How to make a complaint against a driving school?

puckstownlane

Is there a trade body which represents driving schools and to which I can make a complaint about one of their members?

This particular school not only debited my credit card some days ahead of the scheduled lesson day, but has refused to issue a refund when I cancelled the lesson on the day in question. The reason for the cancellation (last December) was that the roads were completely unusable due to snow/ice when that day arrived.

I also plan to complain to the Consumers' Association of Ireland and go to the small claims court.

chin_grin

Eh (don't quote me!), but usually you'd still be charged if you cancelled a lesson on the day.

puckstownlane

But surely you are not expected to pay for a lesson that can't take place due to road conditions?

ADIDriving

The complaint should go to the RSA.They would be the body that governs all driving instructors and schools. They would also be the body that during that time would have been saying that the roads are not safe, don't drive unless you have to.
I know which school you are talking about and their behavour as unethical.

puckstownlane

Thanks - I will contact the RSA as well. It's not the money (not a huge amount) but I am angry both at their initial attitude on the phone, and also their subsequent non-response to an email and a letter. Their lack of courtesy and their unprofessional attitude is amazing in this day and age, when bad publicity can be so damaging.

BostonB

You could just go to the small claims court too I assume.

puckstownlane

I lodged a complaint with the RSA as suggested. I have written to the National Consumer Agency. I will make a claim to the small claims court.

I also want to publicize the matter, as I feel the driving school has acted very badly in a number of ways.. Any further suggestions would be welcome.

Reg'stoy

I would contact 'price check' on the Irish Times newspaper,which is a consumer column. In addition I would also e-mail the Ray Darcy show (Ray did a section on learner drivers last year if I remember plus his youtube videos) and even the Joe Duffy Liveline show.

Ring the school concerned again along with the RSA and explain to them that you are going to escalate the dispute by contacting the above programs and paper, cc them any e-mails you sent.

I would when I e-mail the radio shows and paper point out that the Gardai, RSA and the AA stressed that people should not make any unnecessary journeys due to the road conditions at the time. Hell even the RSA cancelled all driving tests, yet when you contacted the driving school (did they insist you take the lesson, or worse still pressurise you into driving by not allowing you to reschedule your lessons) they did not accommodate you. I would push how both you and your accompanying driver felt that it would have been highly irresponsible to let you drive in the prevailing conditions and therefore it was highly irresponsible and downright dangerous for the school to allow your lesson to take place.

Hopefully the school when they realise the prospect of the their 'good' name been associated with the phrases "highly irresponsible", "dangerous road conditions" on a national radio show they might show sense and refund your money.

Gusc

puckstownlane wrote: »

Is there a trade body which represents driving schools and to which I can make a complaint about one of their members?

This particular school not only debited my credit card some days ahead of the scheduled lesson day, but has refused to issue a refund when I cancelled the lesson on the day in question. The reason for the cancellation (last December) was that the roads were completely unusable due to snow/ice when that day arrived.

I also plan to complain to the Consumers' Association of Ireland and go to the small claims court.

If you go online to rsa.ie you will find the link for complaints against driving schools.
Gusc