Jutice at last as watchdog investigate scheidegger/ skillstrain

[scammers1985]

Hi there i just had a phone call from watchdog today and they are now investigating scheidegger and thanked me for my email,

At last people are going to know what this company are actually like and to my suprised they actually cancelled my contractagreement so im no longer stuck in scheideggers hell.

Hopefully this company will get shut down and not be able to scam any1 nemre,

any1 else got a call back from watchdog??

[postalemaniac]

........WHAT? lol i got a few questions
1. what is this scam about?
2.why did u get a phone call from these "watchdog" people?
3.what is "watchdog"?
4.what is shmeingdoggksljfslkj"?

....im so lost :P

[scammers1985]

Schedeigger claim to be a computer training provider and the scam is they dont train you they just take your money and watchdog are from the bbc who investigate illegal dealing

hope that helps lol

[Mentality]

I had applied for a course with these, I read about the scam on proceeded to try and cancel the course their reply was...

"Dear Mr Talbot

We are in receipt of your e-mail regarding the above agreement number.

We regret we are unable to accept cancellation of your Course Agreement as you are now outside of the standard period allowed for cancellation in the General Conditions on the reverse of the Enrolment Form.

We are also sorry to learn that you have had second thoughts about training with us to acquire a new skill. We obviously assume that your original intention in joining the course was to improve your chance of planning a new career and we urge you to take full advantage of this course.

May we take this opportunity to wish you with every success with your studies and in the future and we hope that you will enjoy the experience of acquiring a new skill with us.

Yours sincerely

D Donald

Customer Services Co-ordinator."



So I cancelled the standing order :D

They can go get f****d if they think they gonna keep getting the money. I aint even two months into the course. This is a serious let down for me, but I will do the research in advance before I take on a course like this again.

[Bassface]

Very Glad to know that others are in the same boat ...

I too have been scammed by scheidegger, and have regretted so much as looking at the application form.
I've been enrolled in this course since 28th may 2006, and only recently, after progessing through their "course"
have realised that the skills in the course itself teach you the basics of web design (which can also be learnt from computer magasines).
so upon attempting to canel my course i recieved the exact same letter as Mentality. I cancled my payments only 2 months ago and have already recieved many letters concerning my payment.
So basicaly KEEP CLEAR OF THIS COMPANY!!! thier friggin pirates of the bussiness world. They stand no chance of getting any money out of me.

It's good to know im not the only one in this situation. Going to call watchdog, inside out, the ferret etc etc.
BRING IT ON!!!!!

lots of love , bass!!!

[eon1]

Scammers I'ld like to know how you went about getting your course cancelled. was it letters? phone calls? How far along into the course were you? I was called to cancel when I was around 2 months into the course. I was told I could cancel anytime I wanted by my advisor. I've been lied to. I've called a few times and sent a letter, I'm sending another one today. I also called watchdog and left a voice mail.

[~*Amy*~]

I'm going to CAB this week to get advice about cancelling, I've been unhappy with the course for a long time but thought because i'd signed the first contract (didn't ever get a second one or a cancellation form) that I was stuck with paying the money.

[WASKE46]

Cancelling today i was told by customers services i had 21 days to cancel, the agreement says 7 days.
The reason for cancelling is a chance meeting with a
former skills train salesman, he informed me of watchdogs
investigation. One search on google gave me everything I needed to know. I'll post again if I have any problems cancelling.

[fantoosh]

How to cancel the enrollment with Skills train? When i called the salesman he said that i can only cancel my course within a week time. but its 10th day i havnt got any post regarding the contract or login/password from skills train. how can i judge their performance within 7 days without having login/password. please help me to not become the victom of Skills train. they already have taken 100£ from my account.

[dastley]

i want to alsoo get out of this hell for schneidehfh ( what ever there called)
what can i say if i ring watch dog and explaiin to them about the course and that there are taking me for granted and taking my money. Also whats the number. Ithink the more people who report this company to watch dog then the more likley that they will just shut the company down and give everybody there freedom

[ginnie2]

Hi guys, I'm sorry for the bad experiences you've got from this company. I just signed the contract with them on 24 April 07!!! and just rang and sent them the letter to cancel after reading the feedback from various sites. I was told that I had 21 days after I signed the contract. Had I read the feedback from your guys before, I would not even think about bothering to let the salesman into my house. I will let you know the outcome. If I get no further with them then the Watchdog will definitely hear from me.

[Fifer]

To all of U who are doing a Skills Train course, whether Ur experience so far is good or bad, I urge U to make enquiries about the venues for final exams B4 going any further. Many of the people who do these courses, do so because they cannot get out and about easily. Here's what happened to me:

Firstly a bit about myself. I'm 60 yrs of age and physically disabled due to an accident I had 4 years ago. I still cannot travel long distances without suffering adverse affects.

