IT Skills

[treefella]

This thread has been started for ITSkills coustomers to discuss their training provider.

[Raffles158]

I found your forum whilst searching for information on a training company called the IT Skills Group. About 18 months ago I signed up to their CIW course none the wiser of any of the wrong doing carried out by various training providers mentioned here on this forum. Then last night I found a letter in the post from an anonymous source.

It states:

100% REFUND ON YOUR IT TRAINING (PUBLIC NOTICE)

Dear Student.
The training material supplied to you for your IT SKILLS course is an unlicensed Pirate copy. This means all associated software has not been endorsed by the appropriate software manufacturer. You have all been tricked, lied to and mis-sold a dream.Regardless of your progress on the course or when you enrolled you are entitled to a full refund on your course fees and if applicable, finance interest. Also any incurred expenses and compensation can be charged. Since the Inception of IT Skills or PGT Consultants Ltd (the Company) as they are officially known, only FOUR Individuals from a total of over 3000 have passed their IT Training Courses. Primarily this is due to the fact that they have inadequate support and tuition, and poor training material. The Company claims to be a Microsoft Learning Solutions Training Partner. To achieve this award the Company needs at least two MCT (Microsoft Certified Trainers). They only have one: (JOHN HINDS).

Jon Hinds, Tracy Parfitt (General Manager) and Kim Dowsell all knew and were actively involved in the Piracy.

The Managing Director of the Skills Group, as it is now branding itself, consisting of: PGT Consultants Ltd; Aspire Training Solutions Ltd and the Skills Centre Ltd is a MR TERRY JOHN. He is fully aware and endorsing the copying of IT software and in many cases training materials without copyright license. He can be found at: Skills Group, 15-16 Neptune Court, Vanguard Way, Cardiff CF24 5PG. Tel: 02920 431480.

Mr John is not a stranger to controversy having had dealings with the WatchDog in Wales. This may be a further matter for the BBC WATCHDOG or FERRET(addresses overleaf) as it is known in Wales. In addition to this, Mr John has twicehad his LSC license suspended! The Company is currently offering Plumbing courses and is currently having major problems with false promises to students and unqualified courses.

The second page of the letter talks about the different ways in which you may be able to get your money back depending on who you financed the course with as well as reporting the wrong doing to Trading Standards, Office of Fair Trading, Microsoft and Prosoft for the piracy issues and also your local police station.

I've done a bit of digging and found out that Trading Standards in Wales are investigating matters, and I now have a case reference with Consumer Direct, I also rang the ODL QC who govern distance learning and they said that they were aware of this letter and said having contacted IT Skills that the letter was bogus and their lawyers were currently investigating it. They said they have also contacted Microsoft and they verify that IT Skills are a Training Partner.
I also spoke to Microsoft this morning and faxed them a copy of my letter as yet I have not heard anything back. I have emailed Prosoft and as yet not heard anything back from them. The ODL QC suggested I rang IT Skills and question them about the letter. Somehow I think they will deny any of the allegations but how do they prove themselves honest and how can I possibly prove them not. As it stands if everything in the letter is true I can get my money back. It also may be true and I lose the lot. If its not then I can keep on studying. However it has raised a lot of doubts in my mind as to the authenticity of the software and how up to date it is, as well as how honest a company they are.

Has anyone else experienced this letter with IT Skills or had problems with them. I'd greatly appreciate any feedback.

[tylercarr]

I Got The Exact Same Letter And I Am Very Very Dissapointed. Ill Let You Know Thought That I Have Reported Them To Evry Organisation I Could Including Watchdog , Office Of Fair Trading And Others. This Is A Sham And I Cant Believe I Got Ripped Of And To Make It Worse Got Harrassed By Them For Payments. Mr Terry John Needs Sorting Out After What Hes Done And I Hope For The Worste For Him. You Cant Go Around Ripping Students Off And Promising False Dreams

[Raffles158]

Do you think you will write to IT Skills requesting a refund?
I sought some legal advice who basically said I would need to prove the authenticity of the letter. Well Consumer direct confirmed that they were investigating it and Trading Standards in Wales were investigating him. Not sure what my next course of action should be. I admit I haven't emailed Watchdog yet but I will be doing.

[smodjephace]

Found your posts today whilst searching for information on IT Skills.Whilst i have not received the letter you mention, i have had a couple of problems with the company in question. Signed up approx 2 months ago for the Certified Network Administrator course, as such have not received any communication from them (including my second copy of the credit agreement). They have however, still managed to extract £800 from my bank account. To add insult to injury, they have done so with a credit agreement that is both unsigned and undated by the rep that visited. Have been on to them today to discuss canceling the course and
hopefully getting my money back, little joy. Consumer Direct have taken an interest however and have passed my info onto Trading Standards. After reading your posts i have little confidence in the company and just want my money back. Will keep you posted.

[Raffles158]

I'm definitely going to get some more legal advice as to what the best course of action is. I've been on the Prosoft website who do the CBT CIW training which I am doing with IT Skills and at a rough costing I reckon on it being half the price. Just want to get my money back really and start again. Will keep you all posted.

[tylercarr]

thats it really m8 aslong as we get our money back. it is bad tho that the course i was doing (mcse 2003) wasnt even licsenced i cant believe it. i turned down oxford IT to go with IT skills and now im just wounded and out of pocket with nothing to show for it. at least ill feel better once i go through the legal proceedings. 1 more thing that strikes me a bit wierd though is that the letter i recieved is from an unknown source and the sender has left no details. bit wierd eh??

[danebuoy66]

I too have received this letter and I am also greatly concerned about the validity of this letter. I am trying to contact Microsoft about this letter to find out if ITSkills are credited partners or not. I have looked on the microsoft website and found IT skills on there listed as a partner, and surely if they were no longer partners or never had been then, surely they would not be on the site would they??

Please post if you hear back from microsoft and I will do the same if I do,

cheers,

Dan

[Raffles158]

Just a quick one for those of you who have received the anonymous letter. If you still have the envelope that the letter came in what does the post mark on it to say where it was sent from. My letter was posted in my local town/city, Leeds, which has got me suspecting the rep that came to see me. Were your letters posted to you from your local town or further afield?

