Scheidegger / Skills Train

[Multimedia]

I can truthfully say that my issues have been fully resolved, and I have achieved my desired outcome.

I am grateful to Skills train for their gesture(s) of goodwill. Skillstrain/Scheidegger were sympathetic to my issues, particularly the Head Liaison Officer and I would like to thank him for all his advice & help given during this ordeal.

However I would like to take this opportunity, to inspire hope & confidence in the rest of you, in achieving your desired outcomes.
In hind-sight I would recommend all of you whom are unsatisfied with the course {or anything related to it}, to immediately contact your Liaison Officer.

We were approached by SkillsTrain to provide a refund to Scorpian_King on a goodwill gesture basis as SkillsTrain had agreed to provide him with a free course and computer. They informed us that they wrote to him and told him that they are prepared to let bygones be bygones. Apparently we understand that the lawyers had advised them that they could claim for substantial damages.

As is common knowledge there are thousands of students undertaking their courses and there are bound to be a few who would find difficulties.

Further we believe that SkillsTrain do not engage third party contracts for the training as suggested and this is not possible because it is part of their tuition method. On the contrary, they provide their students with supportive tools such as jobs portal, which are constantly improved.

As has been said by Scorpian_King, KennyL and others, if you have difficulty with any of the matters please contact Liaison (Ref:FY1) and the matter will be looked at with all due consideration.

Regards MM

[Tallisker]

Further we believe that SkillsTrain do not engage third party contracts for the training as suggested and this is not possible because it is part of their tuition method. On the contrary, they provide their students with supportive tools such as jobs portal, which are constantly improved.

Regards MM

The Live Labs, which are an essential part of their Cisco training courses for example, are provided via Toolwire, which as far as I am aware is not a part of SkillsTrain or Scheidegger. (www.toolwire.com)

More half-baked information from Multimedia: oh what a surprise!

By the way, what have you done to ensure your representatives no longer deceive people when selling them SkillsTrain courses? Be specific, we'd like to know....

[elunia]

The Multimedia people have not replied to a specific question with a specific answer once again.
I just want to say that I have not been able to figure out how this unique Skillstrain tutition method works.
The CIW coursebooks were written in the USA and are distributed by Prosoft teaching company. Anyone can buy these books from ciwcertified.com. The red folders distributed by Skillstrain to their CIW students do not differ from the Prosoft product at all. Neither does the software coming with the books. What is so unique about distributing copies with no original input? Probably
the price of 2500 pounds- about 5000 USA dollars!

[arwl1976]

Dear Users,

I have been trying to read through all the posts on this forum but only got up to page 25 before deciding i just needed to put my situation down and see what everyone has to say about it.

I enrolled my girlfriend on a bookkeeping course about a year ago and i signed the finance agreement so that she could do it as i already have a good job and wanted to see her try and gain more qualifications to help her out. Unfortunately due to circumstances where she put me in a lot of other debt and basically fleeced me we split up so i cancelled the payments to Clydesdale as i was given the impression by the Skills train interviewers that i could just cancel the payments and i would not have to pay any more money if a situation like that arose. I have now received a letter from Clydesdale saying i am £300 in arrears and also that my outstanding balance is £2582.50. I contacted them by phone and they said i could contact skills train and cancel the course then i would only have to pay the arrears of £300. unfortunately i contacted skills train and they said it is not possible for me to cancel the course even though no one is studying it which i find absolutely ridiculous! Why should i have to pay money for a course that isnt being studied! I am really at my wits end now this unexpected letter has hit me quite hard as i was already financially committed to getting myself out of debt which she had incurred onto me and the skills train advisor was no help at all it felt like i was talking to a person with no soul as he was not willing to give any advice at all as to my situation and although it may not be his position to help people out in other areas of their life he should i feel at least be able to try and give help and advice on alleviating people when dealing with situations such as mine!
Is anyone able to help? I have e-mailed longscreech and the trading standards officer stephen dibble with the details of my situation today but was wondering whether anyone else could give some advice?

Many Thanks,

Alex

[panda2007]

Contacted the liaison officer... Sorted it out...
Now I don't want to go into detail about my own case. But thanks to this forum and people in the same situation like kennyL and SK80, and many others, I contacted the liaison officer and eventually. Well lets just say I am happy now. LISTEN TO THEM...
Cheers guys :thumb
hi to everyone

I am exactly in the same situation as Alex could anyone please help me and tell me what can be done in this situation and first of all - how to contact this liaison officer?

[Tallisker]

Try phoning and asking to speak to the Liaison Officer, by all means: others have had success that way - but not all.

Get some good legal advice, you can get a list of solicitors via Citizens' Advice, or there may be a community legal office in your area that offers free help if you are on low income. In particular, it is often the case that the credit agreement you signed may have errors in its procedures that render it invalid. Even High Street Banks make such mistakes, so I'd be surprised if SkillsTrain were safe here.

Good Luck

[slono12]

Hi

I’ve been into the course for few moths now but didn’t have much time to learn and send assessments so cant really comment on teaching materials and tutorial support.
Some posts, however, got me really concerned and just want to find out if skillstrain qualifications are genuine and recognised in industry?? doing bookkeeping because the guy said qualifications are recognised across Europe, are they?
Secondly, he said it was risk-free, I finish course, pass exam, they will find me a job- if not money back. Know, sounds too good to be true and regret don’t have it on paper. But I came across a post by Multimedia saying:

QUOTE:
“Skillstrain’s job guarantee is a promise that if a job is not secured, subject to conditions, the student will be entitled to a refund of their course fee”

Is it genuine? Did anyone finish and can confirm that? As far as I know Skillstrain say now that they guarantee an interview not a job. Don’t know what to think… :confused:

Hope the price and hassle are worth the paper.

[ECA]

I had a place promise me Job service...
NOT the job I trained for tho.

[Tallisker]

Hi
the guy said qualifications are recognised across Europe, are they?
Secondly, he said it was risk-free, I finish course, pass exam, they will find me a job- if not money back.

There are no SkillsTrain qualifications as such: but their courses correspond to qualifications offered by external sources, who are recognised. (e.g Microsoft for MCSE, CompTIA for A+ etc.) ST refunds the cost of the exam against the final amount you owe them - but you have to pay out the money first to the external body. To be fair to ST, you can sit the exam(s) until you pass them, and they will refund each time.

Job guarantee? No. They can not and do not find you a job. This is one of the lies the ST Representatives tell people: Multimedia has been asked to tell us what his company has done to ensure such lies are no longer being told - but he has not answered.

Whether you are eligible for a refund if you don't get a job that pays a certain amount after finishing the course with them, depends on the course you are doing - and there is lots of small print.

Caveat Emptor - and read the small print!

[shadowwebs]

I have had a read through the comments on the forum about Skills Train / Scheidegger.

I have also got bad experiences and plan on doing something about it because whats happening is just not on.

When I was signed up to the course I was never told the payment each month was a loan agreement and was told it was just a payment schedule to help break down the money by direct debit.

I was also told that I had to sign up that same day otherwise I would have to wait for 12 months to sign up because the course was due to start in a weeks time so the tutors needed to know my details, and that my local tutor lived just 20 minutes away and would be there if I needed help.

That I would also receive hands on training and that Scheidegger would guarentee me a job within 3 interviews, and that they would provide all of the interviews.

That they had contracts with companies to get the jobs in place including Manpower and other job agencies along with large companies like HP, Sony and large banking organisations like Barclays and HSBC.

Obviously all of the above won me over pretty quickly and he gave me a PC test on paper to test my knowledge, lets be honest though this is just a test that a 12 year old could do because they was very easy obvious questions.

I have recently been transferred over to the compTIA A+ and N+ 2006 course structure because the 2003 is due to end very soon so its in my interests to transfer, this hasnt cost me any extra.

I have found out that the BBC conducted a secret journalist to go undercover to pose as wanting to become a student with them and the sales man that came around told him the same details as what I have described happened to me above.

Apologies for this message being long but what I would like everyone to do that wants a refund is to email me your name and email address to: James_Hollingsworth@blueyonder.co.uk

If there are enough of us claiming the same things then they will have to listen and do something about it, whether that be a refund or to keep to there promises.

They are a large company but they need customers to continue and if there is enough bad publicity then they are going to want to shut us up in a settlement so that there false reputation is not lost.

Email me soon and I will get the ball rolling.

[koyo4]

:sponge
HI,

I too have been caught out by this false information supplied by SKILLS TRAIN / Scheidegger Training. I have had legal advice but if there is anyone out there who has signed up to this contract and able to close their direct debit / standing order please let me know asap. I have paid this company a large sum of money so far and wish to close my contract but I am afraid of then been caught out with Credit checks. PLEASE HELP or let me know if your in the same position.

[shadowwebs]

I would advise you to contact Skills Train and try to resolve the issues, this is what im trying first of all.

If they still do not honour what the Sales Man advised I would be getting then I will be doing everything I can to get a refund.

When it comes to a legal standing though it will be in my favour as I tried to resolve the dispute before it came to asking for my money back.

[MarkiD]

I am giving them written cancellation first thing tomorrow by recorded delivery.

I had my doubts re the finance company - no website. No callbacks if you ring the luton direct number. and the PRICING!!!
3700 to go from A+ to CCNP??? this is for my wife. I asked for CCNA+CCNP and was quoted the same sum of 3700!!!!
I have 10yrs n/w exp customer-facing and am trying to get back into the industry.
Also, the new A+ book my wife looked at tonight is very basic and not well-written.

Cheaper and better to buy your own good books and s/w + practice exams (1 set) from amazon and then register for public exams over the net.

which is what we will be doing....

thanx guys - I think you saved me from A SOMEWHAT DODGY COMPANY.

check out skillstrain entry on companies house uk website - they are a non-trading company as are Career Development Finance Ltd. This combined with all the bad press does not inspire any confidence.

Hope I get out 'cos I am cancelling within 48hrs literally of signature.

Good luck to all out there!!!

