So it’s not you last posting on the thread and you want another round? OK
skorpio:
As you have obviously spent some time dredging back into archives from when you were still in school, I’ll reply merely to answer your accusations.
What’s the reference to me and school about? If not a did that I’m a pup wet behind the ears? Wrong!
skorpio:
At what point does the OP say he’s never met the trainer?
Not sure he had or hadn’t, just that the trainer told him 14 hours would be fine, yet the candidate had not done an assessment, so had no way of knowing if this was reasonable or not. This is the crutch of the matter, and you yourself have said, or rather admitted NOW that driving instructors cannot be be taken at their word, as they have their own motives which are not necessarily the same as the candidates. And that it what I disagreed with on your initial statement, as the instructor wants the business, and will tell the candidate what they want to hear, You basically said that the candidate should take the instructor at their word, end of! (Disclaimer: Not all instructors are dishonest, most I’m sure are not. But a little research should be able to suss this out…)
skorpio:
You made the comment on me going through life trusting people!
No I didn’t, I said that you may be able to work out whether you can trust a person. While at the same time basically calling me wet behind the ears. And if I’m wet behind the ears, due to the ink on my licence still being wet, wouldn’t the same also be true for the OP?
Which way do you want it pal? As you can’t have both…
skorpio:
My opinion on newly qualified drivers spouting advice remains the same, get some experience first.
What has my licence experience got to do with general advice about whether you can trust someone who would clearly be biased in getting business for their school? I’d say that’s a life experience thing, and by now you should have worked out I’m not wet behind the ears mate. I’ve been around, possibly more than you, as I’ve come into this industry after have careers in other industries. So there is a fair chance I’ve more experience in life than you, but I won’t claim that, as I’m not that condescending… But back to this point, which is what would I know about choosing a driving school, and on that point, possibly more than you as I’ve done it more recently than you, so my knowledge is fresher and more current!
skorpio:
On the subject of life, as I pointed out, I’ve been around a long time, can you say the same?
Oh YEAH baby! 
I spent many years works for a blue chip IT company, did a Mech Eng Degree, and before that worked on construction sites as a Site Engineer. (This is now my retirement career…)
skorpio:
I stand by what I stated, why ■■■■ bout with an assessment when a qualified trainer considers he cn get the OP up to standrd in the specified time frame [something borne out by an LGV trainer]
The main point I was disagreeing with was believing an instructor, who clearly would have his own motives. Which are unlikely to be inline with those of the candidate… Yes a lot of candidates can pass in 14 hours, (as I did) but there are others that need more training. So when the OP states concerns that they are unsure of this and haven’t had an assessment drive, alarm bells should start to ring. So the best course of action is to have an assessment drive, and if possible, do this with a few trainer to find one the candidate is comfortable with. I’ve seem plenty of posts on here where candidates have had a horrible time with an instructor, so are in no way prepared for the test, as they are nervous as hell. And fail! Not because they are incapable, but because they lack confidence, and nerves get the better of them. Additional to this, Pete Smythe regularly states that some candidates need more training than 14 hours, and some less, so assessment drives are advisable. It’s not a case of one size fits all, and the OP should get an assessment to accurately gauge this. So I view this as a disagreement that the instructor in question can get the OP to pass in 14 hours training, it’s just a guess! And without knowing the instructor in question, we don’t know that instructors motives… What do they charge for retests for a start? As from what I’ve seen here, this can (and has been used) as a good money spinner for some training schools. And again, as I’m a Newbie in this forum more than you, I probably know that better than you. So your condescension of me being wet behind the ears, fails you again…
skorpio:
That posting was in reference to the reportedly over abundance of jobs available, taking quotes out of context will almost always change what they appear to mean. [maybe you’re also training to be a politician]
It’s not out of context at all, as the issue is trust. You didn’t trust the driving instructor as they had their own motives, and exactly the same issues are in play here. No I wouldn’t make a good politician, as I don’t tell lies or spout ■■■■■■■■. But if you’re conceding that I’m better at the battle of words, I’ll take that as a compliment! 
skorpio:
I didn’t (and still don’t) consider that I “tormed off in a strop”, I merely considered that enough had been sad. You, by your actions {dredging the archives} felt otherwise?
You wanted the last word, and said so. I relied, and here we are again… As for me dredging the archives, I spent a few mins looking at your previous posts, so what? It’s called research pal, and exactly that I recommend to anyone in choosing a trainer, it’s sense and basic logic!
skorpio:
I’ll tell you why I deleted a number of my posts, certain people were trying to use them against me in an attempt to gain in my employers eyes! That is all I will say on that matter.
So you said something you regretted, and needed to moderate yourself. Day ya vu?
skorpio:
My temper? Maybe you’ll meet me one day (nameplate is prominent on my truck) and realise how wrong that statement is. I learnt to control my temper many many years ago.
That would be nice, but I’m concerned that you needed too moderate your temper in the first place.
skorpio:
On that point, hope I’ve answered your concerns about me, I bear no grudges to anyone these days so will wish you a happy new year.
Cool, happy New year to you, and I bear no grudges either. But just because my licence is still wet, it wasn’t wise to assume I was still wet behind the ears, and try to talk down to me on those grounds, it’s condescending!