[Raffles158]

Just found something out rather interesting for those of us who have received the anonymous letter from IT Skills. On the CIWCertified website they list the CIW Authorised Academic Partners and the CIW Authorised Training Partners. Guess what? IT Skills are not on either list. Going to get some legal advice this evening on this. Will post my findings tomorrow.

[pocketrocket]

Just found something out rather interesting for those of us who have received the anonymous letter from IT Skills. On the CIWCertified website they list the CIW Authorised Academic Partners and the CIW Authorised Training Partners. Guess what? IT Skills are not on either list. Going to get some legal advice this evening on this. Will post my findings tomorrow.

Watching this thread regularly, Im not in the slightest bit happy about this company as it is and they have been bloody useless from week one with zero information and very unhelpfull if they even decided to answer the telephone. Basically theyve took my money and said screw you which sounds about right from what ive read in that letter. Despite this letter maybe being a fake I suspect theres alot of truth in it. Thanks IT Skills for giving me a miserable life if your reading.

MC

[ben_jah_mihn]

I signed up for this course quite a while ago, never heard anything from them. I received the same letter, and have just checked my junk mail folder. IT skills have sent me an email saying the following:

Dear Student

The dust is beginning to settle following an anonymous letter which making a number of malicious and false claims about IT Skills was sent to some of our students. Clearly, this has caused distress amongst some of you and I can only apologise where this has been the case. You should also be aware that it created a lot of upset amongst the staff of IT Skills as their integrity has been called into question. The reality is that IT Skills staff are incredibly focused on providing the best possible service for its students and there is a genuine feeling of anger amongst the staff that anyone could suggest otherwise.

Whilst there is not a shred of truth in any of the allegations made, I thought it would be useful to go through each of the allegations made in the anonymous letter to to put your mind at rest.

1. Our students are not passing their examinations. This is an outrageous slur as we have students are taking and passing their examinations every day. The examination pass rate is greater than 84% and it something which the company is very proud of.

2. That our student support service is inadequate. We provide a student support service 7 days per week. The tutors are highly motivated and frankly very upset that with the allegation. All of our tutors take great personal interest in the progress of our students and are pains to help students achieve their aims.

3. That we are not Microsoft Certified Partners. We are fully accredited as Microsoft Certified Partners for Learning Solutions and this has since been confirmed in a statement by Microsoft itself. We could not have passed the accreditation process if we did not have 2 qualified Microsoft Certified Trainers (MCTs) on board.

4. The courseware material is not licensed and therefore pirated. The courseware material we use is the best on the market and is fully licensed by the authors of this material. We use different suppliers of courseware depending on the course that students take. Each of them has confirmed that all of our material is properly licensed

5. We are not properly licensed to sell finance. We are fully licensed by the Office of Fair Trading to enable students to pay for their course by means of highly reputably finance companies.

On the question of how your contact details came to find its way into the hands of the people who wrote the anonymous letter, I can tell you that we have strict procedures in place to ensure that only authorised personnel have access to such material. We are investigating that the possibility that this may have been the work of a disgruntled ex consultant whose services we dispensed with. The matter is now being rigorously pursued by our solicitors.

Finally, I trust that you are re-assured by the points above and that you see that this whole episode was nothing more than a malicious attack on IT Skills. I can only apologise once again if the anonymous letter has in any way upset your studies with us.

With best regards



Terry John

Managing Director

Anyone else got this? any news on how your enquiries are going with the various watchdogs/companies?

[Caretaker1]

I have also received the letter from IT Skills. Very disappointed!! I signed up to the course about 18 months ago, didn't have a very good start as two of the discs received were blank so had to request new discs. Since this occurrence I have not heard anything from them!

On Friday I contacted OFT, LSC and Trading Standards.

Has anybody contacted IT Skills? I am reluctant to do so until I receive some advice from the companies I have contacted.

[Raffles158]

I've not contacted IT Skills yet, I'm holding off on that one until I am sure I've got them on something concrete. I spoke to a legal advisor on Friday evening which gave me some good pointers but still haven't really got anything concrete that can legally say I want my money back. What we need to find out is whether or not any of these qualifications we may get once we pass the exams are legit and will be recognised. I am going to contact CIW Certified and see what they say about IT Skills. Will let you know when I get a response.

[Kirth Gersen]

I have recieved the same letter as all you guys.
Like you I'm really disapointed with all this. I must admit I was getting a bit concerned with the time it was taking to ever get hold of anyone at their office (tutor).
Have taken it up with my local trading standards office as well. I contacted the Clydesdale (finance) to ask about repayment dates etc. over a week ago by email and still no response!!My thinking is they want the cost of my CIW plus the 29.9% on top if I don't settle the total on time. Are they in on it too?
I put my concerns to It Skills to see what they had to say for themselves. It took five days for a response and then it was just bluster and denial. Even contradictory! Who had all our contact details? Ex supplier, as first quoted! Ex employees! etc. Can't seem to make their minds up on that one for starters. PGT Consultants which is the other name (WHY?) for the company is only a limited company, that means they can walk away from it and start again tomorrow if they want. Just wish I had known all this before I started on the course with them. Like you I just want to start again with a reputable company. Anyway after their reply to me I contacted them again saying I wasn't happy with their response and wanted to cancel my agreement paying only for what I have already done. They came back to me IMMEDIATELY this time and very agressively stated they if I cancelled they would take action against me. Nice way to deal with a customer and their £4,250.!!!
Hope somehow to sort this mess and get my money back, but I just don't know if we will.:brick

[Raffles158]

So far I have had no joy contacting Prosoft Learning. They have not responded to my email. I have emailed CIWCertified and not had any response from them. The only people who seem to have been able to give me any sort of information was the Distance Learning Council who said that they had contacted IT Skills and that the letter was bogus.
Has anyone had any more luck with trying to find anything out about these guys :confused:

[Kirth Gersen]

Like you Raffles158, still none the wiser as of yet.
The trading standards officer came back to me pretty quickly. She basically said that they are under investigation and Wales trading standards are the people who are dealing with it, as their are now enough concerned customers to warrant it. Like you I don't seem to be able to find out if they are CIW certified and no response yet from Prosoft Learning. When I hear something I'll be back.

[George2302]

I also received a letter and i am very concerned about IT Skills Wales ( or whatever they are called these days! ) I started the CIW Web designer course in July '05,i was in a sh*t job and the sales rep tony lewis promised me a new career with much better pay!!! at first they were great, I got lots of support from them, but as soon as the ink was dry on CDL form and the deposit payment had gone through they've only been in contact from them once.
This contact was some Scottish bloke who came to the house and told me his life story!!!