In January 2006 I received a 'phone call from a Skills- Train rep, who said he'd heard I'd been enquiring about a computer course. At the time I was in the middle of an ECDL course but had changed from Windows '98 to XP and my PC wasn't recognising the disk, so I thought he was referring to that and allowed him to visit. Biggest mistake of my life! He told me the ECDL was no longer running and talked me into doing the course on Computer Book-keeping for a SAGE Diploma. I told him I already had an HNC in accounts, but he said I'd have to start again from scratch as I'd gotten the HNC in 1984
He spoke at length about how I'd need something to fall back on once August arrived and I became a pensioner. He was so plausible and seemed so honest & nice that I had no reason to suspect he was telling me a load of lies. He gave me a very simple arithmetic test which I passed with flying colours and said I should have no difficulty in completing the course within 6 months.

He told me there would be 2 social functions at a local hotel, where I'd meet up with other Scheidegger students for refreshments etc, giving me something to look forward to as I do not get out much. (These events never did take place)! He then went out to his car and returned with a briefcase full of stationery etc which he handed to me. He went through the contents of the briefcase and showed them to me.

He then produced what looked like one single agreement and said all that was left was for me to sign up with his company. I asked if I could have time to look over the agreement but he looked at his watch and said he still had another call to make and was running short of time, which meant I had to sign the agreement there & then. I looked over the agreement as best I could, but I was feeling under pressure to sign and would have been too embarrassed to do otherwise. After all he'd told me there was a cooling off period and I thought I could simply contact him to say I'd changed my mind.

The document just looked like one single agreement to me. I did not suspect that part of it was actually a separate agreement between myself and a Financial company, giving them permission to pay Skills Train £1,800 and charge it to me.

He then said he had to call his office on his mobile in order to set up the account. He seemed to know the person on the other end, so it appeared that he was indeed talking with someone at Skills Train. He had told me that I had a 3 day cooling off period during which I could get back to him and cancel.

What I did not know was that I actually had 14 days and should have received written confirmation of this within the next couple of days. I never did receive that information and only found out how long I'd actually had to cancel, ten months later during a telephone conversation with a woman at the Scheidegger office.

I actually tried repeatedly that evening and over the next 3 days, to contact Mr McKenzie and cancel, but he didn't answer his 'phone. I tried to contact Skills Train over the internet but could find no 'Contact Us' link on their site. In the end I felt that I'd just have to accept the course and do the best I could. I attained high marks on all of the tests (between 90% and 100%).

There was no way I could have completed the course in the next 6 months, as I'd to wait at least a week for the results each time I sent a TMA to the tutor. It was 10 mths before I reached the point where I received the SAGE package, and that was when I discovered that the nearest venue for the final exams was at Glasgow, almost 50 miles away!

I contacted the exams board who confirmed this, and was told they're even making students travel as far as Luton nowadays. I contacted Scheidegger and was told they might be able to send an invigilator to my house, but that I (now a pensioner) would have to pay all his/her costs beforehand & be reimbursed at a later date. By this time I was extremely upset and actually having asthma & angina attacks. I 'phoned Clydesdale Finance who warned me that if I didn't keep up the payments they would have me black-listed. I approached the Office of Trading Standards who did a full investigation and took my case to the Financial Ombudsman, who decided that since Clydesdale Financial Services had paid out the money for my course, to Scheidegger, they were legally entitled to be repaid.

3 weeks ago I received a 'phone call from yet another Skills Train rep, saying he'd heard I was interested in doing one of their courses. You can guess what he was told! My number is unlisted, so they must just be chancing their luck and 'phoning people at random

[Fifer]

I'm interested to know how those who have canclled their direct debit got on

[ravenstorm]

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=12888940930

hey guys, if you are unimpressed with Skillstrain join the above group I have set up in hope I can present evidence of the many of you out there - I myself am feeling the blues about skillstrain; 2 years into my course, half of £2700 paid and all I've had is a few text books and a load of lies and very little "tutoring". Bunch of con artists.
:brick

[Fifer]

Hi Ravenstorm

I guess I'm lucky compared to those who are still disputing their courses and having to make their payments, for after a year of having to pay £70 a month, I eventually managed to get the remaining £800 balance written off, (but only on the condition that I wrote something to the effect that I no longer believed the salesman had intentionally mis-led me, and that I no longer considered Skillstrain to be a dishonest company). Had I not agreed to do so I'd still be paying £70 per month.

As a pensioner in my 60's, (with a mobility problem due to an accident), who didn't ever approach Skillstrain in the first place and felt I'd been trapped into signing up with them, I still to this day feel cheated when I think of the £1,100 I'd already had to pay out, which landed me in debt and has had an adverse affect on my health, even to this day.

