ferinus

From: Sam Smith [mailto:]
Sent: 01 May 2009 14:24
To: Customer Support
Cc: ranj.dhamia@homelearningcollege.com
Subject:



My names Sam Smith I m a student on one of your courses. 4571021569

I am writing to express my deep concerns regarding the web design Dreamweaver/Flash course.

I met Ranj Dhamia 4 weeks ago to find out what the course covered and to get a grip of what I would be learning before deciding if this was the course for me.

I had a conversation with Ranj Dhamia during this discussion I told him repeatedly that I had a good level of understanding of web design knowing XHTML with the capability of creating a website and desiring to improve them to a professional level and wishing to advance my knowledge of Advanced CSS/Actionscript, Javascript, PHP and AJAX.

Over the course of the conversation I stated that I already hold web dev knowledge and that I was interested in these more advanced scripts numerous times to which the response was always positive and that this course would aim to raise my skills to that of a professional level so I could either start my own business or join a professional level company earning 26-30k a year.

I have recently started with you and after much lively discussion on the student forum it has come to light that I am not the only one who sees large discrepancies in the course content and what we were told would be covered by the course representative and as it turns there are many who are disappointed to find the level of content within the course after what we were assured by the course advisors would be included.

I am also worried because I was told that my payments would be taken by direct debit, when I went to suspend my direct debit until these issues could solved, much to my distaste I discovered that to date the payments have been removed by standard switch transactions.. the fact that I was misinformed on this level also undermines my trust in what I was told and my details being used in this manner unnerves me.

I would like confirmation that it wont be used in this manner again.

There was also no mention of the fact that the software I would be issued would be the student edition, to which I was disappointed because having been told afterwards Id be able to use it professionally and Id be able to set up my own business with it if I wished.. I was not told that the software I would be given wouldnt be adequate to do so.

I am deeply unhappy that I was led to believe this course would prepare to enter the web development profession and now Im left worried that we wont even be covering more than the most basic of CSS and Actionscript let alone knowing having advanced knowledge of them or the other scripts I had mentioned to the course advisor leaving me ill prepared for any web design/development jobs out there.

I was sold the course under the impression that it would raise my Intermediate skills to that of advanced/professional, the fact that the term professional was used so frequently I was surprised and annoyed to find we would only be taught to the Adobe Certification (as it was referred to in the conversation) ACA level status and not ACE.

ACE status is referred to on the Adobe website: http://www.adobe.com/support/certification/ace.html.. As An Adobe Certified Expert (ACE) is a person who has demonstrated a professional level in proficiency with one or more Adobe software products.

Considering this was what the course advisors entire sales pitch was based on the advancement to proffesional levels.. I was bitterly disappointed to find out we wouldnt be learning to a professional level.

I do think towards the end of the course some of the content might prove useful but it is far from the level I was assured I would be taught to by the Advisor, who grossely miss-sold the course to me.

I will blocked any further payments and needless to say unless we can resolve the issues I have put forward I will be expecting a full refund of all payments to date based on the fact I was miss-informed prior to purchase and made to believe the course was something it isnt.

Due to the level of my grievances I will be willing to take legal action if necessary.

I look forward to hearing from you shortly with a view to resolving this problem.

Many thanks,

Sam Smith.


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Subject: RE:
Date: Tue, 5 May 2009 17:09:02 +0100
From: Customer.Support@homelearningcollege.com
To: *******

Dear Student
RE: Clarification of Web Design course end qualifications


As stated on the Home Learning College website, the Web Design course covers the specifications for two exams: Web Communication using Adobe Dreamweaver CS4 and Rich Media Communication using Adobe Flash CS4. These are available from Certiport.com. Successful candidates are then awarded "Adobe Certified Associate" status certification. This is a professional qualification, recognized in industry and worldwide.


Adobe do provide other higher qualifications in their software, but students MUST begin with the "Adobe Certified Associate" as this is a prerequisite of further training.