The course work was so out of date it mentioned windows 95 but mostly talked about windows 98!!!!! but i sat through it all and asked them what happens after I complete this disk....nothing!!!!!! no contact, nothing...that was in sept '05......

I'm now paying the CDL which I'd rather spend the money on basic stuff for my 15 week old daughter.. I feel i was conned into taking a training course that was old outdated, illegal and with no chance of completing, now my daughter is suffering cos of this ( I hope your reading this Terry John!!).

The letter that we all received was posted from Watford anyone any ideas????

Terry John lives less than 10 miles from me, maybe a personal visit is on the cards??

I have noticed in local papers that he's moved on to plumbing ( www.plumbingskills.com ) and carpentry, he doesn't care, why should he? cyncoed is one of the most desirable ( expensive ) places to live in Cardiff and I'm sure he's sat at home laughing at us poor old idiots who's money he's using as toilet paper.

[stella]

I also recieved that letter and dont really know what to do. ive been writing to jon hinds recently cause i want to cancell the course anyway for personal reasons and in reply he wrote, i quote: ' Basically, to answer your original question more clearly, our policy is not to refund course fees outside of 14 days unless students are physically unable to continue with the course. This means that you will remain liable for the loan that you have taken out. '


im 'doing' mcse course, and havent even passed first exam yet (ive sined up 11 months ago). after introducing 'tutor' left me with sined agreement ive not heard from anyone until i contacted mr hinds about cancelling the course. no one cares if im still learning or not. theyve got my money so why would they care???...

[stella]

oh. does it mean i have to loose my leg or have a cancer to be able to quit????
??

[George2302]

I've since written to my bank informing them that the CDl was taken out under false information. I have also emailed trading standards in cardiff.

Yet to hear from either, but will post response when I get them.........

[pocketrocket]

oh. does it mean i have to loose my leg or have a cancer to be able to quit????
??

Sounds familiar!!! Hope watchdog are watching this!!

PR

[AngusMcCoatup]

This company are a total disgrace. They are expoliting loopholes in the credit and consumer laws by getting customers to sign contracts in their own homes and then not letting them out of the contracts if they struggle with the work or find the "student support" non existent or struggle with the payments. They are ripping people off for thousands of pounds and providing very little in return. Their "customer service" people have a talent for being nasty without sounding nasty. Their managing director is a criminal and we owe it to ourselves to form some sort of pressure group to put him away. There appears to be a growing amount of bad feeling towards this company from their customers, I believe they are under investigation. They must be stripped of their microsoft partnership and their associations with examining bodies such as NVQ,OCN etc. They have falsely advertised their Plumbing Courses as leading to City & Guilds qualifications in the past as seen on the Ferret, But C&G had never heard of them!! The tide will turn against this criminal company, and we will all get our money back. Do not give up hope.

[Raffles158]

Well I received a nice email from CIW Certified the other day which reads as follows:

++++

Thank you for your email. IT Skills are not an official CIW partner of ours, we only deliver the CIW official content to our authorised partners.
This means that our materials that we created to learn the course and also prepare the exam are officially mapped to the CIW exam
and are the recommended product to prepare yourself for the exams.

I can't comment on the product they sold you, you would need to contact them directly on this one.

No matter what once you pass the CIW exam at any VUE and Prometric test center you recieve the qualification from us directly.

Feel free to contact me if you have any additional questions,

Best regards
Marjorie


Marjorie Quigley
Regional Director EMEA/APAC
ComputerPREP - a VCampus Company
+ 353 61 230118 direct
+ 353 87 4183485 mobile

www.Computerprep.com
www.CTPCertified.com
www.CIWCertified.com
www.VCampus.com

+++++

So bearing that in mind it looks like my CIW course is not official material but if and when I pass the exams they will be legit.
The plot thickens....

Not sure where to take this now I think a bit more legal advice but apart from that...

Will post again if I find out more.

[Cosmic023]

I've just found this site / thread. I'm having problems canceling my course too.

It's just been one problem after another, and they are not getting my money either.

The downside is i've got till the middle of October to get out of this mess.

Any help on getting me a solution would be good.

Many Thanks
Lee (Cosmic023)

[BanksidePoet]

Cosmic023

I contacted trading standards in Cardiff yesterday. They are investigating ITSkills on behalf of a number of people already. Add your voice to ours!

I've had trouble woth discs that don't work and phone calls that don't get answered. Very poor service in my opinion.

Let me know if they accept your cancellation request.

[Cosmic023]

Thanks for the update.

I've sent a letter, with all my letters from IT-Skills to the Watchdog programme on BBC-TV.

Hopefully with the Trading standards in Cardiff, something will come out of this.

I'll add my share too, and get a letter off to Trading Standards as well.

Cheers
Lee

[Cosmic023]

Did anyone else here take out a loan, when they signed up for an IT-Skills course?

I did and had a reply today from the loan company, and they are contacting IT-Skills & investigating the matter.

Should be interesting what the reply will be from them, hopefully it isn't the usual waffle they chuck out in a letter?

I've had several of these 'We can help you' type letters from IT-Skills, but mean F:censored ALL!!:soapbox

All i want is to finish with IT-Skills, and not having a large loan to pay back!!

Cheers
Lee

[Cosmic023]

Well i'll fill you in on my state of the course so far....

Sept 06 Signed up for MSCE2003 Course, great introduction & gives you a great chat on how great the course was. It's a great shame that the initial chat, didn't turn out like it did. (Means now i've gotta fight like the rest of you to get something sorted out!!)

After the introduction, a few weeks later someone came out to install the so called software on my laptop. The bloke didn't have a clue, and managed to corrupt my copy of XP!! Ended up having to talk to Acer, and getting the recovery discs to get things up and running again. I have tried plenty of times to get on with the software, but it's so user UN-FRIENDLY it's a non starter.

I haven't even started the course yet, and i've been fighting my corner since Feb/March time this year.

I just hope everyone here gets everything back that they have put out in money / time. And the people that are involved in this scam get a good beating!!

Thanks if you have read my rant, but i'm just as angry as everyone else here. And i can't believe i fell for such a shoddy course. (I wish i went elsewhere as well, when i was looking for an IT course!)

