Starting to get hacked off with Sterling, they are not deliberately obstructive but they are unhelpful and disingenuous, starting to make me wonder…
For example, as requested in previous letters on passing the theory test I rang them up (less than an hour after the test) They informed me they were going so send a form to fill in and would post it that day.
Well, by today it still hadn’t arrived so I gave them a call and they suggested faxing it to me, so I have the form at last, amongst the boxes it mentions I must send the Theory Manual they sent me, back to them in the supplied envelope They didn’t fax that
So tomorrow I send them photocopies of Licence (Paper and Photocard), Theory Pass Certificate and the Theory Book and then wait for 2 weeks before ringing them up again (it says to not ring for 2 weeks after returning) to kick them up the backside again as they will doubtless ignore them for a while.
Very minor points I know but just starting to niggle.
On top of this I am now worried they appear to use wagon and drag for the C+E thus depriving me of essential big artic experience.
Tempted to cancel, get as much money back as possible and go to a more local company where I can meet the chaps and arrange dates etc before parting with money.
amongst the boxes it mentions I must send the Theory Manual they sent me, back to them in the supplied envelope They didn’t fax that
I would either send it back with no postage paid or tell them I would hand it back in on the first day of training.
When you booked I take it you took the option of booking both Cat C and C+E at the same time.
(Dont lets get into this CPC and free C+E option)
When you booked did you stipulate that you wanted Artic as opposed to W+D?
If you did say you wanted Artic then you would have a good case for return of monies paid, but if you did not. then they would be able to say that they offered C+E in a suitable vehicle.
Well i wasn’t expecting that. I also took up a course with Sterling, not been able to start it yet due to knee cartlidge problems. I booked a package of C/CEand ADR for a grand. They sent a book and a dvd but never mentioned i send them back or anything :S
I was going to go with Clearstone but after one chap kept on and on and on and on and on ringing me, i got fed up of them so i decided to go with sterling. Good job too, Clearstone have been in administration twice lately(please correct me if im wrong).
Keep us updated with how your getting on with them though
All monies paid towards the course fees as either deposits, part payments, balance payments or any form of instalment payment, or for vouchers are non refundable or transferable
Should a retest be required and the customer requires us to book one with the DSA on their behalf this will be subject to a minimum admin charge of thirty five pounds plus vat, plus hire of vehicle, plus vat at prevailing rates, if pass insurance is not taken.
In accordance with the consumer protection (distance selling) regulations 2000, where a program/course is booked without face to face contact, a customer may cancel a contract up until the expiry of a period of seven working days beginning with the day after the day on which the contract is concluded. These regulations will only apply if you book a course by telephone, fax, post or electronically using the Internet. They will not apply if you visit a training centre in person to book a course. This period of consumer protection will be known as the cooling off period. Cancellations must be received in writing with proof of delivery (registered post) to our office within seven days.
In accordance with the consumer protection (distance selling)(Amendment) Regulations 2005 if the performance of the contract has begun with the consumer’s agreement within the cooling off period described in term (16) the right to cancel ends within the cooling off period. For clarity this means if the customer requests the course training materials to be sent to him immediately after booking the course, the right to cancel ends at that point.
Some of our training locations are operated by our approved training partners. In these instances the company does not own the vehicles. Some of these subcontracted training providers operate vehicles of a different make to the company.
With any CPC funding, the CPC must be passed within twelve months starting from the date of deposit, to obtain the free artic course, failure to pass the CPC within this time limit will mean that the artic course if required will have to be paid for at current rates.
All theory test manuals and DVD’s are loaned to the customer and a pre-paid envelope is enclosed for their return. Should a student require to keep the material a fee of twenty five pounds plus vat will be charged.
I have copied and pasted what i thought was applicable. My current situation is…i have 6 months left on the whole caboodle. I received an information pack with the “summer King of the Road offer”. This included,
HGV Rigid Course fully inclusive of training and DSA test fee.
DSA Theory Test.
3.CPC Home Study Course.