[goresci]

hi there skillstrain are scammers they cannot do anything if you stop the payments because they are not a legitimate company, i stopped my payments because they didnt stick to there contract, and i never received second copy of the contract which they are meant to supply because i signed at home. so i stopped my payments and a week later they said they are cancelling my course out of goodwill gesture. lol

or was it because i told them if they want to take this any further i am willing to go ahead because i know i am right

so in the end if they are messin u around why are you giving them money stand up for yourselfs.
its like your leaving your front doors open and sayin to a burgalar go and rob my house, every month you are consistently lettin them take your money. Noooo you are actually giving it to them because they set up standing orders not even direct debits because the banks security check would never allow an illegitimate company to pass the security.

stand up 4 urselfs they cannot take action against no1 especially now watchdog are investigating them


Is there anywhere you can reference that states when signing a contract at home you must be sent another copy and send this off signed also to be bound by the terms of the agreement, - in the event that you no longer look at these pages, does anyone else know. it could be my only get out cause to a really bad investment

[panda2007]

hello everyone it is me again
I went to Trading Standard Service and CAB and decided to take things in my hands so I will write a letter to Liaison officer as advised by some friends from forum and let you know how the things went:))
Is it true that the watchdog investigates them?
Becuase I wanted to write to them as well
so please anyone let me know !!!

[koyo4]

Hi Guys,
I have a letter wrote to send to this fake company, basically iam stating that I will be cancelling all monthly payments before my next one comes out.

Just want to know is there anyone out there who has cancelled all payments straight away without taking legal action and if so does this effect credit checks for mortgages, personal loans etc??????? because I have signed a contract stating I would be paying full amount. I am very concerned.

PLEASE HELPPPP

[goresci]

Hi Guys,
I have a letter wrote to send to this fake company, basically iam stating that I will be cancelling all monthly payments before my next one comes out.

Just want to know is there anyone out there who has cancelled all payments straight away without taking legal action and if so does this effect credit checks for mortgages, personal loans etc??????? because I have signed a contract stating I would be paying full amount. I am very concerned.

PLEASE HELPPPP

I Cancelled my standing order at the bank, they have sent letters, phoned up etc.. usually every other month, latest letter i have is saying that i'm 3 payments overdue, with £15 added ontop of each late payment, the latest letter says that their next step is to pass my debt onto a debt collector and who knows what they will do, well let me first of all say, this the debt cannot be passed onto another party until a default is issued, a default cannot be issued untill a default notice is served, a default notice should indicate the terms of the credit agreement, also it should state the options that the debtor has to rectify the situation, it should also mention the length of time that the notice is effective untill a default is issued, none of this is mentioned on my letter, i dont have it on me write now, but i would consider the wording that they used to tell me they are passing this on as a threat, and under the consumer credit act they cannot do this either. anyway hope this helps, and oh yeah, i subscribe to my credit reports from all 3 companies and theres no mention on there of a credit account open with "skills train" or "career development load" also there is no information on the searches section that indicates they have ever conducted a search, even though the sales person said that i hadn't passed it, and that she will be the guarentor.

[koyo4]

thanks goresci
What a nightmare this has all been, I wish now i had never responded to that newspaper ad.

I guess you learn from your mistakes.... :brick

I have just sent out my letter to Careers Development Finance, I sent it to three different addresses because I didnt know which one was right.

so what your saying is cancel my standing order with my bank and not to worry about future credit checks????

[goresci]

thanks goresci
What a nightmare this has all been, I wish now i had never responded to that newspaper ad.

I guess you learn from your mistakes.... :brick

I have just sent out my letter to Careers Development Finance, I sent it to three different addresses because I didnt know which one was right.

so what your saying is cancel my standing order with my bank and not to worry about future credit checks????


This is entirely up to you how you commence with this, i'm just stating that there has been no effects to any of my 3 files, (and these are now updated as of 04/04/07) with regards to CDF or ST, whos to say that they will not do anything in the future, i can't imagine that they will, as they don't even use the direct debit facility, so they probably dont even have a business account with equifax/ experian or call credit, as i say the choice is your's however I will continue to keep this post updated on the progress of this

[koyo4]

Yes I will let ya al know how I get on with my progress.

Thanks again! :)

[Sabrina]

xxxx

[goresci]

I wish I had done my research earlier...

Well I too like many of you signed up for this silly thing run by skillstrain @ the end of October 06. It is now 5 months into the course and I realise how bad it is and how I have been ripped off.

Anyway to cut a long story short, I want 2 stop doing this silly course. How do I go about it legitimately? I will stop my standing order but Im worried about what they will do next! Will I be expecting a visit from bailliffs?

The loan is taken up in my mums name. Why did the lady insist on doing that? At the time I was unemployed, does this have anything to do with it? Im so worried about the consequences of all this. Should I goto my citizens advice bureau for legal advice?

if you dont mind us knowing, what status are you up to with skillstrain, are you in areers, have they been sending you reminder letters, what did the most recent letter state. also did your mum agree to the contract, was she there with you at the time, or are you were/are you under 18 and they needed a guarantor for the loan, have you discussed why you feel let down by the course to your mum, does she agree that is has been a waste of time and money,
its always a good idea to contact the CAB, but sometimes their advice is too general, but worth a try,
if you can be abit more specific about your problems then we will try to help

[satti87]

Dear Sabrina, if you stop the standing order, you will get charged extra from the bank, for not paying on time. its hapind with me already. i am still paying for this stupid course. so far i aint found a solution for this but i do feel sorry for you. i really don't know what to do....

[satti87]

i tried the email address to send my complaint off but the email address does not seem to be working, i will have to post my letter to them, really want my money back, i got nothing out of this course.

[goresci]

Dear Sabrina, if you stop the standing order, you will get charged extra from the bank, for not paying on time. its hapind with me already. i am still paying for this stupid course. so far i aint found a solution for this but i do feel sorry for you. i really don't know what to do....

satti, a standing order is an instruction given by you to your bank to make regular payments to a 3rd party, you are within your rights to cancel a standing order, the recipient is not in charge of taking money from your account with a standing order, they just wait for the cash to be transferred, a direct debit however is an agreement that you have with the 3rd party to debit your account as they see fit. i'm unsure how you have been charged for this, maybe it was because the funds were not in the account 3 days prior to the standing order going out, and you may have been under the impression that you had cancelled within those three days, just a thought

[goresci]

i tried the email address to send my complaint off but the email address does not seem to be working, i will have to post my letter to them, really want my money back, i got nothing out of this course.

you are always best sending a letter recorded delivery, they have no excuses then, as for e-mail, as much as it is the prefered method of communication these days (i should know i'm the e-mail administrator for 35,000 people) they will not necessarily acknowledge this as been received - even with read and delivery receipts, unfortunately letters are the only way to go about this, if you are trying to cancel, your probably best first speaking to your skillstrain liason office first, from what i've heard in previous posts this may prove to be successfull

[Sabrina]

if you dont mind us knowing, what status are you up to with skillstrain, are you in areers, have they been sending you reminder letters, what did the most recent letter state. also did your mum agree to the contract, was she there with you at the time, or are you were/are you under 18 and they needed a guarantor for the loan, have you discussed why you feel let down by the course to your mum, does she agree that is has been a waste of time and money,
its always a good idea to contact the CAB, but sometimes their advice is too general, but worth a try,
if you can be abit more specific about your problems then we will try to help

No I am not in arrears, my payments go directly by a standing order. I wasnt under 18, but my mum was there at the time.

I really dont want to continue doing this course.It's been a waste of time and money! Should I just stop the standing order and see what they say?

[Sabrina]

xxxx

[goresci]

No I am not in arrears, my payments go directly by a standing order. I wasnt under 18, but my mum was there at the time.

I really dont want to continue doing this course.It's been a waste of time and money! Should I just stop the standing order and see what they say?

if you want my advice then i would explain to the liason officer about your issues with the course, highlight the problems that you have, if you continue to feel unsatisfied, then send a letter recorded delivery along with all the course materials that you have received (also recorded delivery) and write in the letter that you are returning the goods, you are unsatified with the quality of the course and its methods, also if the product was missold to you explain that too, if your mum also agrees that its a waste of time and money then that will help she may know what else you can do, as for the standing orders, you can stop at your bank if you want , thats your right, they will no make any more payments to skillstrain / cdl, what happens from there is entireley up to you, but it would be best to contact them first, like i said that is my advice, the result doesn't necessarily mean that you will no longer have to pay for the course, this is where the cab may be able to help you

[Sabrina]

if you want my advice then i would explain to the liason officer about your issues with the course, highlight the problems that you have, if you continue to feel unsatisfied, then send a letter recorded delivery along with all the course materials that you have received (also recorded delivery) and write in the letter that you are returning the goods, you are unsatified with the quality of the course and its methods, also if the product was missold to you explain that too, if your mum also agrees that its a waste of time and money then that will help she may know what else you can do, as for the standing orders, you can stop at your bank if you want , thats your right, they will no make any more payments to skillstrain / cdl, what happens from there is entireley up to you, but it would be best to contact them first, like i said that is my advice, the result doesn't necessarily mean that you will no longer have to pay for the course, this is where the cab may be able to help you


How did you go about it? How much are you in arrears now? Its gonna cost a bomb to send this back all by recorded delivery! Who is the liason officer? The lousy woman who sold me the course?

[goresci]

I notice that u too have stopped your standing order. How far into the course were you? Were u paying monthly installments? What do u mean no effects to any of my 3 files?

I stared the course in october, i made an initial payment of £50 (to supposedly secure my place for the year), i made two payments by standing order, I was in a situation where i had to move home which meant i had to save some money and cut back on some things. and i never paid anything else for a couple of months, i then made another payment, however started to feel that this really wasn't worth the money, more things happend, the course material wasn't up to date, i found the exact same material elsewhere for 1/10 of the price, the exams weren't included, they only refund you when you take them, all in all i found it pretty poor, i have had approx 5-6 letters saying i'm in arreers, which i've not responeded to. what skillstrain do does not concern me in the slightest, like i said , in your situation i would tell them your not happy and deal with it from there, on my side of things its financial issues that stop me from paying really, but never let finances get you down.