Good luck everyone.

Cheers
Lee

[Cosmic023]

Been doing a search on the net tonight, not sure if anyone else has seen this clip? Very interesting!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5MN7M_HquI

Cheers
Lee

[Raffles158]

Cosmic,

That certainly made some interesting watching. How are you doing in your quest to get your money back? Personally I seem to have hit a bit of a wall :brick at the moment.

Hopefully I can get some useful advice that will allow me to get my money back. Even though they are not using official CIW material for the course I am doing, if I can manage to get through it quick enough and sit an exam I might have half a chance. I agree that this outfit need to be made an example of and it would be great for all students to be refunded their course fees but I can't see it happening.

If I get any more helpful advice I will post here in the hope that it may help others.

[Cosmic023]

Hi Raffles,

Well i haven't paid a penny yet, but will have to pay the full 4k+ by October if this isn't settled?:mad:

So i'm hoping i can come to some sort of an arrangement (fingers crossed!) between me & the loan company.

I don't think IT-Skills deserve one penny of this loan, after all i think that tube video just about described what a crap company they really are!!

All we can do is keep the pressure on them & the other bodies that are hounding them, and hopefully we can get a result?

Cheers
Lee

[jimbob-2k7]

Hi Guys,

I've been watching this thread for a couple of weeks now, just watched that youtube video which was very interesting ... still don't know what to do tho :(

[Cosmic023]

Hi Jimbob,

Well all i have done is put things in writing to:

The Loan Company
Trading Standards in Cardiff
Watchdog (BBC-TV)
IT-Skills (I also posted back all course materials & CD's back, and explained to them what i was doing.)

So hopefully i'll get something out of it. (Fingers crossed!)

Maybe that's what you need to do, people pressure does help the situation. As more people complain about this company, they'll take more notice of us and do something about it.

Well it's worth a try anyway, and good luck with your effort.

Cheers
Lee

[jimbob-2k7]

Cosmic,

Thanks for the info, i'm really rubbish at writting letters :( have you got a template of the letter you sent to the loan company?

Cheers.

[Cosmic023]

Well i'm C:censoredP at writing letters too, but i just get the main points across.:)

If you need a rough idea then i can send you something via PM.

Let us know..........

[jimbob-2k7]

Cosmic,

Can you PM me something, so i can get a rough idea of what to say?

Cheers :D

[jimbob-2k7]

Cosmic,

Thanks for that! :D

Cheers.

[Cosmic023]

Jimbob,

I've put you some tips & hints in a PM for you.

Good luck


Cheers
Lee

[BanksidePoet]

Cosmic,

Good work on the mailings and the vid. Nice to be kept up to date with how extensive the complaints against these people are.

Trading Standards in Cardiff have asked me to send everything I've got on the company: finance agreements, the anonymous letter, etc.

No reply from them yet.

Trading Standards at home did say, however, in situations like this in the past, it has been better for people to pay but "under protest with a view to reclaiming the full amount". This, apparently, puts you in a better position when attempting to reclaim the money.

I'll post when TS get back to me with whatever they say.

[Cosmic023]

Hello All,

Well it looks like i've hit a brick wall as well.:brick

The finance company sent me a letter today, and have spoken to IT-Skills. They say the software isn't pirated and i'm out of the 14 day cooling off period & the option of cancelling is not available. Plus the finance company have added, that i'm under a legal binding contract with them.

So when the money is due to be paid in 4 weeks, i will have to pay!!

Anyone else have any new ideas / further progress in nailing these B:censoredS to the wall?

Not a happy bunny today!:mad:

Cheers
Lee

[JonAylott]

Guys,

I have been fighting to cancel my contract with IT SKILLS also as they have breached the contract in more than one way with me. I have also written to clydesdale finance explaining the situation and they are investigating the matter. I will not be paying the £4250 i owe as it is a complete joke on how they have gone about their business and this whole course. I have had no support from the tutors and i have sent emails, letters requesting help and cancellation of my course. As i expected they aren't budging...

What is this video on youtube about? Is it any help?

[JonAylott]

I have been fighting to cancel my contract with this company as well. They seem to have a very bad rep all over the uk now and i see so many more people in the same boat as me. I am due to start paying for my course in september but i can tell you now i wont be paying a penny, they will have to take me to court if they want anything.

We need to form a group to discuss exactly what we can do about this problem, i for one am more than happy to help out others if they want to talk. my number is 07921466520 and its Jon.

Any evidence of fowl play or misrepresentation from IT SKILLS ( PGT CONSULTANTS LTD) will help our cases emmensly. I have spoken to a solicitor yesterday and he said i have a good case against them to sue them, and clydesdale finance for misrepresentation of the course, lack of support and poor product learning material.

Any help would be much appreciated.

[BanksidePoet]

Trading Standards in Cardiff have sent me a questionnaire asking questions about the finance, the support and the CD's.

I've returned this.

Interestingly (it may be nothing), they did mention that if the matter came to court, they may not be able to protect my anonymity. I'm not bothered about this as I have nothing to hide: I just want to know if the company are operating legally or not and complain about the lack of support and flaky software. As they've mentioned this, they may be entertaining the idea of going to court, or this might be me reading too much into a standard procedure. They're quite discreet about what they're doing.

Can I urge everyone in this forum, if you haven't done so already, to make your complaints formally to Trading Standards in Cardiff.

[BanksidePoet]

Just called TS in Cardiff. Couldn't get an update as the person dealing with IT Skills is on a course but I did learn that there are "hundreds" of complaints about IT Skills being dealt with as we speak.

Hope.

Being contacted by the girl in charge of all of these complaints tomorrow for an update on my case. Will post.

[Cosmic023]

Thanks for the updates people.

I also agree with the comments from the last couple of posts too.

I've just sent a polite but firm letter to the finance company stating that the course is now non existent for me as i've sent back all course paperwork & software.

I also stated that since the course was non existent (Which hasn't even been started yet) because of the poor software. (Which didn't work & as far as i'm concerned and never would!!)

As for payment of the loan, since IT-Skills is such a poor company / setup. I WILL NOT be paying the loan, and would be happy to take any steps to clear my name from this shambles of a setup.

I'd be happy in forming a group of like minded people to nail these B:censoredS and shut them down. As it looks like more & more people are falling into the trap. Which is a great shame, and people have to know before many others sign up to this sham of a deal!!

