Is it possible to complain about conduct of driving instructor

theCzar

My girlfriend has been getting driving lessons, she's unhappy with the instructor (<SNIP>) and feels she is being coerced into paying for additional lessons, the only site I can find to complain is for unlicenced instructors but he is licenced, is there no other option?

It seems strange that there is no way to rate or review driving instructors, everything from pizza to plumbers these days gets star ratings.

tonbinn

just find another instructor?

DesperateDan

I don't think it's fair to name people when they aren't here to defend themselves. Just find a different one.

ScouseMouse

Indeed, that name should be removed.

Hitman3000

theCzar wrote:

is there no other option?

Of course there is another option, go to a different instructor. It's not like she's stuck in a contract like a bill pay phone or something similar.

ScouseMouse

If you are not happy with a driving instructor or indeed any service provider, just find another one.

Perhaps your partner is correct, or perhaps your partner needs extra lessons, we don't know, but if it is a case she needs more lessons - you just tried to shoot the messenger.

Jaysci20

Sounds to me like your partner is a very nervous learner. There are intensive courses designed for such people to give them psychological coping mechanisms when they get behind the wheel.

theCzar

Apologies for the naming - question stands though - is there no place to lodge a complaint? As you are all aware instruction is expensive and bundled, buy 11 get 1 free deals make a little more affordable so "walking away" is not free. Of course, caveat emptor etc. but the system seems stacked against the learner.

Ultimately I would not expect any action on a single complaint, as some will be justified and some not - but if a pattern emerges... it can prevent people being ripped off. Driving instructors, like the general population are a mix of the good, bad and ugly and there should be a way to help protect consumers.

theCzar

Jaysci20 wrote: »

Sounds to me like your partner is a very nervous learner. There are intensive courses designed for such people to give them psychological coping mechanisms when they get behind the wheel.

Hi <SNIP>!

MascotDec85

Send an email to complaints@rsa.ie

The RSA will ask for your permission to name you so that the ADI can answer the complaint. If you’re not prepared to do that there’s no pint in complaining.

Why not speak to the ADI in question for clarification?

theCzar

MascotDec85 wrote: »

Send an email to complaints@rsa.ie

The RSA will ask for your permission to name you so that the ADI can answer the complaint. If you’re not prepared to do that there’s no pint in complaining.

Why not speak to the ADI in question for clarification?

Thanks, I'll give it go.

ScouseMouse

So what has actually happened here? You say that yer man is a registered instructor and has told the lady she needs more lessons? You think he is trying to manipulate her into paying for more?

How is her driving? If she sat a test tomorrow, would she pass? In your opinion? If you contact any authority you will be asked to back it up. What do you have other than a belief she does not need them?

Sleeper12

Your gf has a difference of opinion with the driving instructor. No more, no less. What is there to report?

It is possible that your gf needs more lessons. I've never seen her drive but it's possible.

dennyk

How exactly is he coercing her into paying for more lessons? If she paid him for 12 EDT lessons and she has received 12 hours of lessons but he is refusing to sign off on their completion or submit them to the RSA unless she purchases more, then that's an issue and she should file a complaint. ADIs aren't allowed to refuse to sign off on completed lessons regardless of the level of competency they feel the student has attained. All they can do is note the lesson results with a comment about the student's performance if they feel it is necessary, but the lesson is still complete for the purposes of the EDT requirements once it has been given, regardless of the outcome. A particular ADI could always refuse to move on and give any further EDT lessons to a particular student should they not feel comfortable doing so due to the student's lack of ability, but they must sign off and submit any lessons that were completed, and they'd likely have to refund any prepaid fees for unused lessons if it was the instructor refusing to continue, not the student.

If he is just discouraging her from taking the test until she's had more lessons, there's nothing wrong with that; instructors are free to give their students evaluations of their driving skill level or recommendations for additional instruction. If your girlfriend disagrees with his evaluation, she's free to go take a lesson with another instructor to get a second opinion, or to simply go sit the test if she feels she is ready to do so.