[goresci]

How did you go about it? How much are you in arrears now? Its gonna cost a bomb to send this back all by recorded delivery! Who is the liason officer? The lousy woman who sold me the course?

mine was lousy too, seemed like she was off her face on class A drugs, if you log into your student page , it should tell you somewhere on there who your liason officer is, i'm 270 in areears, speak to them first before you return the material.

[Sabrina]

But it is the finance that is getting me down! If I stop doing the course I dont want to be paying for something I am not doing!

It is also very expensive for something so basic and out of date!

Has anybody successfully cancelled their course with skillstrain without any problems?

[goresci]

How did you go about it? How much are you in arrears now? Its gonna cost a bomb to send this back all by recorded delivery! Who is the liason officer? The lousy woman who sold me the course?

i've just checked my student webmail, and i received an email about a week ago telling me who my liason officer is,
when i asked them about cancelling they told me that i should ring this number 01582707800

regarding the name of your liason officer, i've just checked the student webpage, there are pics of the team (apparently - funny how they are all sat at the same desk - paid pedestrians i think) one of them should be your so called liason officr

[Sabrina]

Thank you for your advice. So I'll call them 2morro, say I want to cancel and then stop my standing order.

I dont know why I agreed to do such a laidback course. Ive been enrolled on it for 5 months and hardly touched the material. Ive submitted one piece of coursework. Funny how they dont contact you or care if you dont do the course properly yet happily take the money and dont let you cancel.

Im so worried about this and have had sleepless nights lately. It didnt hit me that I was doing this course, just let the money go directly from the bank.

[goresci]

Thank you for your advice. So I'll call them 2morro, say I want to cancel and then stop my standing order.

I dont know why I agreed to do such a laidback course. Ive been enrolled on it for 5 months and hardly touched the material. Ive submitted one piece of coursework. Funny how they dont contact you or care if you dont do the course properly yet happily take the money and dont let you cancel.

Im so worried about this and have had sleepless nights lately. It didnt hit me that I was doing this course, just let the money go directly from the bank.

Sabrina,

Never loose sleep over it, your health is worth more than debts, never worry about it, just dont forget its there.

[goresci]

I notice that u too have stopped your standing order. How far into the course were you? Were u paying monthly installments? What do u mean no effects to any of my 3 files?

sorry didnt answer this one fully

the 3 files are your credit files
equifax
experian
and call credit
the majority of companies if not all that use any form of credit, use credit reference agencies to determine how much of a risk you are if you borrow money, these companies, first use a score based on what you tell them, then if you pass that score, your details are search on the credit agencies lists, if you pass the score from them also your chances of getting credit are good. if you need any more info on this, then let me know i've been dealing with it for 3 years

[Sabrina]

so u reckon that Skillstrain will not tell credit reference agencies?

So far I too paid £50 for admin fees apprently and £75 in 5 monthly installments. I cant believe how foolish I was to sign into this stupid course!

How about the contract between Clydesdale Financial services? I had no idea that I was agreeing to a loan agreement from them. Everytime I asked a question the lady tried to faff me off!

What about on the contract where it says early settlement of the agreement- If you choose to settle this agreement early on the dates below the amount you will pay, per £1000 borrowed. (unless you borrow less than £1000, where the amount is based on per £100 borrowed will be:

When a quarter of the term has elapsed £750
When half of the term has elapsed £500
When three quarters of the term has elapsed £250

What does this mean?

[goresci]

so u reckon that Skillstrain will not tell credit reference agencies?

So far I too paid £50 for admin fees apprently and £75 in 5 monthly installments. I cant believe how foolish I was to sign into this stupid course!

How about the contract between Clydesdale Financial services? I had no idea that I was agreeing to a loan agreement from them. Everytime I asked a question the lady tried to faff me off!

What about on the contract where it says early settlement of the agreement- If you choose to settle this agreement early on the dates below the amount you will pay, per £1000 borrowed. (unless you borrow less than £1000, where the amount is based on per £100 borrowed will be:

When a quarter of the term has elapsed £750
When half of the term has elapsed £500
When three quarters of the term has elapsed £250

What does this mean?

1. to Date skillsstrain and their finance companies have never conducted any searches, or placed any information on my file, as yet.

2. I was never told that a finance company was involved either, I was told it was government funding that i was paying back.

3. eg. based on a loan for 3000, over 3 years (36months)
A quater of the term is 9 months
if you are 9 months into your contract and you want to settle , you will need to pay £750 x 3 = 2250
if you are 18 months you will be £500 x 3 = 1500
if you are 27 months , you will pay £250 x 3 = 750

I would guess that the money paid would and should be deducted from this ammount - ie, if you are 9 months in, and you have paid 9 x 75 = 675, then you should only have to pay 1575, which is still rediculous. but thats the basic idea,

[Tallisker]

Thank you for your advice. So I'll call them 2morro, say I want to cancel and then stop my standing order.

Im so worried about this and have had sleepless nights lately. It didnt hit me that I was doing this course, just let the money go directly from the bank.

The student liaison officer is not the same as the Liaison Office - the first you reach via the tutor phoneline, the second via the main office line. The former is a waste of time; speak only to the liaison office or get them to phone you back.

You must get CAB and legal advice to ease your anxiety. SkillsTrain's credit agreement is very dodgy and probably not enforceable - but you'll only have the confidence to challenge them with this if you have the proper advice to back you up. The liaison people have been sympathetic to some folk, who've posted here about their experiences, but you will need to be persistent and assertive or they'll bully you into continuing.

CAB will be able to tell you about solicitors who give free legal advice, or there may be a community legal centre near you where you can get this advice.

If you feel that you were mis-sold the course and the information given by the Rep who called to see you was misleading, then you may also want to contact Trading Standards. (Again, it will do no harm if you can tell ST that you have done this ;-) )

[koyo4]

Hi guys,

I just cancelled my standing order with my bank.

Is there any of you that have cancelled your standing order and have had negative results i.e big bills etc??? or even heard from CDF because you havent paid.

Let me know asap please!
thanks

[kia-lily]

i think they will go quiet for a few months and add late payment charges on then they will hit you with a bigger bill and threaten you with court

[goresci]

i think they will go quiet for a few months and add late payment charges on then they will hit you with a bigger bill and threaten you with court

they went quiet with me, then send me the bills with charges, and said their next step will be to pass on to a debt collection agency, bypassing the default and court action

[Tallisker]

they went quiet with me, then send me the bills with charges, and said their next step will be to pass on to a debt collection agency, bypassing the default and court action

That's why people need to talk to the CAB and get legal advice. The rules around credit agreements are very tight, the smallest discrepancy in their format makes them void - even High Street banks have been found in error before now. Have someone look at your agreement with CDF - I think you'll find it's not worth the paper it's written on. Don't let ST intimidate you - get some legal advice!

[koyo4]

Hi Guys,

So its really a waiting game on what actions they may take against me?

Has anyone paid their outstanding bills they threatened you with or been to Small Claims court??

Did you all have to pay for a lawyer?

[Tallisker]

I found this online diary of a SkillsDrain CIW student
(http://www.mymultiplesclerosis.co.uk/webdesign/ciwdiary.html)

<quote>
21 Aug 2006

Well, yes they are going to send out more assignments! They are calling them pre-examination assignments which must be completed before being invited to apply for the exams. I queried this and asked what was stopping me from applying directly to Prometric? Apparently Prometric check with Scheidegger that you have successfully completed the course and until such time as we have completed the pre-examination assignments the course is not complete.
<end quote>

Well, what a load of misinformation. ST should blush with shame.

ANYONE can book an exam with Prometric, anytime they like. Prometric don't check with Scheidegger - they probably haven't a clue who Scheidegger are! All Prometric care about is if you have the money to book.

Now: you won't get the exam fee refunded by ST if you haven't finished their assessments. BIG difference!

[Tallisker]

Hi Guys,

So its really a waiting game on what actions they may take against me?
Did you all have to pay for a lawyer?

Why wait for them? Get FREE legal advice now, via CAB or a local community legal team. Then when you contact ST you'll have real facts to support your words. Those who got refunds did so by being persistent, not by waiting.

[Tallisker]

Here is a link showing some of the things I've been posting about. I don't have any personal experience with this organisation, but it certainly gives reason to head off down to your local CAB, don't it?

http://myvesta.org.uk/programmes/credit_agreement_cancellation.html

[satti87]

hmmm maybe your right lol, i really can't remember now this was like a year ago

[squizzle11]

last year i signed up for a webdesign course with skills train. at the time i was homeless and pregnant and was awaiting a decision from housing i told the salesman this and he kept on pushing about my future until i gave up and signed with them. at the time i thought the finance was with skills train. i paid about 4 payments and then told CDF that i could no longer afford the payments and that i would never be able to do the course as i currently was homeless and pregnant and they told me that as i had signed i had to pay. i cancelled my debit card and every month since i have recieved a letter from them the last one on 8th march.
on the 16th march i recieved a letter from a credit company regarding the debt without any warning from CDF. has anyone got any advice:smack

[goresci]

last year i signed up for a webdesign course with skills train. at the time i was homeless and pregnant and was awaiting a decision from housing i told the salesman this and he kept on pushing about my future until i gave up and signed with them. at the time i thought the finance was with skills train. i paid about 4 payments and then told CDF that i could no longer afford the payments and that i would never be able to do the course as i currently was homeless and pregnant and they told me that as i had signed i had to pay. i cancelled my debit card and every month since i have recieved a letter from them the last one on 8th march.
on the 16th march i recieved a letter from a credit company regarding the debt without any warning from CDF. has anyone got any advice:smack

who did you receive the letter from, i'm sure you have some rights, especially as a vulnerable female - were you workning at the time, if they knew that you would'nt have been able to make the payments at the time, then they should'nt have been allowed to push this onto you.
again i think its another talk with the CAB and explain it to them, i wouldn't just send them an email thought, cause even CAB arn't very good at getting back to people like that. give them a call.

[goresci]

for those interested i've found this on another website, i'll check its accuracy in a moment.

Did anyone else receive a second agreement throught the post after signing???


