“ABSOLUTLEY DISGRACEFUL
I have inserted part of an Email (Below) from Learing Academy dated 22nd September of written confirmation for a place on an AET training course and venue dates to be held in Newcastle Upon Tyne on 17th -19th October. Since that letter of wriiten confirmation I recieved no further information or advice from this company to the contrary.
On the strength of this confirmation I went ahead, booked and paid for flights from my home in Malta to Manchester UK and further rail fares
I arrived in the UK on 12th September looking forward to this course.
I was informed on the evening of Wednesday 13th October that because there were not enough candidates for the Newcastle venue that the course had since been cancelled. This was after my arrival in UK for the course. I had no prior indication that this could happen.
I was offered some alternatives
1 was to attend a zoom online course consisting of three days at 7 hours per day. This option was imprcatical because of temporary accomodation in the UK. Internet access is limited and would not be practical for 3x 7 hour days on line.
2/ I was provided with alternative dates in December, January or February. This did not tie in my with my CPD training plans for Chartered Membership with IOSH and I also wanted the qualification for possible employment plans in teaching
If I had wated to attend a Zoom online course I would have asked and booked a zoom online course or if I had wanted to attend training in December January or February, I would have chosen those dates
I was offered a third alternative of my travelling to a Glasgow Venue on the same dates 17th - 19th of October.
I was wiling to travel to Glasgow to attend albeit at short notice and an inconvenience to my plans. I also offered to pay my own transport expenses on top of my flights and rail fares. However I did ask that since Learn More Academy had cancelled the Newcastle Venue at short notice with no prior warning that they cover the costs of hotel accomodation.
My financial outlay to date has been
Cost of Course £299.99
Outward Air Flight 175.49 Euros
Rail Fares £85.
Return Air Fare £144.00
Plus incidental costs while in the UK
Their response was to offer me a refund of £50.00 which I considered an insult.
I have had several email correspondences with Learn More Academy and one telephone call in which the "customer assistant" made it quite clear that he was not at all interested in my predicament but to confirm if I would attending the Glasgow venue or not ? He was totally not interested in the very slack manner in which this situation arose.
As a result of this company and their slack event management, I am now not only left finacially out of pocket and have had a wasted journey as far as the course is concerned, but am now in a difficult position with my CPD schedule with IOSH and any employment opportunities in the near future are now not possible unti I can find a reiable alternative training provider.
My advice before anyone goes ahead and books with this company to be very aware of what could go wrong.
I for one can not give any form of positive feedback for a company that has incurred me unneccessary financial outlay, delays and complications in personal plans and has possibly put any chance of a teaching job out of reach for the foreseeable future. Plus a very negative overall response for the situation
I am very unhappy and upset with this company
Please see attached letter of confirmation below
Learn More Academy
Thu, 22 Sept, 13:39
to me
Dear Keith Richardson,
This is to confirm that you have booked on the Level 3: Award in Education & Training (AET) course with us. Your class will be held for 3 days on 17th - 19th October 2022 (Monday - Wednesday) by 10:00 to 17:00 at Jurys Inn Hotel, Scotswood Rd, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 4AD.”
