Really Peed-off by a training provider

NEW AND WANNABE DRIVERS (INTERACTIVE)
1

A couple of weeks ago I visited a well-known training provider for an assessment drive to take my C+E.

I met with the owner who virtually began by asking my age - I said sixty (yep — 60). He then informed me that ‘at my time of life’ it is unlikely that I would have the necessary ‘awareness’ to pass a C+E test. He explained that my all round perception and awareness will have been reduced considerably by my age.

He did, however, agree to me taking an assessment drive, which I paid for. He did warn me that it may only be for a few minutes, depending on how I fared.

After 40 minutes at the wheel of a large Volvo artic (which I loved — sad B that I am) he paid me the compliment of telling me that my perception wasn’t too bad and rated me as 4 out of 10. I was somewhat disappointed by this as I had passed my C test two weeks earlier so presumably the examiner had rated me a bit higher than that.

He told me that I would need a minimum of 35 hours one-to-one tuition but quite possibly more. He also warned me that I may never ‘make the grade’.

He suggested that I book (and pay for) 14 hours tuition and that he would then re-assess me to see if it was worth continuing with.

I asked him about his web-site which says that 3 days (21 hours) is the length of his C to C+E course. He assured me that I would need much more than that.

Needless to say, I came away from this with my ego well battered and my confidence levels close to zero.

Let me ask you (my avid reader) at this point — does this seem right to you?

It certainly didn’t seem kosher to me. Thirty-five or more hours training comes to about £2,000, and with a company that doesn’t seem to have confidence in its ability to get me to test standard in that time.

RIGHT — time to get my head sorted and my Positive Mental Attitude back.

This time I went to a different Training Provider - Peter Smythe Training - where I was assessed as needing 12 hours tuition. That 12 hours also included (at no extra charge) some therapy for my battered self-confidence.

Now, I don’t know if I am allowed to name the original training provider on this forum (I would love to - what about it Moderators?) BUT I CERTAINLY DO HAVE SOMETHING TO SHOW HIM (cos I KNOW he is on here).

Here it is:

C+E Cert 1.jpg
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2

I see you had Keith as your examiner.

Good to see the turnaround.

The previous trainer obviously did not know what he was talking about :wink:

3

There is no reason why you cannot name your pessimistic trainer.

I would have told them that they are not up to the job either, maybe I still would :laughing:

And you can still promote Peter Smythe

Optimum Training

4

dar1976:
The previous trainer obviously did not know what he was talking about :wink:

Oh I think the first trainer knew exactly what he was about… Its called ripping people off… If he was a genuine trainer, with honest intent who genuinely felt a student was never going to make the grade he should and would refuse to take any more money from him and send him on his way.

Mark

5

Congratulations.

Why not name them, it could serve as a useful warning to others about to start down the training route that the first guy might be lacking somewhat in ability to get people through the test in a timely manner.

6

or at least say where they are based ■■?

7

Coffeeholic:
Congratulations.

Why not name them, it could serve as a useful warning to others about to start down the training route that the first guy might be lacking somewhat in ability to get people through the test in a timely manner.

No problem naming them (now I have permision)…

Tockwith Training, near York
(may the Lord grant unto them their just rewards)

8

Alan

Just checked your photo on peter’s site, you don’t look a day over 30. :smiley:

Its good to see Peter coming to the rescue and doing what he does best , no nonsense training , credit where its due i’m sure you will agree.

9

Noworries:
Alan

Just checked your photo on peter’s site, you don’t look a day over 30. :smiley:

Its good to see Peter coming to the rescue and doing what he does best , no nonsense training , credit where its due i’m sure you will agree.

We have a phrase here in the North East … More slavver than a candyman’s trumpet. :slight_smile:

Have to agree about Peter though - efficient, professional and genuine as the day is long. (He said I would get a discount on my CPC if I said that about him).

10

It seems your first provider probably also thought that 60 year olds don’t know how to use a computer and the internet so were not concerned that the truth would come out. :wink:

11

OnlyAlan:

Noworries:
Alan

Just checked your photo on peter’s site, you don’t look a day over 30. :smiley:

Its good to see Peter coming to the rescue and doing what he does best , no nonsense training , credit where its due i’m sure you will agree.

We have a phrase here in the North East … More slavver than a candyman’s trumpet. :slight_smile:

Have to agree about Peter though - efficient, professional and genuine as the day is long. (He said I would get a discount on my CPC if I said that about him).

We have a couple of agency lads in our place each night who look about 15 years older than you.

12

Well done on the pass Alan i doff my cap to you sir,inspirational. I also did my C+E at Tockwith which one of the trainers was it . ?

13

Im shocked reading that, guy sounds like a right muppet.
I can imagine your confidence must have been at rock bottom after hearing that.All i can say well done with the pass!

14

Congratulations on the pass

just shows with right trainer :wink:

P.M.A !!!

thats still ringing in my ears after my time with PST Chris sorted out my confidence attitude too after a bit of a bashing from another training provider ,

again well done and that showed im !!!

jenx

15

I’m quite shocked as I thought Tockwith were quite decent…

Never the less, congratulations on your pass and very well done. Well done on showing them up as well, good on you. :slight_smile:

16

You beat me to it Sam.

Tockwith is on the recommended list IIRC.

Oh well.

Let’s hope it’s a one off for the sake of their reputation.

17

dar1976:
You beat me to it Sam.

Tockwith is on the recommended list IIRC.

Oh well.

Let’s hope it’s a one off for the sake of their reputation.

Perhaps I am a one-off, although I suspect not and certainly didn’t get the impression I was.
Maybe the way they ‘market’ their training depends on the current workload.
Bit quiet = normal rates.
Fairly busy (not needing to competitive right now) = let’s try-it-on, we might get lucky.

I may be quite wrong - just my (cynical) take on things.

I have no axe to grind - just like the title says - Peed off.

Alan

18

Alan,

Just out of curiosity what did you do before getting lgv licence , and why the decision to start driving now, tell me to bugger off if you don’t want to say. :smiley:

Steve

19

Sam Millar:
I’m quite shocked as I thought Tockwith were quite decent…

Never the less, congratulations on your pass and very well done. Well done on showing them up as well, good on you. :slight_smile:

+1

they have been recommended by forum users before :confused:

It will be interesting to read their reply to this :wink:

20

Noworries:
Alan,

Just out of curiosity what did you do before getting lgv licence , and why the decision to start driving now, tell me to bugger off if you don’t want to say. :smiley:

Steve

No problem (at least with some of it) :slight_smile:

Been in sales, marketing and management most of my working life. I have developed a serious hearing problem over the last 10 years and it’s a poor sales manager that can’t (or won’t) listen to people - so a change was needed.

Always liked driving and needed a challenge. Besides, the details on my birth certificate must be wrong - I am only 24 in my head. :slight_smile:

And when I do ‘shuffle off’ I plan to be shot by the husband of a young lady who catches me in her bed. So there - marbles going already. :slight_smile:

Alan