How to cancel
Consumer credit agreements
If you sign a credit agreement in your home (or anywhere other than on the premises of the trader or creditor) after face-to-face contact with the supplier, they must give you written notice of your cancellation rights. These should be written into the agreement that you sign and the supplier should give you a copy of this agreement at the time you sign it. You should also receive either a second copy of the agreement signed by the finance company through the post, or you should receive a separate notice of your cancellation rights. You then have five days from when you receive this second copy or the notice to cancel your agreement.

Write to the supplier telling them that you are cancelling the agreement as you are legally entitled to do. You should also complete and return any cancellation slip provided.
Keep a certificate of posting and keep a copy of your letter and cancellation slip.
Keep any goods safe until they are collected.

[goresci]

and this "You also have cancellation rights if you sign a credit agreement in your home regardless of who invited the salesman to call. The law allows you a cancellation period of five days, which begins when you receive a second copy of the finance agreement through the post."

[satti87]

has anybody had any sucess in cancelling there course, and in getting there money back? were all so badly stuck in this situation...

[Tallisker]

Did anyone else receive a second agreement through the post after signing???
.

No. That 's one of the reasons why I think their credit agreements are faulty and not enforceable. So, take a copy of your credit agreement to the CAB, or get an introductory free session with a Legal Aid solicitor. Try and get the credit agreement canceled - you may even get back the money you have already paid.

Sorry to hear your story squizzle11 - SkillsTrain are a disgrace! Try contacting the liaison office at ST, (not CDF), who might be sympathetic - they did refund Skorpian King80, but he had to really fight them to get it. Make sure they understand you will take legal advice, and you will complain to Trading Standards if they keep bullying you for the money. You MUST get advice from CAB about the harassment from the credit company. Another good source of advice is 'Debtline' who you can call free on 08088084000 - they are a national charity. Or follow the link to myvesta I posted earlier.

Good luck!

[sixfoottwo]

Wish I'd read this yesterday.

Tomorrow, I will be cancelling the cheque I wrote with my bank and ringing up to make arrangements to cancel the agreement.

Glad I read this in time to take these actions.

[koyo4]

HI guys,

Anyone been in Contact with the finance company about cancelling can you give me the number please.

Thanks
x

[m_hafeji]

has anybody had any sucess in cancelling there course, and in getting there money back? were all so badly stuck in this situation...

Yes, i got my money back - a total of £675! And i may also b doing the course free with potentitially a free PC also! :D

Talk to liason officer - trust me.

[koyo4]

Hey for those who cancelled and got refunded - HOW??

what number did you ring?

I have already sent them a letter and in the process of speaking to my lawyer.

[squizzle11]

[QUOTE=goresci;68662]who did you receive the letter from, i'm sure you have some rights, especially as a vulnerable female - were you workning at the time, if they knew that you would'nt have been able to make the payments at the time, then they should'nt have been allowed to push this onto you.
again i think its another talk with the CAB and explain it to them, i wouldn't just send them an email thought, cause even CAB arn't very good at getting back to people like that. give them a call.[/QUO


the letter is from a company called <The credit information bureau>. can,t find any info on them. i also checked my original paperwork and CDF didnt sent out a letter saying how to cancel.

[Multimedia]

We would repeat what we have said previously. SkillsTrain doesn't have any problems in dealing with and if appropriate resolving any real students who have got legitimate issues. It has been seen in the past that unnecessary and unlawful comments and/or statements can lead to serious consequences.

Skorpian king was NOT given a refund etc because of his own efforts but due to the goodwill of SkillsTrian and no other reason. Even today he can be subjected to serious damages if he or any one else lies or makes disparaging remarks about SkillsTrain.

Again if you have genuine issues, then contact SkillsTrian on:

SkillsTrain
Liaison office ref (FT/2)
80-88 Collingdon Street
Luton
LU1 1RX

Regards MM

[BRANSON]

Hello,

I attached the response we got from our students about Live Internet Training.

Student Details: Mr W O
College Number: AN
I attend Live Internet Training yesterday - well it was fantastic, brilliant and I am absolutely delighted to be part of Skillstrain. Having said that I will want to give special thanks to the teacher who handled the session and a big thank you to all those experts that put together their skills and knowledge to be able to bring this cutting-edge technology us. Thumps up to you all cheers.

Student Details: Mr T C
College Number: PA
Live Internet Training is very easy to use and helps a lot. It’s amazing how you can be taught new things over the internet. It's a quick and easy way to learn, and it seems very successful to me. After my session today, I’m sure the students that were in the session with me have learned a lot of new things. I would also say it sort of makes learning fun, with all the interactive things such as laughing and applauding etc.

Student Details: Mrs P A
College Number: CW
First visit to Live Internet Training last night. I found the teacher very natural and helpful. Good information, some of which was new to me. I will definitely sign up for more training sessions .

Student Details: Mr J M
College Number: PA
Live Internet Training is excellent stuff, it gives that extra push/refreshness, and also opens up a few things that I had missed or forgot about. I enjoyed tonight’s sessions and look forward to the future ones. Many thanks to all involved.

Student Details: Mr A D
College Number: NA
I never had a session like that before so it was very unique for me but I really enjoyed the
session, that was excellent. It was very helpful as well. I usually visit student world but today I learned lots of new helpful things. Thanks to Skill train team & teacher as well she was great.

Student Details: Mr J B
College Number: AA
Many thanks to the teacher on the Live Internet Training for the tour. Even though I’ve been on student world many times I still found there were some important parts I’d missed. Thanks again.

Student Details: Mrs M C
College Number: AA
I attended the first of the Live Internet Training sessions at 7pm and found it rather fascinating and I am going to be attending another at 9pm hopefully that will just as good

Student Details: Mr L R
College Number: AA
Hi I'd just like to say that I found the internet training session really good and look forward to attending again at a later date. Excellent Thank you!

Student Details: Mr E P
College Number: AA
LIVE INTERNET TRAINING WAS VERY GOOD. I ENJOYED

Student Details: Mr O O
College Number: AN
Brilliant ! Although I use the student world pretty regularly, I learnt many news things. Especially about the capabilities of the job portal. Looking forward to more sessions.

Student Details: Mr W M
College Number: CM
I have attended two live internet training sessions within the last few weeks and found them most enjoyable and useful.

Student Details: Mr G C
College Number: NP
The live training was very good and it showed me some things that, I did not know about. Some of the things like the job portal are a good idea as it will help people to get an interview and might even get a job, so my overall thoughts are to keep going and to make it even better as the training go`s so keep up the very good work everyone.

[Tallisker]

Hello Mr Multimedia

Maybe I'll repeat what I've said earlier: your company sends Reps to the homes of people who may be in vulnerable circumstances. There are plenty of stories here of people being lied to. What steps have you taken to ensure that such lies are not being still repeated? Please be specific.

Here, for example, are the lies I was told:

* I would be provided with hands-on training at a local hotel.
* I would be supported by a personal tutor.
* I would have internet-based live classes
* I would have seven years to complete my course
* I would have the right to cancel the course, and my payments, if I found it not suitable
* Tutors were highly qualified and knowledgable
* SkillsTrian (sic) were held in high regard by employers

None of these turned out to be true.
How confident are you Mr Multimedia that this misinformation isn't still being circulated? Doesn't it worry you that so many different people come here with essentially the same story, the same lies?

Aren't you ashamed that people who represent your compnay behave like this?

Wouldn't it be more appropriate for you to come to this forum and apologise, rather than make threats about the damages people will suffer if they besmirch SkillsDrain's good name?

[m_hafeji]

* I would have internet-based live classes

They do have live internet based training.

[Tallisker]

They do have live internet based training.

No classes that are relevant to the courses I have done / am doing. Too little, too late - simple stuff for beginners, like how to use StudentWorld, I mean, come on! This training is one of the main things they are still pushing on their web-site - and it is not good enough.

I was sold a BMW and they deliver a Morris Marina...

[Curtis]

Im a real student with schiedegger (skills train) and i was promised by a certain salesman called Pamir, that i would be attending seminars/training at a local hotel (the Hilton in Purley Way) and that was nearly 2 years ago! I havent had any contact with a real tutor and the ones i have emailed just say "we cannot deal with ur request, u have to contact our admin dept." when i did this, the phones r constantly engaged. Also, I feel for the last 2 years, my life has been completed wasted. I could of gone to uni and did another course, but i was promised 14months per subject (A+) another 14 for N+ etc. I was told the A+ would take 3 months at most and therefore having it wont take up too much time. Not knowing it would take around 10 days to receive my TMAs it was nearly 10 months before i finished A+, then without warning i was sent N+ material... I still havent taken exams, i thought it was all arranged for by skills train (like i was promised) but nothing. I cant get my two years back, but i can sure as hell try and get my £3,500!

[dastley]

i have just been reading through all the posts upon this topic...

IM really concerned i took out the course when i went through a bad patch in my life, was lodging at mates just failed tests to get the job i allways wanted and became a bit of a waister. then skills train seemed the way to go when they just arrived upon the door step asking about courses in it would good for me.me being vulnerable at this moment in time didnt not really read in to this very much and was sort of pushed into doing a course, aso not knowing that i was signing a credit agreement to lend the full amount, started the course not think any different, then as time went by i found myself loosing grip with the course not being what i really wanted to do afterall. then sort of got my life back on track a bit and managed to just forget about the courses and started owing money to clydesdale for late payments and things, I have now since moved into my own house with my partner and really struggling to pay for any think let alone a course im not even doing any more so paying them when ever i can just to keep the bad debt letters of my back, but now its really concerning my that i cant even cancell as the credit agreement say if i want to cancel i have to pay what i owe plus more, so im getting worried as im am getting £22.50 late fee charges most months and still paying them £65 to do a course im not even doing no more as im woorking all hours to pay for the morgage and to live.

