost me around £300. I then found out I can't claim this money back until I've completed week 4 of my practical exams!!! I am at my wits end with it now, obviously I've passed the cancellation date but how anyone can charge you money for a service you aren't happy with is completely disgusting. The finance company has obviously said I still owe them the remainder of the fee and the college itself just started arguing with me on the phone. I've cancelled the debit payment and I've notified them I can't pay it, they still want me to pay in full even though I have absolutely no money coming in my bank, not even JSA as I'm not eligible. I told this to the woman from the finance company who then began to enquire about what child benefits I received! She actually expected me to use the money I receive for my child to pay them!!!!!! Anyway if anybody has any kind of advice I'd really appreciate it as this is starting to take its toll.

[Amethyst]

Re: Trades Gateway

Hi,

If you are unhappy with the service you have received ( which it sounds like you are) then you are entitled to a refund. You could make a complaint to the ''college'' and the ''credit provider'' ( who are likely the same people - who is the finance company ? ) - the creditor could be liable under setcion 75 consumer credit act if the service provider won't refund you.

Do you have copies of any documents?

[Gilly9784]

Re: Trades Gateway

I've got some paperwork I'm trying to dig out all the financial parts etc as I've misplaced them. The credit provider is Careers Finance 4 Trade and the training provider is obviously Trades Gateway. When I spoke to the college they said I can't cancel it and the finance provider says I still owe them the money regardless. So they're basically saying there's no way out of paying it which I find hard to comprehend as it's an awful service and at the end of they day, how can you be forced to cough up thousands for something you fell has mislead you and took complete advantage of you.

[Gilly9784]

Re: Trades Gateway

How would I do that? What kind of information would I need in order to prove it? There's a lot of posts on here from a lot of people in a similar position. Surely something can be done

[Amethyst]

Re: Trades Gateway

They both will stick to that regardless as they are both the same company. If you have the documents all the better, otherwise you can request them from CF4TS via a formal CCA request.

Your name
Your address
Your address
Your Postcode

DATE

Creditor Name
Creditor Address
Creditor Address
Creditor Postcode



Dear Sir/Madam

Re:− Account Number xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Please treat this letter as a formal request for you to supply a copy of my Consumer Credit Agreement as is my entitlement under sections 77-79 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974.

I require you to provide me with a true copy, or reconstituted copy of the credit agreement relating to any account you deem to be mine, together with any other documentation the Act requires you to provide. I expect you to comply fully and properly with this request, within the statutory time limit.

Your obligation also extends to providing me with a statement of account. I enclose a £1 postal order, which represents payment of the statutory fee payable under the Consumer Credit Act. I understand that a copy of my credit agreement should be supplied within 12 working days from the date of this letter.

Yours faithfully,


YOUR NAME

You still have to make a formal complaint to both before you can take it to the Financial Ombudsman.

[Gilly9784]

Re: Trades Gateway

Thanks I'll go down that route and update you on the progress. Hopefully something will come of it and others can learn from it.

[Openlaw15]

Re: Trades Gateway

I've got some paperwork I'm trying to dig out all the financial parts etc as I've misplaced them. The credit provider is Careers Finance 4 Trade and the training provider is obviously Trades Gateway. When I spoke to the college they said I can't cancel it and the finance provider says I still owe them the money regardless. So they're basically saying there's no way out of paying it which I find hard to comprehend as it's an awful service and at the end of they day, how can you be forced to cough up thousands for something you fell has mislead you and took complete advantage of you.

£1000s?? How much did the course including everything cost?

[Amethyst]

Re: Trades Gateway

Usually these courses are between £4 and £8k

[Openlaw15]

Re: Trades Gateway

How would I do that? What kind of information would I need in order to prove it? There's a lot of posts on here from a lot of people in a similar position. Surely something can be done

If the post was directed to me about 'Trading Standards'....call the Citizens Advice Bureau consumer line and they'll pass it Trading Standards. You can also write to Trading Standard, i believe.

[Gilly9784]

Re: Trades Gateway

It cost nearly £6k I still owe just over £3k out of that I've had x2 level 1 certificates in MIG welding and Gas Welding and Brazing after being on the course nearly 2 years. They've got me absolutely nowhere despite the salesman telling me "my phone wouldn't stop ringing with job offers".

[Gilly9784]

Re: Trades Gateway

I've since found the finance agreement and nothing seems out of order. Dates and signatures etc all in order so I'm assuming all I can do is hope they cancel this as a gesture of good will or I complain to the relevant authorities and hope they drop it. I've had to put this loan into a debt management plan just to get them off my back and to prevent me racking up further charges.

[EXC]

Re: Trades Gateway

Can you post the finance agreement up (redacting any personal info) ?

If you can't can you e-mail it to Amethyst at admin@legalbeagles.info and put your username in the subject?

[Openlaw15]

Re: Trades Gateway

It cost nearly £6k I still owe just over £3k out of that I've had x2 level 1 certificates in MIG welding and Gas Welding and Brazing after being on the course nearly 2 years. They've got me absolutely nowhere despite the salesman telling me "my phone wouldn't stop ringing with job offers".

Level 1 City and Guilds, it's an introductory course to It's for 16-19 years olds etc, and for approx. £500. http://www.hotcourses.com/courses-by...rses/56025634/ Or £80 on another course: http://www.nwrc.ac.uk/TheCollege/doc...202015_web.pdf https://helpyouchoose.org/doc_upload...02125_2401.pdf

Are these courses the same as yours? On the national qualification framework, level 1 is nearly the lowest.

http://cdn.cityandguilds.com/Product...andbook_v3.pdf

[Gilly9784]

Re: Trades Gateway

I'll email it to you

- - - Updated - - -

Pretty much yes, only difference is I would eventually get a level 2 which isn't much better. The course tutor told me when I was on my practical exam that I'd need a level 3 at the least to obtain the kind of job the salesman was telling me I could get.

[Amethyst]

Re: Trades Gateway

Got the docs in email thankyou. I'll redact them before posting, and have a read through xxx