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Problems with college course

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  • 19-01-2011 2:44pm
    #1
    CollegeProbs
    Closed Accounts Posts: 17 ✭


    In our class about 18 of us started a 16 week course in oct.We paid about 900euro each for course.A week ago our teacher was sick and another teacher took the class.She asked to see our work wed done for our exams,we hadn't done any.Our teacher had never given us the info we needed saying we had lots of time. but it turns out we should have had all this work done and our exams are in 2 weeks. during this class it turned out that we had only covered about 20% of the work described in our course content.a new teacher has taken over the class and theyve offered us 2 more classes but a lot of people cant go cos of work and childcare probs.

    So now we have a ton of work to do in 4 classes which a few ppl cant make and we have 2 weeks to do work we should have been doing since start of oct.they sent us an email saying sorry but none of us are happy and feel weve been scammed.

    some ppl wanna repeat the course and others want a refund but all were gettin is the 2 extra classes.any ideas what to do?

    edit we were told all materials needed were included but we had to get loadsa stuff cos we were sharing 1 between the whole class and now were told we need to get more stuff so in the next two weeks we have to get a lot of course work ready, study, finish the course road runner style and go shopping for extra things


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    #2
    CollegeProbs
    Closed Accounts Posts: 17 ✭CollegeProbs


    any advice pls?


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    #3
    dilallio
    Registered Users Posts: 2,728 ✭✭✭dilallio


    Did you get a breakdown of the course content at the beginning?


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    #4
    CollegeProbs
    Closed Accounts Posts: 17 ✭CollegeProbs


    yes we did and its on their website still.new teacher is flying through everything because obviously she has to get us through exams but spending 5 mins on a major topic isn't ok from our point.


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    #5
    ejmaztec
    Registered Users Posts: 24,083 ✭✭✭✭ejmaztec


    Which qualification/exam is the course supposed to prepare you for?


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    #6
    CollegeProbs
    Closed Accounts Posts: 17 ✭CollegeProbs


    itec for beauty industry


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    #7
    daheff
    Registered Users Posts: 5,866 ✭✭✭daheff


    can they not extend the course (assuming its run by them for one of their qualifications)?

    If they are not providing what they are supposed to be providing you would have a strong case for a refund (at least partial)


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    #8
    dilallio
    Registered Users Posts: 2,728 ✭✭✭dilallio


    On one hand it's very late (13 weeks into a 16 week course) with exams in 2 weeks, to be letting the college know that you only have 20% of the course covered. They should have been made aware of the problems before this, so that they had an opportunity to rectify it.

    On the other hand, they have a responsibility to ensure that the classes they offer, are taught in a professional manner, and that there is a level of supervision other than the teacher.

    The offer of 2 additional classes is not sufficient - you have paid good money to be taught 100% of the course syllabus in 16 weeks, so why should you now accept the need to go through 80% of the syllabus in 2-3 weeks? Even if you did this and pass the exams, when the word gets out to prospective employers, it will de-value your qualification and may find it difficult to get work.

    If I was you, I would decide quickly whether you would like a refund or to repeat the course at the college's expense. I would sit down with the college management, and tell them nicely but firmly, that it is their reputation which is on the line here. I would also explain that you will be following up with ITEC who (according to their website) inspect each college to ensure that it is up to ITECs standards.

    Because you all went through 13 weeks without informing the college of the issue, I'm guessing that a full refund will not be offered. Would you feel comfortable going back to the same college to repeat?


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    #9
    the_syco
    Registered Users Posts: 37,301 ✭✭✭✭the_syco


    [QUOTE=dilallio;70203981]Because you all went through 13 weeks without informing the college of the issue, I'm guessing that a full refund will not be offered. Would you feel comfortable going back to the same college to repeat?[/QUOTE]
    From the OP, it seems they only found out that they had only done 20% when the sub came in. Up to then, they thought they were on schedule.

    OP: I'd go for full refund, and go elsewhere. They sound like a sham.