PLEASE PLEASE can any body help me to leave the course and stop paying clydesdale any more money im not bothered about getting any back ( thats my stupids fault in the first place) just want to start my life again with out having this over my head.

ps im uk based not sure where you lot are from

[Budweiser_07200]

hi all

i decided to go for the CIW web master package which came to £2500 with £70 monthly installmants, i signed up in Nov 2005 when some guy who had a chinky wife who dint say nout whilst he talked constantly to came to my house n gave me all that sh*t bout how great this course will be for me, ill earn 17k minimum and he GUARENTEED me a job when i completed the course, he said i have as long as i want but recommended 6 hours a day (of course i dont have a life.....sarcastic)...i was stupid enough at 15 to sign up without thinking bout it and since then im pretty pis*ed off for what im paying to what im getting....im currently on section 1 part B of my course i havent been doing it cus it just pi*s's me off everytime i look at it but now to just get it out of the way im just cheatin on these stupid TMA's bout internet history (i know £2500 definetly worth it.....not)

i learnt my lesson bout IT Courses, they brainwash u with words lik 17k and guaranteed and how "cheap this course is compared to other companys" thats what the " certified web designer" told me when he came to my place


**STAY AWAK FROM SCHEIDEGGER**:brick

[maddad]

Hi guys
First post on the forum so hi folks.:cheers
More Skillstrain fodder here it seems and i`m pretty pi**ed off at myself right now so i am..as is the wife.:)

Signing up to Skillstrain on Friday was quite a big thing for me but of course it`s only now that i`m starting to realise what a plonker i seem to have been.

Sadly,the first clue i had that all was mabey not as it seemed was when the nice salesman.....sorry,ex web designer told me the cd-rom would work just fine on my Linux systems.....EH???:eek:

What have i done?????lol

[Cliffv8]

Hi everyone frist post, in the same boat, :smack

I've just got A+ Certified 2 weeks ago no thanks to Skills Train after failing A+ OS exam twice costing me a whopping £252 and costing £504 in total to pass it was only after buying alot of study guides and books and software like VMware and old operating systems like windows 2000 to get some hands on practice I pasted, so have know found that I'm better off with out their out dated misleading course work and now have everything I need to pass my N+ and CCNA/CCNP now without them so would like to cancel, but can’t !! and are paying £100 a mouth of nothing for the next 2 years !!

I think a website somthing like skillstrainsucks.com would be a good idea so hopefully people come across it before their site and put them off, we must try and stop people falling into the same trap :soapbox

Thanks Cliff

[maddad]

Well,i`ve tried to contact our "salesman" but it is now Satuarday and he does have £50 in his pocket i suppose.

I dont actually blame him as much as i blame myself for this farce but i`m just glad it`s only cost us £50 and not the 1000`s it`s cost some of you guys.Not that i can afford even £50 just now mind you.

We were actually told i would`nt pay back the majority of the loan until i was in a job("where else would i get this deal" he said).We were also spun some waffle about funds being left over from last year being allocated to people in "my position" and as long as i acheived a higher than usual score of 16 in the "aptitude test"he would personally recommend me........of course with 100% i passed with flying colours and the call was made.

I only ever got in touch to try get some further information and shut my wife up for f***s sake(she seen the tv ad one day).
All my family & friends have been pestering me to take some kinda training as i do this stuff for a hobby anyway I`m pretty much the local pc repair man round these parts so getting some proper training and qualifications behind me seemed like a sensible AND exciting thing to do.

If i was in anyway unsure about my own abilities though our man certainly did everything to convince me otherwise.He was sooooo bloody convincing that i didn`t even realise i was paying £20 a week for the next 3 years until i looked for my collage number this morning to do TMA1..........:brick ...I feel so dumb right now:eww

Mabey this will get the wife and Co off my back for a while though so it`s not all bad:rolleyes:

I have no qualms about training for 3 years or paying £20 a week to do so but i do have a great deal to say about the way i was hoodwinked into it all.I only wanted some bloody leaflets

[Tallisker]

Sadly,the first clue i had that all was mabey not as it seemed was when the nice salesman.....sorry,ex web designer told me the cd-rom would work just fine on my Linux systems.....EH???:eek:


Ssshh!! I don't think SkillsDrain have ever heard of linux, they think it's some kind of floor covering....

[Tallisker]

Hi everyone frist post, in the same boat, :smack

I've just got A+ Certified 2 weeks ago no thanks to Skills Train after failing A+ OS exam twice costing me a whopping £252 and costing £504 in total to pass it was only after buying alot of study guides and books and software like VMware and old operating systems like windows 2000 to get some hands on practice I pasted, so have know found that I'm better off with out their out dated misleading course work and now have everything I need to pass my N+ and CCNA/CCNP now without them so would like to cancel, but can’t !! and are paying £100 a mouth of nothing for the next 2 years !!

I think a website somthing like skillstrainsucks.com would be a good idea so hopefully people come across it before their site and put them off, we must try and stop people falling into the same trap :soapbox

Thanks Cliff

Why haven't you got SkillsDrain to refund your exam fees for you? - it is their promise to pay each time you take the exam until you pass.

Assuming you passed all their ridiculous TMAs of course ;) My favourite was the one in the old A+ course where you had to show electric current flowing from negative to positive in a circuit to get their 'right' answer!

The new N+ material sucks, but people speak more highly of the cisco stuff - probably because it wasn't written by them. Still full of uncorrected typos though, and expensive for what you actually get.

Don't know about the MSCE stuff, but the web-design course has also been heavily criticised here.

I thought things were improving, but from recent posts it looks like it was just marketing PR to cover up after the BBC program. Mr Multimedia, I note, has still to answer the questions I asked before, so I'll ask again:

What action is being taken to stop your representatives continuing to lie and misrepresent the courses they are selling?

Please be specific, we're all waiting!

[maddad]

Ssshh!! I don't think SkillsDrain have ever heard of linux, they think it's some kind of floor covering....

lol....in hindsight i reckon your proably right.
I so regret not questioning him about his own experience a bit more.He gave me some waffle about being an ex-web developer who had decided he wanted to "give something back",how typical a "sales pitch" is that eh?(kicks himself yet again)

I was trying to have a laugh about booting into Windows JUST to use the cd when he come out with the whopper about it working fine on Linux systems.It was just as he was leaving though and i was more focussed on the by now hungry kids.

I used to invite salesmen,door tappers,cowboy builders and even jehovahs witnesses in for fun once upon a time and here i am years later falling for it hook line & sinker.

Credit where credit is due i suppse you could say:eww

[Cliffv8]

Why haven't you got SkillsDrain to refund your exam fees for you? - it is their promise to pay each time you take the exam until you pass.


I didn't know you they refunded them, I have just looked though at the student world site and there nothing just the "tell us about it" box, is that it? and I've looked through the stuff they give me whan I enrolled and on the only place I found ref to it is on a “ it is agree that the collage will provide the following” sheet, saying “Public examination are included of the course” and the “correct procedure for entrance and the payment process will be provided at the relevant stage of the course” . I’ve had no info on how to get refunded on the exam info sheet or anywhere, so i’ll have to get on the phone :confused:

[Cliffv8]

Just watched there video I got when I enrolled, its full of s@%t with pictures of people in small practical classes haled in a Holiday Inn and the bit in about the NHS looks very dodgy, looks like they just wonder in to a hospital with a camera for a bit of a sticky shout and is all filmed from the hip. I'll see if I can get some clips on youtube :sure

[Tallisker]

I didn't know you they refunded them, I have just looked though at the student world site and there nothing just the "tell us about it" box, is that it? and I've looked through the stuff they give me whan I enrolled and on the only place I found ref to it is on a “ it is agree that the collage will provide the following” sheet, saying “Public examination are included of the course” and the “correct procedure for entrance and the payment process will be provided at the relevant stage of the course” . I’ve had no info on how to get refunded on the exam info sheet or anywhere, so i’ll have to get on the phone :confused:

No question about it, they promise to refund exam fees, and will do so however many times it takes you to pass the exam. BUT - you have to have completed the course, that is, passed all their TMAs beforehand.

Typically, for SkillsDrain, they do little to tell you how to go about it, although on StudentWorld there is a section for asking for exam details - you get sent the phone number for Prometric and Thomson; but it's up to you to do all the chasing - and the upfront paying. If you miss it, and either don't take the exam, or forget to ask for the refund, they sure aren't about to remind you. What happened to all that 'personal tutor' crap we were promised on enrolment, eh?

Another gotcha is that the refund is done as a credit against the amount you owe them; it's taken off the end of the credit agreement. Now that stinks. On one hand they say the finance agreement is nothing to do with them, when you ask for a refund - but when you want your exam fee back, they arrange for the credit to be reduced with a voucher! When you look at the price of the exams (e.g. £150 for N+), that is a lot of money for people to find. When you take into account that SkillsDrain prey on the vulnerable, by definition many will really struggle to find that sort of money.

Cliff, you need to get on that phone and talk to Liaison! (And I don't mean Student Liaison - the admin site)

[Cliffv8]

Another gotcha is that the refund is done as a credit against the amount you owe them; it's taken off the end of the credit agreement. Now that stinks. On one hand they say the finance agreement is nothing to do with them, when you ask for a refund - but when you want your exam fee back, they arrange for the credit to be reduced with a voucher! When you look at the price of the exams (e.g. £150 for N+), that is a lot of money for people to find. When you take into account that SkillsDrain prey on the vulnerable, by definition many will really struggle to find that sort of money.

What the??? how can they take it off the end of your credit agreement, has anyone checked that it did come off the end of there balance?? and anuther thing do you get your vat back too after all the A+ exams are £108 + vat witch is about £126 and the N+ exam is £159 + vat witch is about £186. Oh and I did passed all their TMAs but i'm not doing any more of that sh&$te I've had enuff of that they say you can work at your owen pace, but I can't I've got to work at their pace which is bloody slow. For example I could study at my pace and do the N+ exam in about a mouth or go at their pace and it will take at least 4 and i'd of forgotten must of it by then. :brick

[Tallisker]

What the??? how can they take it off the end of your credit agreement, has anyone checked that it did come off the end of there balance?? and anuther thing do you get your vat back too after all the A+ exams are £108 + vat witch is about £126 and the N+ exam is £159 + vat witch is about £186. Oh and I did passed all their TMAs but i'm not doing any more of that sh&$te I've had enuff of that they say you can work at your owen pace, but I can't I've got to work at their pace which is bloody slow. For example I could study at my pace and do the N+ exam in about a mouth or go at their pace and it will take at least 4 and i'd of forgotten must of it by then. :brick

Why'd you have to pay VAT? that's not usual unless you're a business? I've never had to.