Good luck with your dispute and I hope you eventually get more satisfaction than I did. Hang on in there, for I do know of someone who managed to get his payments fully reimbursed recently.

Pity they hadn't seen fit to do the same in my case. However, the whole experience has left me a lot more wary and highly unlikely to be caught in that sort of trap ever again.

Fifer

[ravenstorm]

Glad someone managed to get a refund Fifer! I will follow your advise as it is certainly my case in that I am not recieving what I was sold! :cheers

[girlgrg]

Hi Ravenstorm

I guess I'm lucky compared to those who are still disputing their courses and having to make their payments, for after a year of having to pay £70 a month, I eventually managed to get the remaining £800 balance written off, (but only on the condition that I wrote something to the effect that I no longer believed the salesman had intentionally mis-led me, and that I no longer considered Skillstrain to be a dishonest company). Had I not agreed to do so I'd still be paying £70 per month.

As a pensioner in my 60's, (with a mobility problem due to an accident), who didn't ever approach Skillstrain in the first place and felt I'd been trapped into signing up with them, I still to this day feel cheated when I think of the £1,100 I'd already had to pay out, which landed me in debt and has had an adverse affect on my health, even to this day.

Good luck with your dispute and I hope you eventually get more satisfaction than I did. Hang on in there, for I do know of someone who managed to get his payments fully reimbursed recently.

Pity they hadn't seen fit to do the same in my case. However, the whole experience has left me a lot more wary and highly unlikely to be caught in that sort of trap ever again.

Fifer

I STUPIDLY signed up for the couse last week on Thursday on the 1st of May. It is the 9th of May today and i desperately want to cancel it. I will be talking to my bank today and I will also try to cancel my direct debit..[fingers crossed].
But I hope I'm not too late with the cancellation.. because although when I rang them up yesterday to cancel it.. the guy [I think] told me I had to send a cancellation letter with my ENROLLMENT FORM.. and had 21 days, in my agreement terms n conditions, it says i have to cancel it within 7 days of signing the agreement. I hope I'm not in deep trouble because I'm an A level student and my dad will kill me if he finds out the course i've signed up for .. for £1870 is a load of crap.
Pls could you reply me ASAP.. cuz I need to know fast! I think I'll send my cancellation letter and my enrollment form today.

[Fifer]

I STUPIDLY signed up for the couse last week on Thursday on the 1st of May. It is the 9th of May today and i desperately want to cancel it. I will be talking to my bank today and I will also try to cancel my direct debit..[fingers crossed].
But I hope I'm not too late with the cancellation.. because although when I rang them up yesterday to cancel it.. the guy [I think] told me I had to send a cancellation letter with my ENROLLMENT FORM.. and had 21 days, in my agreement terms n conditions, it says i have to cancel it within 7 days of signing the agreement. I hope I'm not in deep trouble because I'm an A level student and my dad will kill me if he finds out the course i've signed up for .. for £1870 is a load of crap.
Pls could you reply me ASAP.. cuz I need to know fast! I think I'll send my cancellation letter and my enrollment form today.


It's very important that U notify the credit company immediately (in my case it was Clydesdale Financial Services Ltd), as they are the ones who claim to have paid the money up front for your course, to Skillstrain, and it's them (CFS Ltd) who will then come after U for the repayments. Also make sure you cancel the contract with Skillstrain immediately.

U should also cancel any direct debit that's been set up with your bank B4 they can take any payments

As long as U cancel the whole of the 2 agreements immediately U should have no difficulty. Any problems, go to the Trading Standards who should be willing to take action if necessary, as your course has not yet begun, and U would have notified them immediately.

Good luck
Fifer

[girlgrg]

It's very important that U notify the credit company immediately (in my case it was Clydesdale Financial Services Ltd), as they are the ones who claim to have paid the money up front for your course, to Skillstrain, and it's them (CFS Ltd) who will then come after U for the repayments. Also make sure you cancel the contract with Skillstrain immediately.

U should also cancel any direct debit that's been set up with your bank B4 they can take any payments

As long as U cancel the whole of the 2 agreements immediately U should have no difficulty. Any problems, go to the Trading Standards who should be willing to take action if necessary, as your course has not yet begun, and U would have notified them immediately.