Just my thoughts!!:)

Cheers
Lee

[BanksidePoet]

Forgive the VERY deep irony here but, what say we put together a website summarising the experiences of students.

We could do some serious SEO to get it listing well.

We'd have to keep it very plain and state clearly that all posts were the opinions of the students: the last thing we need is to bring them down on us. I believe the experience I've had with IT Skills has been second rate and I'd like anyone searching for IT Skills, thinking of signing up, to find the site and read our opinions. Must surely have a dire effect on the setup.

It just seems a waste, to me, not to put all the "excellent" training they've given us to good use. If it's not very good, well... we can't be blamed for that, can we!

Just a thought.

[Cosmic023]

Message to all:

Anyone here who has NOT paid any money to the finance company, go to your bank with the loan documents and get the bank to cancel the direct debit!!

The bank will cancel the transaction, and if asked just say it's a legal problem for the lack of services provided by the company. (Or something worded like that.)

At least then they'll won't be able to take any money, and then you'll have to fight it out via a legal matter. (I think that is the best solution.)

Cheers
Lee

[Kirth Gersen]

Hi guys,
Quick update on my position so far.Trading Standards have said basically the same to things to me ( PGT being under investigation).
As far as the finance for the course goes. Clydesdale bank, according to the trading standards officer are equally as liable for the product sold as the company selling the product. What we need to prove is that the service provided was not "with reasonable care and skill" and the materials not "fit for purpose".
If we do not pay then legally we are breaking the contracts we've signed and they have the financial resources to basically squash us. Let's just say, add this to the long list of "rip off Britain". If you've got money you can screw the average guy for every penny he has.
I contacted Clydesdale and explained to them that the rep. from IT Skills basically lied about the whole process from beginning to end. Did any of you get the bull about being on the list of accepted applicants for your course?? and that the finance could be paid by credit card (which Clydesdale do not accept)!!
They're just lucky we're not in America or a couple of us would have taken a trip down to Wales with a couple of automatic rifles by now.......
One really pi**ed off chap tonight.
Anyway, will keep posted.
P.S.
I also only have about 4 weeks to pay up the £4,250!!

[Cosmic023]

Hi Kirth, (& all)

Yes i agree with your comments, but i made a choice to cancel my DD with the bank.

Ok that does put me in the wrong, but i have said my bit to the finance company and stated why i would NOT pay.

So take to me court, but i'm sure i could come out clean.

I just hope we can ALL come out out of this in one piece, and not have to pay the finance company. After all they are in the wrong, for not doing a proper check up on this company (IT-Skills or whatever they are called these days)

After this, i wouldn't have ANY faith in signing up for a related course again, Without plenty of backup advice from others that have done the course. (And proof that could be tracked as well.)

Sorry to be paranoid, but that's what it's made me think of these courses now. (I'm sure there are quality people & courses out there!!)

Anyway enough of my rant / thoughts.

Cheers
Lee

[Cosmic023]

Hi All,

Just a quick update........

I've had a letter from the finance company today, stating that i've got 8 weeks to explain my situation with IT-Skills. After that, if no hard evidence is proven, then they'll go onto the non payment / legal action / debt collection agency stage?

The finance company state that the loan taken out with them to cover the course is a personal loan, and they would want proof that IT-Skills are not doing their job/ tasks correctly.

So what would the people here on the forum/ and the Trading Standards, have as proof of evidence that IT-Skills are not playing the game? They did say that they could forward this complaint onto the Financial Ombudsman if needed.

I look forward to seeing what answers come back, as i really need to put things into action ASAP. (Or a legal group / battle with Jon if that works out?)

Thanks in advance.

Cheers
Lee

[rosey9]

Hi All
I have the same problem as you with IT Skills, I am planning to take them to court.

They have not provided me with adequate support and I am very unhappy with the Company as a whole.

I have stopped studying the course as of April this year. I want a full refund of 2760.00 pds for signing a fraudulent contract. I have been lied to when enrolling for the MCSA Course with the Company, with NO Home Support and NO Training Centre in Nottingham to attend for tution.

The more people that are unhappy with this Company the more our cases become stronger against IT Skills. My recommendation is that we all get together to get our money back and definately write to WATCHDOG.

Regards
Rosey9

[Cosmic023]

Hello Rosey9,

Welcome to our fight against IT-Skills (Or whatever they call themselves?)

Yes all the points are pretty much what everyone else is going through.

The sooner we can get enough people together, and start to fight the cause of getting us out of this mess, the better.

It's funny how i was talking to the guys at work about the situation i (And you lot) are going through. They said that they were interested in signing up for the course, as the advert looked tempting. (Yeah and so did the initial meeting too!! Shame the rest of it didn't unfold like that, otherwise we wouldn't be here) But thankfully i managed to stop them from signing up. (Which was good)

Now all we have to do, is put together some sort of a legal party together, and take 'em to court.

I'm sure if we can get enough evidence together, we can fight it pretty easy. And yes i agree with Rosey9, that the more people get in touch with Watchdog the better.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/consumer/tv_and_radio/watchdog/

Cheers 4 now
Lee

[rosey9]

Hi All

Best way to go about getting our money back from IT Skills is to get a group of us together, firstly by discussing each of our circumstances indivdually by phone (my no. is 07809562745) and then try and think of the next best course of action to take against the Company. Remember, the MORE PEOPLE AND EVIDENCE WE GATHER THE STRONGER OUR CASE BECOMES.

Please feel free to contact me, if I am unavailable then please leave a message and I will get back to as soon as I can.

We can win this unfortuate situation, if we all stick together. IT Skills have robbed us of your our hard earned cash !

Regards
Rosey9

[j4mes007]

Hello all

I am another one in the same situation as the rest, i took the mcse 2003 and the payment starts in march. I had no support no tutor and whenever i called them (the number they gave me didnt even work) they never answered and when they did, they just put the phone down, they didnt give a f*** as long as they have got that money from us. I still have all the software as i recieved that letter also saying it was a pirate copy and i reported that to microsoft. I have written to watchdog and i was also wondering what other steps you can recommed me to do. I believe we all need to build up some evidence to take this company down.

Many thanks James

[pocketrocket]

Anyone have any joy? Im still working on it.

