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SCAM: Train4trade (Distance learning)
By Anthony Ashard
THE ADVERTISING:
Train4Trade, Study at home and ‘earn while you learn’ with a Plumbing Course, Electrician Course or Gas Engineer Course. There are times when we as young adults need to train in a trade to get on in life, however there are a few unscrupulous companies that set out to bind you to contracts that will inevitably lead to substantial financial debts and no job at the end of the course, if you ever manage to complete it. After contacting the website for further information, the company sent a sales representative whose hard sell tactics ended up with my son-in-law signing up for the Train4Trade electricians course. It was not until the next day did my daughter realise while surfing for answers and more information did she find a consumer advice forum with many complaints in relation to Train4Trade customers See forum here Although I personally wouldn't sign anything before reading it over a few times and even researching it on the net, he signed up for the course and a direct debit agreement totalling £5770! Now I've read the small print I've discovered that there are fees that T4T attempt to charge £45 if you want to cancel the agreement, the contract states you have 7 days from signing to cancel as long as you apply in writing and return all course materials. They conveniently provide you with a nice leather-look briefcase as well, which will cost quite a bit to send back next day delivery with sign for assurance. The Cancellation of Contracts made in a Consumer's Home or Place of Work Regulations 2008 Under the Cancellation of Contracts made in a Consumer's Home or Place of Work etc. Regulations 2008, if you buy goods or services costing more than £35 as a result of a trader's visit to your home or place of work, the trader is required by law to provide you with a written copy of your cancellation rights explaining your rights to cancel the contract at the time the contract is made. This will then give you seven (7) days to cancel the contract starting the day the cancellation notice is received. Failure to do so may be a criminal offence and may make the agreement unenforceable. It does not matter whether the visit is one that you have requested yourself or whether it is unsolicited. No fees can be levied in respect of cancellation under the doorstep selling regulations 2008. Source A petition was created in 2008 in an attempt to get the British government to act against rogue 'distance learning' courses. Click here to read the governments response to this partition. The Rep that visits assures you that after training you will likely get work with leading companies as illustrated on the course brochure however in reality the companies that are on the brochure (when asked) stated that they DO NOT even endorse the Train4Trade courses! I will be writing follow-up stories about this, so other readers many not fall for this nasty financial entrapment scam. I'd be interested to hear from anyone who has been conned by similar scams or knows anyone who have experience dealing with this type of scam.
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Contributor's Note
Advice on consumer rights and the law is also available from the Government-funded helpline Consumer Direct on 08454 04 05 06
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Debt Collection Practices: When Hardball Tactics Go Too Far
| The Cancellation of Contracts made in a Consumer’s Home or Place of Work etc. Regulations 2008
The Train4Trade logo
PLEASE VISIT THE CONTRIBUTOR'S WEBSITE
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Very useful intel to warn people of the predators on the web. Excellent job.
Such a pity more research wasn't done before signing up. I can't really see how trades as you described can effectively be taught by 'study at home' courses. I hope your son-in-law gets his money back. As you point out, the company shouldn't be asking for any cancellation fee either.
 | | odls Jun 17, 2010 04:11 | |
CONTRIBUTOR'S REPLY
Thanks for your reply, home study courses are theory and you are normally sent to attend practical lessons during the course as well. However the con is that they charge £5770 for the course to be paid by a loan agreement which they are paid directly the whole sum, and then you pay the bank back. Another part of the con is that they insist you have to repay £1300 before you can start the practical lessons, And yes you guessed it they try to charge £45 administration fee, so I quoted them the law.
They used to knock on the door with their to good to miss deals, seems they have gone to the internet as they can contact more people in less time.
CONTRIBUTOR'S REPLY
They do still sent Hard selling rep's if you reply online when you merely request more information.
I can only hope that someday, companies who sell higher end products or services would be required to pass some kind of Better Business Bureau test BEFORE they are allowed to sell online... No seal -- No ticky. No ticky -- No tacky...
CONTRIBUTOR'S REPLY
This particular firm of conmen have been operating under a number of different business names over the years, and have come under the watchful eye of the BBC's Watchdog Rogue Traders. I have contacted the BBC with written evidence and voice recordings of the representative lying his head off and the lies of the receptionist when we phoned to request details of cancellation.
The copyright for this content entitled "SCAM: Train4trade (Distance learning)" has been specified by the contributor as:
All Rights Reserved
This content may not be copied, distributed or adapted by anyone under any circumstances.
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This intel was contributed by Puniksem
Puniksem
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May, 2012
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