4.FREE HGV ARTIC course worth £949 on passing the cpc. We will also provide you with a guaranteed pass worth £233 on the artic course.
5.Job placement.
6.Free loan of theory test study materials.
7.FREE 5 DAY ADR course worth 349.00.
ALL THE ABOVE FOR JUST £1248(i copied this from the paper i received and i only paid £1049.00 due to a military cancellation.
Seems i didn’t do all the research i thought i had. Anybody have any idea’s what i should do?
If i do get a substantial refund, can anybody recommend a firm in the Northwest, preferably as close to Preston as possible where i can do the courses in stages, such as doing the Rigid now and the Artic at a much later date(when i have more money)■■
Oh, and then there’s the small matter of the ADR course.
‘COURSE VENUE
At this time all our courses are run in Corringham, Essex. They are conducted in a modern environment, well organised with tea and coffee provided during breaks.’
That was never mentioned when I booked the course, the emphasis is always on the fact that the training centres are nationwide and so there will always be a local training centre for the prospective trainee. I live in Lancashire, so a five day course in Essex would be extremely expensive and inconvenient.
I can whole heartedly recommend Nightfreight at Burnley. Less than 30 miles from Preston ! They can do you a whole range of courses broken up as you wish. Rigid & Artic vehicles (MAN) are only 3 years old and are only used for trg. Been training on the rigid this week (test tomorrow !).
Instructors are great and the instruction is fantastic. Talk to Sara or Becky in the admin office. See my blog (in my sig) for pictures of the rigid.
stormnation:
Oh, and then there’s the small matter of the ADR course.
‘COURSE VENUE
At this time all our courses are run in Corringham, Essex. They are conducted in a modern environment, well organised with tea and coffee provided during breaks.’
That was never mentioned when I booked the course, the emphasis is always on the fact that the training centres are nationwide and so there will always be a local training centre for the prospective trainee. I live in Lancashire, so a five day course in Essex would be extremely expensive and inconvenient.
Are you getting that feeling, such as a swarm of angry wasps attacking your bare flesh
stormnation:
Oh, and then there’s the small matter of the ADR course
Are you getting that feeling, such as a swarm of angry wasps attacking your bare flesh
To be honest, im bitterly dis-appointed, i have been looking forward to doing the test and getting the licenses for over a year, now to find
a) i didn’t do as much homework as i should &
b) Sterling arent all they are cracked up to be.
Haha, they even offer help to the people affected by Clearstone. Is that the blind leading the blind eh?
What makes matters slightly worse is that im unemployed, cant work until the specialist gives me the all clear and i basically only have whatever money i get back(if any) from Sterling to get another course, which then i hopefully proceed to get the C licence, work for a bit, save up again and carry on up the ranks.
All the CPC stuff has really confused me, some people say you need it, some say dont bother, others mention a personal and another one for (?)truck/firm/(?)(cant remember the other option)
Tis-hame, i will look into Nightfreight, but this time, i intend to do as much research as i can
im unemployed, cant work until the specialist gives me the all clear
In your case, it might be worth a trip to the local jobcentreplus as you MAY be entitled to some sort of back-to-work funding - can’t hurt to find out - play on your medical issues
im unemployed, cant work until the specialist gives me the all clear
In your case, it might be worth a trip to the local jobcentreplus as you MAY be entitled to some sort of back-to-work funding - can’t hurt to find out - play on your medical issues
What…so they may help funding for a lorry course?? I have been told of this back to work thing but didn’t take to much notice thinking i was “good to go”. I suppose if they can help then i may have to try them!
ROG, would you actually recommend Sterling LGV to anybody?
im unemployed, cant work until the specialist gives me the all clear
In your case, it might be worth a trip to the local jobcentreplus as you MAY be entitled to some sort of back-to-work funding - can’t hurt to find out - play on your medical issues
What…so they may help funding for a lorry course?? I have been told of this back to work thing but didn’t take to much notice thinking i was “good to go”. I suppose if they can help then i may have to try them!