Pocketrocket

[jimbob-2k7]

Afternoon All,

Does anyone have anything to report? Only got till early next year before payments start :(

Cheers.

[JonAylott]

Hi Guys,

Havent been able to post anything for a while as i have been snowed under with work. I have received my application pack for a small claims court procedure and will be looking to get this sorted asap. However i would be very greatfull if anyone who is also fighting against this, please write a letter of their frustrations and grievances with the company and send them to me so that i can use that as extra leverage in my court case.

I really need these letters to stand any chance against them so please guys, help me out !

If anyone wants a letter from me then i have one waiting so just let me know.

cheers

Jon Aylott

[jimbob-2k7]

Hi,

Any news?

Cheers.

[Cosmic023]

Hi All,

Well as yet no news here, I do know that Clydesdale Finance have been taken over by Barclays Bank.

Seem to have stalled them for now, as i've told them they are not getting any money from me as the situation regarding IT-Skills is still outstanding.

I've sent a letter to Jon, and the more people that send letters to help him (The more the better), hopefully the easier it will be to clear our names from IT-Skills and the finance company.

As the situation has gone on too long, and progress needs to be made.

Just My Thoughts

Cheers
Lee

[jimbob-2k7]

Evening,

Can someone confirm their address ... sent IT-Skills 2 letters and i haven't had a reply. Sent the last one recorded on 06/12/07 Royal Mail say it hasn't been delivered :( i'm down that way next week think i should take personally.

Jim

[Coggy]

ive also purchased the itskills MCSE course

cost me four grand, the first discs i got didnt work, so i had to get a new set....2 years on, ive pretty much just lost faith in it and havent bothered with it....yet not one phonecall, email or letter from the company. for that much money i think its a discrace. is there anything in there signed contract where i can get my money back from them? theyve certainly not upheld there side of the bargain!

[Cosmic023]

Well Coggy,

After 14 days of signing the contract (That's the cooling off period), you are in the same position as the rest of us.:soapbox

I think Jon has the best idea, get in touch with him and make up the numbers to fight this crappy company!!

Good luck with what choice you make, as me (and all the others) want to clear our names from this problem company as it has wasted our time & money!!

Cheers
Lee

[jimbob-2k7]

Hi Guys,

I've sent serveal letters to IT-Skills over the last few months, do they reply to any letters?

Cheers,

Jim

[Cosmic023]

Any updates/news on this ongoing crisis?

I'm still trying to sort this mess out, as i would like the situation wrapped up. (I'm sure the rest of us think like that too!!)

It's been very quiet here lately, just wondering if anyone else has had any progress?

I have tried to send a pm to Jon, but he's not answering?

Cheers
Lee

[Lubarbeiro]

Hi guys, I posted a thread nearly a year ago (as follow) and had no reply, today I finally found you.

The Standard Tradings Office in Brighton and Cardiff are aware of my case. I wrote to BBC Watchdog, Barclays, and all the other institutions mentioned in the letter we had. Unfortunatelly I already had to start repaying my student loan but hope that some how we can get this money back. Has anyone heard anything back from them. Any tips from legal advice that any of you had? Please be in touch guys, cheers ...


At the end of 2005 I was looking for an IT training course that could improve my career prospect, so I decided to study web design. I found an advert in a local newspaper and got in contact with IT Skills Group (PGT Consultants Ltd) aware that I had only basic IT knowledge and didn’t have the means to pay the required fee or even to buy a computer.
After going through a brief interview with the company I was notified of my successful application and acceptance as a student, they would help me with a student loan which would cover not only the typical 80% of the training costs, but the remaining 20% that I would normally have to pay the company myself and also I would have some extra money for personal use and a computer.
When I started the training from the very basic foundations of IT, covering use of the most popular software on the market I obviously found it very simple and of good use. Moved on to the next stage and started to realise that the material provided by the company wasn’t sufficient to train me as a proper web designer and I would never achieve the qualification promised in the first place. I had my first exam by CIW in September 2006 which I passed but was already experiencing some problems with the training.
I wrote to the company asking for the course cancellation and a proportional refund, as this matter involves quite a large sum of money. They refuse to do so. Now I received an anonymous letter pointing out even greater concerns.
Finally I got to a point where I can’t carry on the training due to lack of support and didactic material provided, feel frustrated with the investment made and the return I will get from it.
I need help to investigate the facts and get this contract cancelled followed by a 100% refund. The payment was made by Barclays Bank, which covered the 80% of the costs and I also had some extra money from this student loan to cover the remaining 20% of the costs, computer and other personal expenses

[Cosmic023]

Hello Lubarbeiro,

Thanks for your input. I totally agree that it's difficult to make progress when dealing with IT-Skills or the finance company.

I had a right ear bending today via the phone from the finance company.

But i'm taking legal advice, and going to try and clear my name from both of these companies. (If i can??)

I can't see why i should pay for a course so shoddy, that i never even got to use.

I'll keep my fingers crossed for me & everyone, and hopefully we can find a solution out of this mess!!

Cheers
Lee

PS: I'm not sure if anyone else has been in touch with Jon Aylott since xmas'07? But he is not answering his messages?

[welshscot75]

Hi guys,

I've just came across your threads today by doing a Google search and I was hoping that some of you could give me your opinion on a matter connected with IT Skills in Cardiff. I signed up to do a CIW internet web design course with IT Skills in 2003. I was very unhappy at the time with my full time job so took it upon myself to try and study for a career in web design in my spare time. Terry John, himself came out to my home to run me through the choice of courses and I didn't hesitate to enrol because I was so unhappy with my current employment.

When I started I took out a Career Development Loan with Barclays for about £3000 which meant that I had to pay the bank back on completion of the course or after 2 years were up. Through completely my own fault I found it difficult to find the time to work on the course and after the two years were up I had to pay the money back to Barclays. Luckily, I had the money and paid the bank but still without any qualification to show for it. I realise that paying for something I hadn't finished was a massive mistake.

IT Skills told me that I could have as much time as I needed to finish. In that time my work situation had improved. I met my partner and decided to move to start a new life in Scotland. However, I was realistic and decided that I was never going to complete the course. I phoned IT Skills to say that I wasn't going to continue. I also asked if I was entitled to any of my money back but the representative told me bluntly, no, two years was ample time to fully complete the course.