You get a voucher confirming that the amount has been taken off the total you owe them. A good deal for them really: they probably reckon that for the number of people they sign up for their long courses like MSCE and CCNP, that only a small fraction will ever finish and take all the exams, so they don't have to pay out the whole lot.

Yeh, I was promised my own pace, and know exactly what you mean about having to slow down to their crawl. Just another bull**** lie.

You just have to work out a way of playing the game. Up to you: but you're paying a lot of money for nothing otherwise. When it comes to the cisco stuff, you'll slow down anyway, espec after CCNA INTRO - it starts to get much tougher. You don't stand a chance self-studying in CCNP unless you work in the business. So if that's your goal, it may be worth while carrying on. Check you PM.

[Tallisker]

SCENE 1: INT - LIVING ROOM - EVENING

VICKY SITS ON THE SOFA WATCHING TELEVISION WHILE HER FOUR YEAR OLD SON, FINLAY, IS ASLEEP BESIDE HER. THERE IS A KNOCK AT THE DOOR, AND SHE OPENS IT TO LET IN BRENDAN, A SALES REPRESENTATIVE. SHE LETS HIM IN AND SHOWS HIM TO THE CHAIR OPPOSITE HER.

VICKY: Oh, it’s so nice of you to call round. Go on, you can sit down there - need it, I expect.

BRENDAN: (SITTING) That’s all right. Lot of stairs! Lift broke often is it?

VICKY: Yeah. I mean no, but yeah. Well, it’s the council innit?

BRENDAN: Must be difficult. On your own, you said on the phone? No man about the house?

VICKY: That’s right, Shane ran off with that Tracey Bottomley. She’s a real slag she is, but we do all right, Finlay and me. That’s him. He’s my son he is.

BRENDAN: Ah, so this is Finlay is it? Look sweet when they’re asleep, don’t they?

THEY LOOK AFFECTIONATELY AT THE BOY

BRENDAN (CONT'D) Reminds me of mine at that age

VICKY: Oh, you’ve got kids ‘ave ya?

BRENDAN: Just the one, a boy - just like your Finlay at that age. Amazing how they grow, isn’t it? Course, I don’t see much of him now.

VICKY: Away is he? What, prison?

BRENDAN: Oh no, nothing like that, working. All over the world. That’s what computers can do for you though. Opens up a whole new life.

VICKY: Well, that’s what I’m hoping.

BRENDAN: Oh, don’t you worry, with these courses it’s guaranteed! I know people who were just like you - now earning six-figure salaries.

VICKY: It sounds wonderful. Six figures? What’s that then - minimum wage’s five innit?

BRENDAN: It’s in this brochure, look. See, they’re all looking so smart, so rich. I bet you’d like that wouldn’t you? New clothes, money in your pocket? Able to move from here?

VICKY: And these courses, they can do that, can they?

BRENDAN: Oh, yeah. I mean, think what they did for my daughter! She was in Las Vegas last I heard.

VICKY: But will they be too hard? I wasn’t that good at school, you see. But Finlay, he’s much cleverer than me. He’s real clever he is. Even ties his own laces! Bet you can’t do that!

BRENDAN: Oh, no, don’t worry about that. It’s all written by experts. You can’t go wrong. We have a 99% pass rate!

VICKY: Wow! That’s amazing that is!

BRENDAN: Now, of course, we can’t just let anyone on our courses. We have to make sure that it’s right for you, and you’re right for us.

VICKY: Ooh, how do you do that?

BRENDAN: Well, we have this little test. Just a few questions.

VICKY: I’d better wake him up then.

VICKY ROUSES THE SLEEPING FINLAY, WHO WAKES UP A BIT GRUMPY.

VICKY (CONT'D): Come on Finlay, here’s that man I told you about. You know, so you can learn to play on your computer? Make Mummy lots of money?

BRENDAN: Right, here you are, Finlay. Here’s a pencil. Now, let’s see how you get on.

FINLAY SPENDS A FEW MINUTES WITH THE TEST PAPER, WHILE VICKY AND BRENDAN WATCH ON.

BRENDAN (CONT'D): Right, time’s up! Let’s see how you got on. (SCANS THE TEST PAPER) Hmm, well, that’s a nice picture. Is that Mummy? Well, the right answer was ‘Peripheral Component Interconnect.’ But not a bad try. Now, this one. Is it a dog?

FINLAY: Cat!

VICKY: He does like cats. Don’t you Finlay?

FINLAY: Cat!

BRENDAN: well, it should have been ‘Intel Dual Core.’ It looks like you left the rest blank. But they’re lovely pictures!

FINLAY: Cat!

VICKY: How did he do?

BRENDAN: Well, he didn’t quite reach the pass mark I’m afraid.

VICKY: Oh, no. Is that bad?

BRENDAN: Well, normally it would be. But this week we’re doing a special promotion. Now, I shouldn’t really be saying this, but there is just one place left. Now I have got someone else to see. And maybe they’d be more suitable.

VICKY: (CRESTFALLEN) I see.

BRENDAN: I really shouldn’t be doing this, but I do like to help people. You know, people who’re struggling. It’s who I am, I suppose.

VICKY: So what’re you saying?

BRENDAN: I could still put him forwards. Are you sure that’s what you want Vicky? I mean, if you don’t, like I said I do have one more person to see today. And just the one place left.

VICKY: I mean, yeah. That’d be fantastic! You’d do that would you, put him forward?

BRENDAN: Like I said, I like to help. Now, we haven’t talked about money yet; you know, how much it’d cost.

VICKY: I’ve been dreading this bit. I bet it’s a lot innit?

BRENDAN: How would twenty pounds sound?

VICKY: Twenty pounds? I thought it’d be a lot more than that? Wicked!

BRENDAN: It’s not a lot, is it, twenty pounds?

VICKY: No! I can afford that. I mean, that’s fantastic!

BRENDAN: You see! Nothing to worry about! Well, if you’re sure you want to carry on? Sure this is the right thing for you and your little boy’s future?

VICKY: Ooh yeah! It sounds brilliant.

BRENDAN: Well, all I need now are some bank details, and we can get it all sorted out.

VICKY: Bank? I can pay it yer now. I think I’ve got a twenty in my purse.

BRENDAN: Well, no. It’s not quite like that. It’s twenty pounds a week. We take it out of your bank to save you the bother.

VICKY: A week.. Oh, I see.

BRENDAN: You said yourself, it’s not a lot. You said you could afford it. For the little lad’s future... Of course, if you think that’s not that important? I said, I do have someone else to see, someone who maybe wants an opportunity like this - wouldn’t want to throw it away.

VICKY: Yeah, but no, I mean, no! I didn’t mean... It’s just. A week?

BRENDAN: I’m sure a pretty girl like you can think of ways of earning twenty pounds a week?

VICKY: What d’ya mean? Like that Alice Midgelely? But she’s covered in spots she is. I seen her standing on the corner like. Yeah, but no, but I couldn’t do that!

BRENDAN: Well, up to you. Have a think about it... I’ll be off shall I? (CHECKS HIS WATCH) Should be getting on to my next appointment..

VICKY: No, wait. All right. What do I have to do?

BRENDAN: Great! Like I said, I just need a few bank details. Cheque book? Bank card?

VICKY BRINGS HER HANDBAG AND FROM IT HANDS OVER A BANK CARD.

BRENDAN: (CONT'D) Right, just a quick phone call to make.

BRENDAN TAKES OUT HIS MOBILE AND DIALS.

TAXI FIRM (VOICE OFF): Trenton Taxis!

BRENDAN: Oh hello, just needing to do a quick credit check, Madeleine.

TAXI FIRM (VOICE OFF): What? No Madeleine here mate.

BRENDAN: Yes, that’s right, the new promotion.

TAXI FIRM (VOICE OFF): What? What you on about mate?

BRENDAN: Sort Code XX-XX-XX

TAXI FIRM (VOICE OFF): Look get off this line will ya?

BRENDAN: Account number XXXXXXXXXXXX

TAXI OFFICE HANG UP.

BRENDAN (CONT'D): Oh. Oh, I see. Right, thank you. (PUTS DOWN HIS PHONE AND TURNS TO VICKY) I’m afraid you’ve failed the credit check!

VICKY: What? Oh, no!

BRENDAN: Look, I’ve got one more thing I might be able to do. Now, we don’t do this for just anyone, Vicky. I’m taking a real chance here - a chance on you. I hope you’re not going to let me down?

VICKY: Let you down? What do you mean? No, course I wouldn’t. Let you down with what?

BRENDAN: Well, sometimes, for special students, the College is able to finance this itself. Take the risk. And it is a risk. Like I said, you have failed the credit check. Can we trust you?

VICKY: Yeah! Course you can!

BRENDAN: Well, I'm taking a risk.. (HE TAKES OUT HIS PHONE AND DIALS AGAIN) Madeleine?

MADELEINE (VOICE OFF): Hello, that you Brendan?

BRENDAN: Hello love. I’ve talked things over with Miss Pollard, and she wants to go ahead with the Loan.

MADELEINE (VOICE OFF): You crafty so-and-so. That’s the fourth mug today isn’t it?

BRENDAN: Yes, I know she did, but I have a good feeling about her.

MADELEINE (VOICE OFF): A good feeling about your bonus you mean.

BRENDAN: It’s for her son, Finlay.

MADELEINE (VOICE OFF): Oh yeah, been pulling the old heart-strings job on this one have you?

BRENDAN: Oh, he’s a lovely lad, I’m sure he’ll do well. I’ve signed him up for the CCNP.

MADELEINE (VOICE OFF): I knew it! Another top bonus one for you! Oh well, let’s have the details. Date of birth?

BRENDAN: Oh-one, oh-four, two thousand and three.

MADELEINE (VOICE OFF): Brendan! He’s four!

BRENDAN: That’s right, a boy genius by all accounts. Still, I’m sure he’ll be no trouble to the tutors. He probably knows more than them already!