Good luck
Fifer
hey fifer,
thanks for the info. i called up the bank yesterday [sunday 11th of May] but the woman on the phone did not have much knowledge about cancellation. but she said that i had to have cancelled it within 10 days but today's the 11th day and they got my written cancellation only today. but hopefully that shouldn't be much of a problem.

also i the skills train company received my cancellation letter today. i rang them up and the woman on the phone said that i had 21 days to cancel the course. but the cancellations only take place on thursdays .. so i'll ring them up this thursday [15th of May]. she said that my skills train course will be cancelled this thursday. also i enquired about the cancellation of my credit agreement [which is with barclays partner finance.. who have a very dodgy website actually!] the woman said that as soon as my course is cancelled, they will dissolve my direct debit agreement with barclays partner finance.

so i'm ALMOST relieved at this stage since everything seems to be going well with the cancellation. but i must say, i'm still a little in doubt because the terms n conditions on the enrollment sheet says i've only got 7 days to cancel the agreement from the day of signing. but hopefully the woman on the phone is right.

i'm gonna ring the barclays bank now and see what they can say although the woman i spoke to earlier said the cancellation takes at least two days .. so i should ring them on wednesday. but i'm going to keep buggering them!

will keep you updated!

cheers!

[Fifer]

THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT - It seems like Skillstrain may be stalling for time U have to get in touch immediately with that finance company and cancel THEIR agreement Put it in writing and post it TODAY, & get proof of postage too.

Clydesdale Financial Services Ltd was also registered under Barclays Bank and that's how they get off with holding us to our contracts, because Trading Standards will think twice B4 taking action against one of the big banks!

If U post the cancellation today, before it's too late and then 'phone the finance company informing them that the cancellation is in the post - and that U have proof of postage, they will have to accept the cancellation. If U give them time to say they have paid Skillstrain for the course - and believe me they are quick in doing just that - then THE FINANCIAL COMPANY's argument is that they have paid out the money for your course and it is YOU they expect to receive payment from. Do it now!

Sorry to be so blunt, but I've been through it and it cost me £1,100 B4 I could get my contract with them cancelled. Once they had their claws into me the Trading Standards said it was a legal & binding contract, and that there was nothing they could do for me. Please take my advice and act immediately. The financial company is to be your main priority, and don't rely on Skillstrain to see to that cancellation as they are probably stalling for time.

I was like you, too embarrassed to let my daughters and fiance know how I'd been tricked into enrolling on a worthless course. I already have the SNCBS and HNC Accounts, but I'd wanted to learn how to set up an accounting program on my PC.
The course I was given only had a very small, basic section on Windows XP, all of which I already knew by heart.

Please act immediately and cancel that financial agreement. Take nothing for granted. I cannot stress how important it is to do so.
Good Luck
Marie

[girlgrg]

THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT - It seems like Skillstrain may be stalling for time U have to get in touch immediately with that finance company and cancel THEIR agreement Put it in writing and post it TODAY, & get proof of postage too.

Clydesdale Financial Services Ltd was also registered under Barclays Bank and that's how they get off with holding us to our contracts, because Trading Standards will think twice B4 taking action against one of the big banks!

If U post the cancellation today, before it's too late and then 'phone the finance company informing them that the cancellation is in the post - and that U have proof of postage, they will have to accept the cancellation. If U give them time to say they have paid Skillstrain for the course - and believe me they are quick in doing just that - then THE FINANCIAL COMPANY's argument is that they have paid out the money for your course and it is YOU they expect to receive payment from. Do it now!

Sorry to be so blunt, but I've been through it and it cost me £1,100 B4 I could get my contract with them cancelled. Once they had their claws into me the Trading Standards said it was a legal & binding contract, and that there was nothing they could do for me. Please take my advice and act immediately. The financial company is to be your main priority, and don't rely on Skillstrain to see to that cancellation as they are probably stalling for time.

I was like you, too embarrassed to let my daughters and fiance know how I'd been tricked into enrolling on a worthless course. I already have the SNCBS and HNC Accounts, but I'd wanted to learn how to set up an accounting program on my PC.
The course I was given only had a very small, basic section on Windows XP, all of which I already knew by heart.

Please act immediately and cancel that financial agreement. Take nothing for granted. I cannot stress how important it is to do so.
Good Luck
Marie

hey,

thanks for the quick reply!

i've already sent the letter byspecial delivery on saturday. they should have already gotten my letter today. but the problem is.. the woman on the phone [barclays partner finance] told me the letter should have reached them within 10 days.. but today is the 11th day and today is when they got my letter. so basically i am one day late. but the woman also emphasized that it shouldn't be much of a problem [hopefully it's true]. the cancellation takes about 2 days apparently and i was told to call them on wednesday for confirmation of cancellation.

i sent them the white sheet of the agreement and all my contact details. but i forgot to write my agreement number. i hope that's fine!

i just called them. the girl on the phone said that i am one day late so they will not cancel the agreement. but if the course company cancels it on my behalf, the agreement will be cancelled.

i had spoken to skills train this morning and they will cancel my course this thursday including the agreement with that stupid bank.

hopefully i am on the right track!

reply bac pls!

thanks