I was disappointed and blamed myself for not seeing it through and put it down to a bad experience on my behalf. However, I always thought it odd that nobody ever phoned me to see how I was progressing with the course. I would occassionly get sent out a form saying 'we've not heard from you for a while ... could you complete the form to tell us your progress of the curriculum etc.' But eventually I even stopped receiving these too.

Then last year I was one of many who received the anonymous letter regarding IT Skills. When I saw that they may be using pirated software and their staff weren't fully qualified etc. then it made me wonder again if I had an even greater case for some kind of re-fund for having not completed the course. I realise that it's a cheek to expect the company to refund me now after a further two and a half years but I still feel as though they've received a lot of money from me for hardly any work at all at their end. All I have to show for my money is two CD-Roms which my CIW course was based on.

I'd be interested to know some of your thoughts from students who have had dealings with the company. I was very fortunate that at that time in life I was financially sound. However, I have a young family now and I often think what if I could have got that course money back. I always thought that I only had myself to blame but have I been conned too at the same time? Your thoughts would be much appreciated.

[JonAylott]

Hi Guys,

Sorry for the long delay,

I have been extremely busy over the last few weeks so apologies for no reply.

I have had a reply from the courts saying they have received confirmation that PGT Consultants Ltd are defending the case I have placed against them and now they have 28 days to put their own case together.

In this instance I would be extremely greatfull to anyone who would be willing to send me a statement of their problems and situations with the course they are taking etc as i hope to use it as evidence to prove that IT SKILLS is a total con!!

There seems to be so many more people logging on to this site complaining about this company, so lets all pull together and help out.

I have a statement in waiting if anyone is looking at the court option also.

I look forward to your help.

Cheers

Jon Aylott

[Lubarbeiro]

Ok John... just let me know what exactly you need. I so want to see those guys paying for what they owe us but also let me know how you got to this point and perhaps other people could join this action with you. How much have you spent on legal costs so far?

Regards

Luciano

[JonAylott]

Hi Lubarbeiro,

Thanks for the swift reply.

If you could send me a statement of your experience with the course, company, costs and how you have come to this situation that should be great for my case.

my email is r6man22@yahoo.com

I have so far spent about £600 on legal costs, which include a personal meeting and a drafted letter from my solicitor to IT SKILLS, and £210 for the court fees.

Regards Jon

[Coggy]

if you want anything from me...statements or whatever

email me at P_Coghlan@hotmail.com

cheers

[Cosmic023]

Hello All,

The more people that we have joining Jon's group the better.

I'm sure most that post here will agree, we are all looking for a way of getting out of the situation were in!!

So i'm hoping people power will get us results!!

Just my thoughts........

Cheers
Lee

PS: Damm 'puter crashed again, that was my 3rd attempt at writing this post!! :censored

[marko]

I have been watching this forum grow page by page over the past year or so, and I am also in exactly the same position as everyone here. My statements are my opinion, but some may relate my experiences similar to their own.

The course I took out with ITSkills Group was the CIW course which at first seemed good as the salesman went on about how it would change my life, give me better prospects etc. It did change my life, not for the better though as it’s given me a training folder full of complaint letters and a massive debt with nothing to show for it. An experience which I hope others don’t have to deal with.

I’ve received nothing but shoddy service, with a lack of support from this company.

I have gone nowhere fast, after 3 years I haven’t taken a single official examination, despite constant chasing at my expense for help and support from them. They clearly don’t have a system in place to monitor students learning either despite what they may say. They have never contacted me or wrote to me asking about my progress either.

They even moved address and changed their phone numbers and student website login details without even notifying me.

As this has carried on long enough now, I have chosen to seek legal advice as I have received my final response letter from ITSkills Group (whatever they are called these days)

I plan to take them to court and wish to hear from others who are in a similar situation as me.

ITSkills Group shows a lack of concern for their student’s distress and dissatisfaction and prefers to respond to my questions leaving out my main points. In my situation, they clearly can’t provide what they advertise. They have their money and they have no plan in providing what I’ve paid for.

Im like most, all I want to do is escape from this so called training provider and receive a full refund as the whole experience has been dreadful and would never recommend doing a course with them ever.

Please also note that they are NO longer a Microsoft Certified Training Partner.

[Cosmic023]

Hello Marko,

Sorry to hear of your troubles, i know how you feel.

I had a letter from the debt collection agency, asking for options that i cannot meet.

I can't wait to get out of this mess, as it's pretty much made a mess out of my life too since Sept'06

Cheers
Lee

[Lubarbeiro]

Hi guys... I've decided to go seek legal advice properly as the STA in Brighton and Cardiff have gone quiet for too long. I would apreciate if all of you could send me statements about your experience with ITSkills and the treatmenat you're getting from the company.

lubarbeiro@hotmail.com

Regards

[marko]

Good evening to you all.

I have everyday referred to IT Skills crappy website who I guess aren’t maintained by their IT Professionals on a daily basis and I have now noticed that next to Comptia, there is a gap where a logo used to be.

It is the Microsoft Certified Partner Training Solutions Logo. Not being entirely happy with this, I then went onto the Microsoft website to search for them. Link below -

https://solutionfinder.microsoft.com/Partners/PartnersDirectory.aspx?location=b41e734b6a9847cbae 0833dcdb3aa2de%7c614b726f3d5540bda4bfa18f9a4a907a% 7c7b6821990ed746db8cb8f9a7811209e8&competency=983e1c0feadf477bac7d6bbfa1b2bf43&proximity=1&keywords=IT%2bSkills%2bgroup

They are now not recognised on the Microsoft site. Basically it appears they stopped being certified since January. The reason It Skills Group gave to this was to allow them to have more flexibility. I somehow don’t believe that reason they gave.

Don’t forget to have a look on the About Us section of IT Skills website, they are still providing a link to Microsoft Certified Trainer, but they are now not Microsoft Certified. All rather shoddy, what we all come to expect from this company.

I hope that a group can be formed to fight them and want to be apart of it. My local CAB said the more people that complain to the Training Standards about this company, the better off we all will be.

So all lodge a complaint to them, so to increase awareness amongst the CAB & other authorities.

I had an appointment with a CAB advisor who confirmed that the person before me was also complaining about the very same training provider, It Skills Group.

This seems bigger than I first thought

I would definitely provide statements to you, please forward any you have to me.

papillonIT@live.co.uk


Marko

[jimbob-2k7]

Hi Guys,

Today has been a really sad day :( the first repayment has come out of my bank.

