Bristol student questions on possibility of partial refund of course fees.

[blakes11]

Hi there,

 

I just read your post about your husband studying at a satellite college for a plymouth uni degree. I'm in a similar boat with a plymouth foundation but at a college in Bristol. I'm in the second year of a three year course but its being taught alongside full time students. My issue is that we, as part timers are a treated like a bolt on and we are essentially repeating the first year for the latest full time group to catch up. Its getting really bad and i too am wondering if i can get a refund for part of my course fees. We regularly turn up each week to be told that we need to sit through 1st year presentations and have lectures based on first year stuff. Not what we signed up to.

 

Given the fact that i also have a full time job i'm missing out on a days pay each week. In total, going to uni costs me nearly £7k a year and whilst i'm happy to pay it, im not getting value for money at the moment.

 

I was just wondering if you'd made any progress with your situation?

 

It would certainly help when i complain if i can give an example of someone else in a similar boat.

 

Many thanks

 

Steve

[MARTIN3030]

Unfortunately Rachel did not update nor answer the questions asked,so we have no info as to how she got on.

blakes 11 I think it would be an idea for you to have your own thread.I will sort that now.

[MARTIN3030]

For others reading-the thread blakes 11 refers to is here

 

http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?294280-Reclaim-university-fees-for-cancelled-course

[blakes11]

Thanks Martin

[MARTIN3030]

Steve,was this situation pointed out to you from the beginning ?

Or is this as a consequence of cut backs or some re-organisation do you think ?

[blakes11]

They did say that there could be some overlaps but it was explained that this would be the exception rather than the norm. The cutbacks are also quite clearly to blame for many of the issues. One of our lecturers is doing her PGCE and is using us as a case study for her work. Part of one lecture was spent talking about questionnaires we had to fill in for her.

Other times we have been due to have visiting lecturers from consultancy firms but this was cancelled because apparently internal staff members could deliver the content. When they finally realised they couldn't they ended up booking the initial lecturers anyway but at a point too late for the info to be used in the assignment it was meant to be for.

Each week this year is been extremely fluffy. We turn up and no one can tell us what we're doing. There is zero structure. 9 times out of ten i end up going back to work.

 

As you can tell there is a long list of badness. It seems extremely dramatic to say that i feel its borderline fraudulent. The college is essentially offering a course they have no capacity to offer.

[MARTIN3030]

Ok understood,well theres a couple of things to look at here.

Was the course miss represented

Was it miss sold

Does it not deliver what it said it would

Is there an unfair relationship or conflict of interest

Is there questions under duty of care or Fiduciary duty

Is there unfair contract terms

Has there been a variation of the original contract terms and conditions

 

These are all questions to be asking and looking at.

 

Can you identify any from that list ?

[blakes11]

Yes i can certainly put an argument together for most of those questions. Mainly not delivering what they said they would. I think it would be unfair to not attribute some of the issues to govt cutbacks imposed upon them but i dont think its too much to ask to have some structure to my course or at a bare minimum some communication to let us know of any changes to the timetable so that i can make better use of my time if relevant.

 

I've looked but do you know if there general government guidelines on the delivery of courses, or an ombudsmen type service or anything like that? Or is each institution self governed in regards to refund policies? Apologies if thats too specific a question.

[MARTIN3030]

Its ok Steve,whilst on the specific questions I have to say I dont know,there will be people on CAG who will.

I like to learn too.

I will try and find out for you.

Maybe someone more experienced in this area will also come and give some thoughts.

Just need to ask how you paid for the course ?

[MARTIN3030]

Also-I made a point of making your thread title Bristol shouting....the purpose in that was to maybe attract others and who knows-someone from Bristol Uni itself-I seem to recall we have someone registerd on CAG from there-although I dont exactly know their full remit.

[blakes11]

Also-I made a point of making your thread title Bristol shouting....the purpose in that was to maybe attract others and who knows-someone from Bristol Uni itself-I seem to recall we have someone registerd on CAG from there-although I dont exactly know their full remit.

 

Very much appreciated thanks.

I paid for the course via cheque. I'm self funding it so it's a tough pill to swallow when it's not good value for money,

Thanks again.

[MARTIN3030]

I'm self funding it so it's a tough pill to swallow when it's not good value for money

 

Yes I can see it.

Lets see what we can sort out.

 

For now-best go to the Cag canteen-its my turn for the coffee.........