Regards


Customer Support

Home Learning College
1st Floor, County House
221-241 Beckenham Road
Beckenham, Kent
BR3 4UF
Tel: 020 8676 6025
Fax: 020 8676 6020
www.homelearningcollege.com
Home Learning College Logo


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From: Sam Smith [mailto:*******]
Sent: 06 May 2009 03:29
To: Customer Support
Subject: RE:



Either you haven't understood my email or have chosen to side step the main points.
I am very aware that ACA is an industry recognised certification but it isnt an award for professional level skills which Your course advisor told me I would be learning.

I already have a BSc (HONS) in a computer sciences Media Production degree and have already learnt most of what was in your syllabus during the second year of Uni.

I made the course advisor well aware of my education and how much I already knew with aim to what I wanted to learn and he assured me this course would be perfect for me.

This course is a course for beginners which I made him well aware that Im not.

Youve also not mentioned or reassured me as to the use of switch transactions from my bank account when I was told it would be a direct debit.

Or the matter that it wasnt mentioned it was student edition software.

The fact that youve failed to even try to solve any of these problems or explain why your sales advisors could be allowed to miss inform potential students in such a manner angers me.

I am hereby cancelling my contract and demand my full deposit and any monies paid refunded.

A written copy of this shall be sent to you via recorded delivery.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Subject: RE:
Date: Thu, 7 May 2009 10:06:57 +0100
From: Ruth.Brokenshire@homelearningcollege.com
To: ******

Dear Mr Smith

We have liaised with Ranj, the course advisor who enrolled you regarding your concerns and have received the following feedback from him:


Hi

With reference to Sam Smith it is disappointing to to hear that he has deep concerns regarding the web design Dreamweaver/Flash course.

I do not feel that the Student was misled in any way .I had adopted Best Practice in ascertaining what was important to him and the main benefit to him was gaining a qualification with the help of a Tutor that would allow him to build websites and give him better credibility with clients in the future .

When I asked the student on the PEG form how he would grade himself in the area he wished to study I was told (basic).


I went through the Course Benefits with him and that this course would aim to raise his skills that would allow him to:

Join Professionals already using Creative Suite 3

Earn 2 Adobe Certified Associate certificates

Learn Professional design,authoring,animation and publishing tools.

Create and manage professional websites with earnings starting from 19,500

With reference to his discussion on the Student forum regarding the large discrepancies in the Course content I had only highlighted and discussed with him what was in the presenter relevant to this Course and went through them with him one by one to which he was happy with.

With reference to the payments he was aware of the 100 enrolment fee which he paid by debit card

followed by 24 monthly payments of 75 as per the Enrolment form.

As a Course Advisor I believe the course is designed to prepare students to enter the web development profession as it allows students to create and manage professional websites.

The student was also aware of the 2 (ACA) Certificates as they were pointed out and shown to him during the presentation .

Kind Regards

Ranj



Please be advised that Home Learning College has adhered to our contractual obligations by supplying you with your course materials, software and tutorial support and confirms that we are unable to accept a cancellation of your enrolment at this late stage.

Regards


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

From: Sam Smith [mailto:***********]
Sent: 07 May 2009 18:54
To: Ruth Brokenshire
Subject: RE:



Dear Ruth.

Thank you for your quick response.



As to Ranjs response, I didn't ask about any qualification until the latter half of the interview and it wasn't until it was brought up by himself, I told him I wanted to extend my previously learnt skills thoughout the interview, why would I pay 2k just for a couple of cirtifications I could go and do seperatly.

He didn't ask me what level of skills I wished to learn he asked me to rate the level of skills I had already, to which I replied basic, I was also reassured on many occasions that I would be learning intermediate to professional level skills.

As to you accepting my cancellation at this late stage (under a month of signing 3 weeks since starting the course) my unconditional consumer right to cancel within 3 months and 7 days says otherwise..

as stated in the consumer protection (distance selling) Regulations 2000.

http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2000/20002334.htm


You will be receiving my written cancellation within the next few days.

Regards..
Sam.

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Dear Mr Smith

Please be advised that the credit agreement you entered in to with Home Learning College on the 8/4/09 can only be terminated in writing within the first 14 days of signing up or within 7 working days from receipt of your course materials.

Your cancellation period has now expired and you remain legally liable to the college for the payments you agreed to make.

Failure to maintain your monthly instalments will result in your account being passed on to our early arrears team and then finally on to a debt-collection agency.

We would therefore suggest that you seek some legal advice.