I don't see why i should be paying even tho all I've had nothing but a load of :censored for the past two years.

I'm at the end of my tether with all this now, just don't know where to turn.

Cheers,

Jim

[marko]

I would seriously suggest to everyone on this forum and anyone who they know who is in a simliar position to contact Consumer Direct ASAP if not already. It's important that you get a final response letter from ItSkills though prior to taking the matter further with Trading Standards via Consumer Direct.

The more that make a complaint about them, the more we stand a chance with getting a favourable outcome.

[Cosmic023]

Hi All,

Well i had a letter from Microsoft to say that IT-Skills (PGT Consultants) teaching licence has expired.

Licence was active of April 25 200? (They missed off the last digit which was a shame.) and expired in the middle of 2007.

I do have further contacts if anyone wishes to speak to them?

Any more news / updates?

Cheers
Lee (Cosmic023)

[Lubarbeiro]

Hi there... can i have a copy of that letter?


How do I get in touch with them?

Cheers

[Cosmic023]

Hello all,

Just a post to say i've been in touch with Microsoft again about the issue with IT-Skills.

This is the part of the email.......... "As I stated, there has been a number of queries on IT-Skills of late, I have raised these to a team at Reading under the case reference 1-1204003891.

As a license advisor, I do not have the capability to investigate further and must pass this over to a team who can.

Microsoft Certified Professional Exams are moderated by an external examination board. There is a team that deals with MCP exams and certificates and they may be able to answer more questions. Their contact details are:
Email: mcphelp@microsoft.com
Phone: 0870 917 0758"

This email came from Jon-Paul Filkins who is a license advisor.

Again the more that contact them the better, people power i say and shut them down!! :D

[Penny88]

My boyfriend is in the same position, he signed up for It skills in 2005 hoping he would gain some sorta knowledge and career prospects form this course, he got sent 1 Cd, which consisted of stuff he already knew and cudda been taught to a 6 yr old. he was told he'd get a tutor round to see him but no1 ever came. he got on their case and asked for discs and support, he got told they had already sent them about 3 times! He hadn't ever received anything. He wasn't able to end his contract with them as they made lots of excuses and, and made out it was his fault, he should of phoned them? he did! As time went on he stopped hassling them as it got him nowhere and was wasting his time.. like hitting a brick wall. This summer he received a letter saying that It skills was a bogus company and he wouldn't have to pay the fees. A month later he received another letter from Barclay's saying he owed them £3000 loan for the course, that he was supposed to have completed. He phoned It skills and they said that the letter he received about them being a bogus company was somebody with a grudge against It skills. He then phoned up barclay's and they are still asking for the £3000 pound loan for the course and are threatening for legal action! At this time we are quite confused as to what is going on. And there is no way hes paying the money for something he never received!!!!!!

[Cosmic023]

I know how you feel penny88, i'm still arguing with the loan company on this issue.

They have now pushing me onto a debt collection agency, and these people just push for the £9.5k they want back.

After all i had little or no service from IT-Skills, and what i did receive was poor. So as far as i'm concerned, i paid for a course which i have yet to start.

So far as i'm concerned no course, no money, simple!

Cheers
Lee

[Penny88]

thanx for the reply. 9k. i thought ours was alot. theres no way they can expect people to pay up, did they think no1 would become wise?

[Cosmic023]

well it was £4250, if you paid up within the 12 months.

After 12 months it shot up to £7448 (Something like that) if not paid after the 12 month period.

Well it's stopped at £9.2k, because they realise that i'm not going to make an effort to pay it back.

Join Jon & Marko, they are both putting legal cases together. It would be best to send them a private message, and talk further.

The more people that we can get together, the better.

Cheers
Lee

[Coggy]

anything new guys?

[Cosmic023]

Hi All,

No new updates from me, i've handed my case over to a solicitor who has dealt with this kind of setup before.

So i'm letting them do all the dirty work, and could be in for a long wait!!:rolleyes:

I'll keep you updated if i hear any news/updates.

Cheers
Lee

[Lubarbeiro]

I got a friend to help me gathering information in order to take them to court. Everything counts...

If you all could write a letter expressing your frustration, why you've taken the course in the first place and why you're let down by the company it would be very useful and appreciated by me.

please write to

lubarbeiro@hotmail.com

if you'd like me to do the same, feel free to ask.

(P.S. your letter will be used on the court case)

[AppiMama]

Hi Every One Here

I am in a deep problem as all of You are. I need to pay £6800 by the end of this month. I have called them up many times about this but, they are so rude and well trained fraudsters that, they can give cunning replies ( like "let me speak ", "I cant talk to you any more" and loads of very irresponsible answers) (with raised voices) before they hang up on me. This is what we get of a fraudulent company and their so called (fraud)customer service, unfortunately we pay for this kind of treatment.
Can any one advise me on this or is there any way we could put up a case collectively.
.

[Cosmic023]

All i can say is get a solicitor involved, it has helped my case a lot.

Still waiting for a 100% answer from both companies, but it looks like i could be in the clear!! (Hopefully!!:D) After my solicitor has managed to get them to cancel my course & everything connected!!:cheers

Cheers
Lee

[Coggy]

i started and payed for my course 2 or 3 years ago now but just never got anywhere with it...do i have a comeback with that if all goes well with other cases? or would that be to far gone to bring it up as a case?

[Cosmic023]

Hello Coggy,

I'm not sure how that would work out, i just did the yellow pages thing & rang around until i found someone who would take my case on.

The thing for me, was i stood my ground. (Even through all the S**T, and tried to stay calm all the way. Even 'tho sometimes i would have caved in to the stress levels.)

I suppose the thing that swung it over for me was that IT-Skills, didn't even have said licence to teach the course!!

So the best thing to do would be contact Microsoft, and see what they can do? And also find a solicitor that would be happy to take your case on? I have the Microsoft contacts if that helps you?

I know these options worked for me, and i'm sure it could work for someone else.

The path for me isn't clear yet, but i know it won't be long and hopefully it should be all over.

One thing is that i'm still in the same position i was 18+ months ago, and still looking for a suitable course to further my IT related skills!!:confused:

I hope this information helps you?

Cheers
Lee

[Ams]

hello

[marko]

Does anyone have any updates?