It will make a lot of you sick if I was to tell you that a recent foreign national to the UK has received FULL LGV funding from them - SO I WON’T
stormnation:
ROG, would you actually recommend Sterling LGV to anybody?
My answer would be the same as most, if not all, on this site but it would not be professional of me to ‘CALL’ another training provider who is stil in business
If you do the research you will find the basic rigid course is ok.
If you go for the special so called packages you get stung !!!
But even on the basic course the last question anyone askes if what is the charge for a RETEST if required ?
Horrendous i will tell you that.
Qualitas and Stirlings are the same company…
I used to sub contact for them most of the instructors are great ( In the Northampton Area Anyway )
Most of the learners have a bad story about the office and how they deal with people …want some good advice do not use them at all.
Tip …
Always use a local company and go and see them ask them if they are middlemen ask to see the vehicles. Or if you see them in a Cafe talk to the instructor and the learners currently on a course…
Blimey This threads grown a bit since I last looked.
Hello Stormnation.
I think I was a bit naive when I approached Sterling, I tend to assume that folks don’t lie or twist the truth. Hopefully they will turn out OK. I must become more cynical and distrusting!!
I sent the book back, registered post of course along with the document copies they requested and a quite snotty letter carefully phrased to not get their backs up but to shove them along the path of niceness.
I have decided not to cancel yet but to just keep on their backs in the office to ensure I get what I paid for in reasonable time.
I see their rigid around Northampton quite a bit on my daily run and it’s a 52 reg jobby in reasonable nick, maybe a 12 tonner or something, doesn’t seem very big though.
If I fail the C or C+E at any point I shall perhaps take lessons and a retest with another provider and return to Sterling for the next stage.
Wozzer:
Blimey This threads grown a bit since I last looked.
Hello Stormnation.
I think I was a bit naive when I approached Sterling, I tend to assume that folks don’t lie or twist the truth. Hopefully they will turn out OK. I must become more cynical and distrusting!!
I sent the book back, registered post of course along with the document copies they requested and a quite snotty letter carefully phrased to not get their backs up but to shove them along the path of niceness.
I have decided not to cancel yet but to just keep on their backs in the office to ensure I get what I paid for in reasonable time.
I see their rigid around Northampton quite a bit on my daily run and it’s a 52 reg jobby in reasonable nick, maybe a 12 tonner or something, doesn’t seem very big though.
If I fail the C or C+E at any point I shall perhaps take lessons and a retest with another provider and return to Sterling for the next stage.
Good idea but there deal is probably only if you do it all with them their small print is very small …
Yes they are looking for a new instructor as one died at crick 2-3 weeks ago.
A sad Day
The one they have currently is Good …( It aint me Tho )
stormnation:
7.FREE 5 DAY ADR course worth 349.00.
The question you need to ask about this is:
Does the quoted figure include the handouts, exam fees and V.A.T?
TIP: The exam fees for a 5-day ADR course are £200. (So it pays to ask. )
Please be careful mate.
Unfortunately, i have already coughed up the money. Rather regret not finding this site so much earlier, would have saved me so much hassle.
Hi wozzer Thanks for letting me reside in this post
My option now is to get as much money back from sterling as i can on the grounds that i cant work or drive at the minute and by the time i’m allowed to, i wont have enough time to get all the courses done. That way i should get back £850 or so and hopefully find a reputable firm close by to do the Rigid with, hopefully 1:1.
Another bone to chew…i have never had an assessment test…i thought that was a standard procedure■■?
If so, contact your card company ASAP and ask them to cancel the transaction. You have six months. Explain to them that it has been used illegaly and that you have paid for something that has not been delivered. They’ll send you a form and you fill it in explaining why you’re cancelling. Say they moved the course, say all of it. Say the money was taken from your card without your consent.
Its the Consumer Credit Act and you ARE protected against this kind of ‘con’.
Does the quoted figure include the handouts, exam fees and V.A.T?
Thanks for letting me reside in this post