MADELEINE (VOICE OFF): Brendan! Oh, well, keeps the figures up I suppose. So, I’ll set up a dispatch for the first section of the course. You checked out their computer? Okay for the course material is it?

BRENDAN: They don’t appear to have one, so that’s all right then.

MADELEINE (VOICE OFF): Wonderful! By the way, your Jason rang, said he'd be late home - overtime at the call centre. Now, don’t forget, the Direct Debit cooling off period is a fortnight, so make sure she doesn't open the file too early.

BRENDAN: I won’t! Anyway, must rush! Byee! (PUTS AWAY HIS PHONE, TAKES FORMS OUT OF HIS BRIEFCASE AND TURNS TO VICKY) Everything sorted. You just need to sign here... and here. Right. Now, I can leave you some things to read, but you’re not allowed to open it until you receive your further training materials from the College. That usually takes about four weeks. Okay? Right I’d best be off then.

VICKY: About that twenty quid? I could give you a hand if you like....

End of Episode 1

[rutherfordc4]

does anyone out there have a draft of a cancellation letter that can be posted on this site or emailed to me? if there is anyone who has been succesful with this!!!! today i received my 7 DAY DEMAND for £2450 i rang the creditors and told them they are only getting £5 a month until skillstrain have reurned the monies to them best of luck to everyone who is in the same ship as me
THAKS CHRIS

:cheers

[rutherfordc4]

does anyone out there have a draft of a cancellation letter that can be posted on this site or emailed to me? if there is anyone who has been succesful with this!!!! today i received my 7 DAY DEMAND for £2450 i rang the creditors and told them they are only getting £5 a month until skillstrain have reurned the monies to them best of luck to everyone who is in the same ship as me
THAKS CHRIS

:cheers

[Cliffv8]

what and clyesdale had no problem with that and is it still 0% intrest, sound a bloody good idea to me omg:

[rutherfordc4]

they did say they would accept this on a 3 month aggreement under my circumstances (trying to cancel my course) but i did state that this was all i could afford so by law they must accept my offer. it wasn't clyesdale who demanded the money it is from a company called
THE CREDIT INFORMATION BUREAU.
NATIONAL CREDIT REGISTER AND COMPUTER CENTRE
If theres nobody with a draft out there any legal terms regarding the lying salesman or poor timescales or the fact that i was unemployed when i was AWARDED this loan that i could put in my letter to them would be great.
:brick :brick :brick :brick :brick
.

[Ebbinsh86]

:) Hi everyone

Just thinking to myself how stupid i am for signing up with this cowboy company. Just signed on Sat
(19/05/07) and an trying to source how the hell do i cancel this thing!!!

Does anyone have a draft cancellation letter they can send me?? Do i need to send this "Welcome Pack" and briefcase with the letter??

Tried calling the sales rep a number of times but just ringing out - probably out with his rod hooking other innocent people into what looks like the biggest farce ever!

Looking at their website now i see that the "Microsoft Office User Specialist (MOUS) program is globally recognised..." although it has been called MOS for some years now and So may of the testimonials are written in such bad English or with bad spelling, that they would have difficulty getting jobs anyway (Guaranteed or not!).

Please someone help me get out of this rut and make people aware of these piss takers who call themselves "Skills Train"

In hope of a reply

Hannah

Can be contacted via email:
hkebbins@btinternet.com

Thanks

[Tallisker]

:) Hi everyone

Just thinking to myself how stupid i am for signing up with this cowboy company. Just signed on Sat
(19/05/07) and an trying to source how the hell do i cancel this thing!!!

Does anyone have a draft cancellation letter they can send me?? Do i need to send this "Welcome Pack" and briefcase with the letter??


If you only signed on the 19th than you are still in time to cancel. Contact your bank to make sure any direct debit / standing order is cancelled. Yes you will have to send everything back to SkillsDrain, but there is a freepost address that has been posted on this forum previously. Or phone their Liaison Office on 08450 777770 and ask them how they want it returned. Make a note of the name of whoever you speak to, and the date/time of the call. Write a recorded dellivery letter now cancelling everything (separate to the parcel return) - and make sure you also have proof of posting /proof of their receiving it when you do post back their parcel of stuff.

[warrior]

hi everybody first of all i m veyr glad to see that i m not the only victim of this bloody skilstrain company lolz sorry just a joke well after reading all of you guys exprencies with this company i wana tell u mine i had this guy fromt his company too cam edown to my house took 1 and half hour interview and convinced me to take this course up and also said he 'll be in touch with me to make sure everything is going fine but after few weeks when i tried to call him he never picked up my fone neither he ever called me anywya cut the story short the best thing to od is go to ur local citizen advice bureau and tell them ur problem and they 'll help u i did teh same thing its nto sorted yet but i m sure it 'll be i paid £50 case upfront while i wa shanded our course meterial and after that i didnt pay them anything anywya gud luck to all

[kay24]

hi ya, i have enrolled with skillstrain, and i am finding the course getting difficult, i read what you wrote about the course advisor and it the same convincing words they all use to make you sign that contract, they dont tend to tell you how much the course cast untill you have sign the contract, what a set of people, its been 9 months now i have sign up with them and i want to withdraw from them, should i do that or just continue doing my studies with them, i am doing Book-keeping and accounting, so are you saying that after all these money i will have to pay for my exams fee by myself?

[kay24]

Is anyone doing the Book-keeping and accounting course with skills train or have done it? i would like to know your experience or if you gain the qualification they've said.

[Tallisker]

are you saying that after all these money i will have to pay for my exams fee by myself?

I don't know about the accounting course, but for the others, you pay out the exam fee yourself, then SkillsDrain refund it to you providing you have completed the course (passed all the TMAs). Phone and ask how it works for your course.

[maddad]

1725
Refunded deposit

Well aint it amazing how quicky the "prospect" of potential video evidence gets results....mmmm??
I sent my letter of cancelation off to Skillstrain just last week telling the whole truth and nothing but the truth about how their "salesman" told me and my wife a complete pack of lies just to get me signing on the dotted line.Which of course he did but i never actually had the video evidence.That part was a lie......unfortunately(for them)

Got a nice call from an outraged manager(?) a couple days later though asking if he could have the "video evidence" i had of their "salesman" in action and how sorry he was blah blah blah and now just two days after that i`ve got my check for £50 back through the door.
Hows that for service:rolleyes:
.Of course though he wasn`t outraged he was just bloody worried i did have the thing i suspect.

Got quite a funny letter too telling me "Should the student fail to return all the course materials then the student will be liable for the full cost of the course and no refund of deposit will be actioned".....????

Strange considering i never sent them back...and wont unless they send the cost of the wrapping paper or jiffy bag to put it all in and a taxi or petrol money down to the PO.
I did tell them to send the SALESMAN back round to ..erm collect it all but apparently he no longer works in the area, suprise suprise

Oh well,all`s well that ends well:censored

EDIT:not sure why picture of cheque aint working as it did in the preview

[BRANSON]

Good afternoon to all of you,

herewith the update of a feedback we are receiving from our students.

Regards BRANSON

I started my course in Jan this year, so far I have had some good results not all 100%, but I feel that it not about getting 100% all the time it's about learning the course and remembering what you read that matters.
I am now on part b of my pc hardware and maintenance (essentials) I hope that do well in this part has I did in part A.
-Graham, AA, 20th Mar 07

Like anything in this world, You have to work hard to reap the benefits. I am a driver for a well known electrical store I have a wife 2 kids just recently I passed my class two driving I was promoted to driving the big lorries great stuff!!!
The only thing is my wage didn’t get promotion. So it's back to my N+ (http://www.skillstrainuk.com/network_engineer.html) knowing come the end of my course I will be reaping the benefits. Thank you Skills Train.
-Adrian, AA, 20th Mar 07

I studied for and passed my Comptia A+ (http://www.skillstrainuk.com/pc_engineer.html) last year. It took me a couple of months longer than I would have liked, probably because, at 50 years old, I was very much out of practice at studying. After all, I had been left full time education for 32 years! However, I feel I am getting better, and I persevere more. I am studying the Network + (http://www.skillstrainuk.com/network_engineer.html) course and feel I am coping pretty well despite the extra pressures of knowing that I am going to be made redundant from the job I have had for the last 28 years. I expect to do the N+ exam (http://www.skillstrainuk.com/network_engineer.html) in May (maybe sooner!) and then it is onto the CCNA course (http://www.skillstrainuk.com/cisco_ccna.html). I can't wait.
-Paul, AA, 20th Mar 07

Working on the Microsoft Certified Cisco Engineering course (MCSE) (http://www.skillstrainuk.com/microsoft_mcsa.html) and I am now working on the CompTIA Network+ Certification Windows Server 2003 (NetMaster) (http://www.skillstrainuk.com/network_engineer.html) and also working on PC Hardware and Maintenance (http://www.skillstrainuk.com/pc_engineer.html) - Essentials (CompTIA+ Certification which is the 2006 Objectives and I am enjoying this course a lot because I always wanted to work in the IT field. Did it in the US Navy as a communicator in which my qualifications will help me out for the future and I will keep up with the course. I can't wait to get my Certification.
-Scott, AA, 20th Mar 07

I have been doing this course since last September and have achieved very high scores with my assignments. Until now I would not have even attempted to open up my computer case. Last year my old pc packed up and I had an engineer over to see what was happening, after I found out that the motherboard needed to be replaced I decided not to go ahead with the repair but repair it myself when I have the skills needed to do this myself. This will have given my valuable experience and also saved me a fortune in repair bills. I feel I have the confidence to do this and learning from my manual has helped.
-Darren, AA, 20th Mar 07

2 x 100% in the last month and hopefully just submitted the 3rd. Fingers crossed.
-Jane, AA, 20th Mar 07

I am 46 years old and pursuing a Computer Networking course (http://www.skillstrainuk.com/network_engineer.html) leading to CCNA qualification (http://www.skillstrainuk.com/cisco_ccna.html) on correspondence basis. Currently I am employed as a Warehouse Operative. As you know it is not easy to study and work while fulfilling other family responsibilities. However I am glad that I have managed to complete the A+ (http://www.skillstrainuk.com/pc_engineer.html) bit and now pursuing the Network+ (http://www.skillstrainuk.com/network_engineer.html) before eventually studying for the Cisco (http://www.skillstrainuk.com/cisco_ccna.html) networking system.
I wish to advise those who are aspiring to pursue any course that age is not a barrier in achieving their dream career. Simply find whatever limited time you have to read and with time and perseverance it eventually gets into your system and becomes easy. Let your family, relatives and friends know you are reading, they will give you time and support you need to achieve your goals. I look forward to changing my career to computing with a view to becoming an IT Systems Network Administrator. I wish to thank all the staff members at the College for their continued support advice. Thank you.
-Abubakar, AA, 20th Mar 07

It's been great studying with skill train
-Seth, AA, 20th Mar 07

I have been studying quite hard to get 100 percent in each of my TMA but the closest I had earlier got was 98 percent. I was determined in my most recent submitted assignment and I got 100 percent for the first time!

