Just Found Out At College....

[Baobab]

I have recently started the second year of a level 3 Arb course. The total cost for the course is on average around a thousand pound per year. When I decided to take the plunge and go into Arb I thought it was best to get a college course behind me so I could progress a little better in the industry when I finish. So I checked all the Arb courses around the area, and decided to go for it.

 

That decision was on the basis of meeting the Arb leader of that course before I signed up as he told me that I would come out with a Level Three Arb NPTC. In addition I would also come out with CS30/31/38/39, Chipper, Stumpy, Mewp & FA tickets. I thought it was a good deal for my hard earned two grand so I signed up.

 

As it stands after one year I only have the CS30/31 like all the other lads on the course which were the only one’s the college got around to do last year. The college kept saying if you did not have all your course work in that you couldn’t do CS units so that’s the way they played it – I had my coursework already in at that time.

 

So I come into my second year and sensibly ask questions that relate to the other tickets that are promised. The answers I got today have made me livid as the college is now saying that we ourselves have to pay for the courses !

 

Now the course was advertised online, which is where I found out about the course in the first place. That is where it said I would come out with all the relevant tickets etc on completion of the second year. I was also told this by the main Arb tutor when I first signed up.

 

Many of the other students were told exactly the same. They, like me are completely unhappy about the why we have been treated.

 

At the end of last year a lot of the lads on the course were getting a little peeved off with how the course was going, as some of the course is Hort based and everyone wanted more Arb modules. We also wanted answers to why it was taking so long to put us through the CS38.

 

So with a few letters from a mature student sent to the main man of the college we eventually ended up with a meeting with the college principle and the main Arb teacher around April 2010. We aired out views and sorted some problems out. We were told/promised that we would take out CS38 in August 2010 after college finishes for summer as time was running out for the first year. The first year of the course ended and we were told the CS38 would now be in September.

 

Since my return to college we now have been told that CS38/39 will not be given to us and we will have to foot the bill. This is the same for the other tickets, even though this was part of the deal when we signed up. I even found out today that two of the lads on the course were put through the chipper ticket without the other lads knowing.

 

A lot of the lads are unhappy with this situation and some are not going to pay another year until this gets sorted out.

 

The problem I have is that has the people behind the course misled me?

 

The tutor I spoke to today said that the situation regarding CS Units and other tickets were because of lack of funding, which was known to them last October. We were never told until now. But they seem to have played us with telling us we will have the other courses on their way in the 2nd year + that chipper ticket trick with two of the lads !

 

However, I have spent over a thousand pound now and if I want to complete the course they are asking for another grand !

 

Any comments would really be appreciated!!

[Lorry thompson]

Got no advice but gutted for you mate bet there is people on dole getting the course for nowt was when I went

[liamjordan]

man that really does suck!!!

 

i got all my tickets for free as i did an ND Forestry & Arb, straight after i left school

[felixthelogchopper]

If you have all the details of the course in writing, it would seem that any failure to satisfy the promises made would be a simple breach of contract. As long as the course was marketed as an entire course and not individual modules, ie it was sold as a 2 year course and not 2x1 year courses, then they should satisfy your contract or offer you a full refund. I suggest you use any legal cover you have via house or car insurance to obtain qualified advice, or the CAB if no cover is available to you.

[Baobab]

If you have all the details of the course in writing, it would seem that any failure to satisfy the promises made would be a simple breach of contract. As long as the course was marketed as an entire course and not individual modules, ie it was sold as a 2 year course and not 2x1 year courses, then they should satisfy your contract or offer you a full refund. I suggest you use any legal cover you have via house or car insurance to obtain qualified advice, or the CAB if no cover is available to you.

 

Thanks for the reply Felix. It's strange as they made it out as a two year course. But too get to the second year you would need to pass all modules and an exam at the end of the first year. It is a full time course.

 

Most of the lads are thinking of throwing it all in. Not good.

[Baobab]

Plus i don't have any details of the course as they have now updated there website and the course name has changed.... Not happy.

 

It was the first year they have run the course when i started !!!

 

Lucky me !

Edited September 28, 2010 by Baobab

[Tom2020]

Anno 100% how you feel I did my first year and only got cs38 After i was promised to get cs30/31 Chipper and cs38 There reason for us not getting it was lack of funding to course

 

I have gone back to do my N.d this year to find out Im on 6weeks probation time So if i make a mistake or dont get along with the fellow students or i may fail the course the college dose not have keep me on there for having to spend no money

 

From last year 8 lads have gone from F.D to N.D While 4 other lads have been place on to the N.D course and they have never help and chainsaw in there life

 

So after one year it feels like i am doing my 1st year all over again so the new lads know what there doing.Collages our getting worse If i had the money to waste private traning anyway day

 

Had my rant

 

Hope it all works out for you and you get what you where promised

[felixthelogchopper]

Thanks for the reply Felix. It's strange as they made it out as a two year course. But too get to the second year you would need to pass all modules and an exam at the end of the first year. It is a full time course.

 

Most of the lads are thinking of throwing it all in. Not good.

 

The important distinction is whether or not the course syllabus markets the course itself as a stand-alone unit or a conglomerate of individually purchased modules. This would determine if each module was a separate contract within a contract and so satisfied by the completion of the module, or one individual contract covering the entire course, thus meaning the contract was undischarged until all modules were completed and the entire contract was breached. A good indicator would be if a total course price was quoted, even if paid in instalments. If you can't get advice elsewhere, try the SU for advice or hunt out a solicitor who offers pro bono work. Good luck, hope you get it sorted

Edited September 28, 2010 by felixthelogchopper

[Ella]

I have had a similar problem with my college, although i am still getting the funding for the basic tickets (30,31,38,39,PA1, PA6) At the start of the course they claimed that we could get additional tickets with funding being provided for the tuition and the exam fee, leaving us with only the materials fee to pay for (around £30 normally), provided we are on a long term course with the college and are 19 and under

Trying to snap this up I have pestered the college for the past 12 months to put me on an RTT loader course, an ATV course, CS32 etc, they have never got round to it despite numerous phone calls, letters, and meetings in person; and I am now told that the funding has been withdrawn, and I will now have to pay the full amount.

If you have the course details in writing then they cannot change their minds, and by law they must fulfil their promises.

Good luck!

[armchairarborist]

Hi Baobab, I'm in a similar situation, the college (myerscough) im learning with pulled a smart trick on me, signed up for a 3yr course Foundation Degree in Arb at approx £1000 per year, I have done two years and they say i must attend another two years to get the certs for it.. I got peed off and am having a gap year this year, will probably return next year but not happy.. Don't forget college/university is just ONE way of learning, it is structured to fit in a lot without going too deep into the actual vocational path you have chosen. I'm not going to waste the gap year without learning, I'm working my way through a number of books as well as researching anything that interests me and is current in the world of arb.. Ed.