ScouseMouse

dennyk wrote: »

How exactly is he coercing her into paying for more lessons? If she paid him for 12 EDT lessons and she has received 12 hours of lessons but he is refusing to sign off on their completion or submit them to the RSA unless she purchases more, then that's an issue and she should file a complaint. ADIs aren't allowed to refuse to sign off on completed lessons regardless of the level of competency they feel the student has attained. All they can do is note the lesson results with a comment about the student's performance if they feel it is necessary, but the lesson is still complete for the purposes of the EDT requirements once it has been given, regardless of the outcome. A particular ADI could always refuse to move on and give any further EDT lessons to a particular student should they not feel comfortable doing so due to the student's lack of ability, but they must sign off and submit any lessons that were completed, and they'd likely have to refund any prepaid fees for unused lessons if it was the instructor refusing to continue, not the student.

If he is just discouraging her from taking the test until she's had more lessons, there's nothing wrong with that; instructors are free to give their students evaluations of their driving skill level or recommendations for additional instruction. If your girlfriend disagrees with his evaluation, she's free to go take a lesson with another instructor to get a second opinion, or to simply go sit the test if she feels she is ready to do so.

That sounds right, but there is no indication that has happened. All the OP said was his other half feels they are being coerced into getting more lessons.
There are no indications of inappropriate behaviour, just teacher says she needs more lessons.
Unless there is some sort of reasoning provided, which there isn't at present, it appears to be somebody "feels" something. How far is that going to go ???

theCzar

To elaborate, she had a 2 hour session to cover lessons 5 and 6 but only 5 was signed off. Instructor says he recommended spending more time on lesson 6 next week and it was understood she would be able to practice some lesson 6 skills further during lesson 7, it wasn't explained adequately that in fact this meant she would be a full lesson behind and she would be asked to pay for an additional lesson to make it up. When challenged on it when it did become clear, the instructor said the recommendation was signed off but my gf felt pressured to agree at the time and didn't understand the choice - hence her feeling coerced and misled to her cost.

Reaching the end of the 12 lessons and being told she was not ready for the exam would not be cause for complaint.

Sleeper12

Definitely not. Some people have had dozens of lessons & still not ready for the test. I remember one lady on the radio having hundreds of lessons over the years & still not passing.

I know less are expensive but generally the more less the better

ScouseMouse

theCzar wrote: »

My girlfriend has been getting driving lessons, she's unhappy with the instructor (<SNIP>) and feels she is being coerced into paying for additional lessons, the only site I can find to complain is for unlicenced instructors but he is licenced, is there no other option?

theCzar wrote: »

To elaborate, she had a 2 hour session to cover lessons 5 and 6 but only 5 was signed off. Instructor says he recommended spending more time on lesson 6 next week and it was understood she would be able to practice some lesson 6 skills further during lesson 7, it wasn't explained adequately that in fact this meant she would be a full lesson behind and she would be asked to pay for an additional lesson to make it up. When challenged on it when it did become clear, the instructor said the recommendation was signed off but my gf felt pressured to agree at the time and didn't understand the choice - hence her feeling coerced and misled to her cost.


Reaching the end of the 12 lessons and being told she was not ready for the exam would not be cause for complaint.

If you do a lesson, and are still having difficulty with the content, you need to practice those skills in your own time, if you still are having difficulty, then you need more lessons.

If you think this is coercing your other half into buying more lessons, sorry, I think you are waaaay wrong.

theCzar

ScouseMouse wrote: »

If you do a lesson, and are still having difficulty with the content, you need to practice those skills in your own time, if you still are having difficulty, then you need more lessons.

If you think this is coercing your other half into buying more lessons, sorry, I think you are waaaay wrong.

It's not an issue of more practice or tuition required to reach full competence, it's that the lesson was not signed off, leaving her with no option but to pay for further lessons - competent or not.