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    #10
    ejmaztec
    Registered Users Posts: 24,083 ✭✭✭✭ejmaztec


    I think I'd be looking for a full refund, at least, as it's obvious that for whatever reason, the original teacher didn't do her job properly. Offering two extra lessons doesn't seem anywhere near adequate to cover all of the time wasted before the teacher went off sick.

    It's bad enough taking any kind of exam, even when the subject's been taught properly, but when it hasn't, you're at a distinct disadvantage even before you start the exam.

    At the end of the day, the organisers have still got their cut (in this case 18x900=€16200), whether anyone gets the diploma or not, and they don't want to be handing any of it back. The teachers would have been paid out of the total takings, and any other related costs.


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    #11
    CollegeProbs
    Closed Accounts Posts: 17 ✭CollegeProbs


    thanks,

    yeah we thought it was all ok until sub came in.we asked the teacher a few times for info on course but she was saying she didnt want us overloaded with info and we would be coming to the rest of stuff.

    we also didnt know our exams were so soon,we were only given dates last week.we all thought they were end of feb/march.

    some ppl have been offered 2 repeat the exam in june but its still just 2 extra classes. obviously we are all lookin 4 work from this so we want to be job hunting now not waitin till june n the girls that have work or kids have made arrangements for this and its hard for them to make arrangements now last min for next few months.

    dont think ne of us feel happy with college now or to be repeating

    we asked was the teacher new and they said shes been there 4 years!!!makes u worry bout ppl gone before!!!

    itec is a seperate qualification to the college so its not up to the college to re do it or give us extensions :(


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    #12
    the_syco
    Registered Users Posts: 37,301 ✭✭✭✭the_syco


    CollegeProbs wrote: »
    itec is a seperate qualification to the college so its not up to the college to re do it or give us extensions :(
    Who did you pay? ITEC, or the college?


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    #13
    CollegeProbs
    Closed Accounts Posts: 17 ✭CollegeProbs


    the college


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    #14
    the_syco
    Registered Users Posts: 37,301 ✭✭✭✭the_syco


    CollegeProbs wrote: »
    itec is a seperate qualification to the college so its not up to the college to re do it or give us extensions :(
    the_syco wrote: »
    Who did you pay? ITEC, or the college?
    CollegeProbs wrote: »
    the college
    I may be mistaken, but as you paid the college for a service, one which you just found out is a pretty sh|te service, the college is who you'd get the refund from.

    IMO, it may be cheaper for the college to put you through the class again (as the next class may already be paid for) rather than giving the money (which they may not really want to give back) to you.


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    #15
    CollegeProbs
    Closed Accounts Posts: 17 ✭CollegeProbs


    if we re do class we wont be qualified till july,so ppl who are using this to look for work will have to wait a few months.and the next class has already started so if we do that one we will have missed a few lessons again or if we wait for the following one we wont be starting till sept

    the college cant give us extensions on coursework or exams as they are itec.

    i think every1 justs want refund now cos we are all so mad with wasting our time and being messed around


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    #16
    CollegeProbs
    Closed Accounts Posts: 17 ✭CollegeProbs


    the college has sent out an email apologising for the error and saying theyll give us 5 extra classes to make it up.

    -but myself and all class dont think 5 lessons is sufficient.
    -a lot of people cant go to extra classes due to work and babysitting restrictions
    -people have so far wasted their time and money on the course
    -extra lessons means extra hours off work to arrange and extra money towards babysitting and travelling expenses, one girl is from carlow so its quite a distance to dublin city
    -a very tiny amount of time to prepare for an exam and do a portfolio means a lot of stress and having to do a rush job
    -the college did tell us that all course materials would be provided but we were left with 1 eyeshadow palette between all of us and very strongly encouraged to buy the colleges kit.

    We agreed to the course within a certain time frame,as the college didnt teach it to us within the times and expect us to take extra classes should we be out of pocket for this? with travelling expenses/babysitting/not being able to look for work for a few more weeks etc

    The class are divided on what they want from it. Most want a refund but some want to repeat the course completely.some want a part refund and to repeat course.so far the mentions of a refund have been ignored.any suggestions on what we are entitled to here or the best course of action?1 girl said she would go thru the small claims court,would the scc cover college courses?

    thanks


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