I am now resolved to work harder to consistently to maintain this exceptional result in the consequent assignments and examinations as I know it is always possible.

I realize that the secret of this achievement has to do with consistent sense of determination and dedication.

Elijah Olla
-Elijah, AC, 20th Mar 07

[BRANSON]

and some more ...

Prior to this course, it was necessary for me to complete the ECDL because I was verging on computer illiterate. Working part time, and looking after young children, I found a void where I was not mentally challenged nor achieving as much as I had hoped to in my teens. I looked into many possibilities of career change and fell upon Web Design (http://www.skillstrainuk.com/web_designer.html) as it seemed to stimulate key skills I already possessed, fulfill a need to be creative and integrate and enhance skills needed in today’s modern society. As well as working I teach human values to children on a voluntary basis. For this I also foresaw the need to be computer proficient as a necessity for future projects. At work my new skills will also be a huge benefit to the company where I work. With this in mind I proposed my study endeavors with a view to help the company develop a web site to the managing director, which was a tense yet successful proposal. I now need to follow this through. I have a time scale to adhere to and feel driven to stick to it.

In order to achieve this long term goal there is still a long way to go. However I know I am achieving because in areas of my life, people are asking for my help and advice wherever IT issues are concerned. This feels rewarding, great for self esteem yet slightly unbelievable!

All seemed to be going well and to plan for my time frame until recently where we had a death in our family. Our family life turned upside down and where optimism and willingness to succeed reigned, negativity and sorrow persisted. Simple tasks became tiresome and studying and my own priorities faded in to the background to make way for keeping the family grounded. We recently have moved home also which was extremely unsettling. The onus being on me, a lot of time has been spent on organizing a smooth change in locality. This time though with my new IT skills (http://www.skillstrainuk.com/training.html), I was able to change a lot of mundane details online without fearing that the methods would be ineffective! I am aware of the benefits of being IT literate. I save on a lot of paper wastage which is great for the environment.

With time I have had to pick up the pieces whilst supporting the family which is emotionally difficult, but I have slowly began to revert to normality or the nearest to normality that can be achieved. I still do intend to complete my course and achieve my goals.

It has been a very personal achievement to be where I am now. I have more confidence in myself that I can achieve anything I want to, and for the first time in years feel ambition and thirst for knowledge feature strongly.
-Jyoti, CW, 20th Mar 07

I have now been doing the CIW (http://www.skillstrainuk.com/web_designer.html) with Skills Train for just over a year, Even though I find some areas hard I am still learning new things every week. I have found since doing the course I'm being asked to do websites for community centers and personal websites, which means the work is already coming in and I have not even done the whole course yet.

I have been slacking with my studies since after Christmas but I'm now going to try and get back on with doing the live training and also getting helping tips from Student World.

Thanks Guys!
-David, CW, 20th Mar 07

I REALLY DO ENJOY DOING MY COURSE. ALTHOUGH I AM FAMILIAR WITH THIS WORK, AND WAS A I.T STUDENT AT COLLEGE. I NOW HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO RECAP MY MIND ON COMPUTER SKILLS (http://www.skillstrainuk.com/training.html).
-Kauser, MS, 20th Mar 07

HI I WOULD LIKE TO THANK EVERYONE AT THE SKILLS TRAIN AND SAY THAT I AS A STUDENT RECOGNISE THE GOOD WORK THAT YOUR DOING TO ASSIST US/ME WITH MY STUDIES AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT (http://www.skillstrainuk.com/training.html).
I am doing my CCNA (http://www.skillstrainuk.com/cisco_ccna.html) but currently still on my N+ (http://www.skillstrainuk.com/network_engineer.html) module which I believe I have been getting on well with, i work as a full time support worker where I work with four people with learning disabilities, my job is simply to support then in their day to day lives, I have to fit in my studying schedule with my job and my family at home, I got married in December and just adjusting to family life with one child I got enrolled in this to develop my career in computing and for a better future hopefully to finish the course and get a good job and give a good life to my new son. I am giving it my best I have done well with the tma's that I have done already. Am sure with the support from the tutor team and the course material offered I will make it all the way and my dreams will become reality.
-Dennis, NA, 20th Mar 07

I HAVE SCORED 100% MARKE IN MY LAST TWO ASSIGNMENT.
-Nasir, NP, 20th Mar 07

I am a carer for my partner who has severe epilepsy, along with doing the housework and looking after our 2 boys ages 3 and 5. I often study late into the night and go over the TMA's and over again until I am sure I can get the result I am aiming for. This last month the whole family has been ill with the flu and when we managed to get over that I came down with tonsillitis. I am eventually aiming to get qualified for when my youngest starts school full time and I am able to return to work.
-Robin, PA, 20th Mar 07

I have finished my A+ (http://www.skillstrainuk.com/pc_engineer.html) and going to give sit exam now and in N+ (http://www.skillstrainuk.com/network_engineer.html) with the help of tutor team and grace of God I am doing one TMA every week hope it continues and I will finish this early.

I work in ***** as IT Support Analyst.

Kind Regards
-Kulninder, PA, 20th Mar 07

Currently I am working hard to pay off a loan I have, keeping a small car on the road, living and now this course.
I am working lots of hours a week and still I find the time to complete my course work given to me. I am loving the training (http://www.skillstrainuk.com/training.html) that I am getting and I hope to complete the first part of my course in 9 months (give or take). as soon as I send off a TMA, I’m learning for the next one, get a reply, then send off the next TMA.

This is a great achievement for me as I am glad that I found your courses
-Peter, PE, 20th Mar 07

Actually it has not being long I started this course but it has done a lot in my understanding of networking. When I first did networking courses (http://www.skillstrainuk.com/network_engineer.html) during my undergraduate it was like a threat in my course, in that each time I remember we will have network class I feel so sad because I hate when I engage in any thing I devoted my time and I will not see the effect of it in my knowledge.

It seems I wasted all my precious time in the class because I gained just little understanding. With N+ (http://www.skillstrainuk.com/network_engineer.html) as a selective course to MSCA (http://www.skillstrainuk.com/microsoft_mcsa.html) would have knocked off my urge to enroll with the course, but thanks to my colleague that visited my house, she was able to explain everything and convince me with the course.

Hence, ever since I started the course am happy with it because there is a big difference in my knowledge of networking. In that I have confidence within me when discussing network with any one despite the fact that i have a baby who is always there to disturb when am reading but the course work material seems to be easy and clear to understand with the little time I put into the study.

Am glad to enroll with the course, I can't stop to be happy with myself of what a change in me.
-Hope, TA, 20th Mar 07

[Tallisker]

Hello Branson:

nice to see you here again spamming this forum with third party stories that have, frankly, no credibility here. How about speaking to us for yourself and answering the questions that keep being asked but you keep avoid answering:

What have you done to ensure your representatives no longer LIE, DECEIVE and MISLEAD people? Please be specific.

What have you done to ensure your representatives do not continue to take advantage of people in vulnerable circumstances? Please be specific.

When will I get the Live Internet Training your rep promised me?

When will I be able to attend the local seminars your rep promised me?

When will I get the personal tutor your rep promised me?

Where are the skilled and knowledgable tutors your rep promised me? - the ones I have can do little but read from the same manual I use - along with its typos, factual mistakes and test-questions that are WRONG!

Come on BRANSON, and BE SPECIFIC...

[Cliffv8]

Wow, so many happy students and all on the 20th of March '07 too, must of been a good day!! :rolleyes:

If you would like to dig a bigger hole try one off these http://www.viss.lv/dati/tehnikasnoma/jcb_160.jpg :sponge

[Tallisker]

Good afternoon to all of you,

herewith the update of a feedback we are recieving from our students.
<snip>
Regards BRANSON


This semi-literate quote tells you all you need to know about SkillsDrain....

[elunia]

I see that a representative of SkillsT(D)rain has been active once again spamming this forum. I just want to express my opinion and share my experiences once again.
Branson mentions CIW and SkillsT(Drain) advertises the course in various newspapers.
In my opinion the course is not worth the money SkillsT(D)rain charges for it. The studying matreials are substandard and the tutors I have asked for help were incompetent. If anyone thinks about studying web design or programming - you can learn more and for free from various sources on the Internet.

[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

:mad:
Fifer

[treefella]

Good afternoon to all of you,

herewith the update of a feedback we are receiving from our students.

Regards BRANSON

I started my course in Jan ....
Here's some more happy skillstrain customers, just in case Branson/Multimedia forgot the embaressment...
http://forums.digitaltrends.com/showthread.php?t=11798

[Fifer]

I am interested in hearing how those of U who have cancelled the direct debit, got on afterwards
Fifer

[Fifer]

Post went through twice so had to change it

I wish I'd found this site before I signed up for that course. I'd never have signed up if I had. It's incredible how many people they've stung
Fifer

[Fifer]

I still have just under £800 to pay and am seriously considering cancelling the direct debit.

Very interested to see how others who have cancelled theirs, got on

[Fifer]

It beats me how Skills Train/Scheidegger have managed to rip off members of the public for so long. They must surely be aware of their salesmen's tactics; of how they're lying to, cheating and mis-leading people, yet they're still getting away with it and nobody seems to give a damn.
Fifer

[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