Empower Training courses temporary cancelled

ottostreet · 14-10-2010 10:08AM

A meetings been organised in Langtons in Kilkenny for next Thursday night 21st October at 7:30 to talk about Empower. Students, tutors and anyone affected can come along, they are looking to put together an action group!

saoirse81 · 14-10-2010 11:28AM

A meetings been organised in Langtons in Kilkenny for next Thursday night 21st October at 7:30 to talk about Empower. Students, tutors and anyone affected can come along, they are looking to put together an action group! For more info email
hmallon2009@gmail.com

caprilicious · 15-10-2010 01:15AM

Just came across an article from the Kilkenny Advertiser in relation to Empower

http://www.advertiser.ie/kilkenny/article/32195

Students up in arms at sudden closure of Empower Training
KILKENNY ADVERTISER, OCTOBER 15, 2010.
By Naoise Coogan

Hundreds of students, teachers and tutors are devastated at the news that Empower Training has shut its doors in Kilkenny leaving only a note on the door as an explanation as to what has happened at the troubled educational facility

Proprietor of the State-approved training centre Stephen Doran and his wife Vivienne Hinton are understood to have left the country and fled to Cyprus, following the controversy that erupted and cast a shadow on the authenticity of the courses being run at the facility.

Empower catered for up to 1,000 students many of whom are now wondering whether or not they are to receive certificates for courses they have undertaken and paid for, or in other cases whether they will get to finish courses that they have begun and receive their accreditation.

A war of words has begun on the social networking site Facebook where students and teachers have been conversing with the couple and voicing their anger at what has happend.

One writer says, “I cant believe what you and Stephen have done!! I will never get the money you owe me not to mention the money you took from students?? You both left a big mess behind ye, I dont know how ye both can live with yourselves after what ye have done. I hope it all catches up with ye and ye never have a moments peace...”

Another writer says, “ I am absolutely disgusted at what has happened. I trusted you. Why couldn’t you just have cancelled the course and let us all go our ways. Your company has left a trail of devastation behind, values and ethics are obviously out the window. Funny how we were learning about values....”

Empower only ceased trading this week although it had continued to advertise its courses as recently as last week.

Steven Doran in an email to the Kilkenny Advertiser denied any wrong doing at the centre and promised to contact all those affected by the closure of Empower Training.

He said in his statement, “any person funded through Skillnet whose name was submitted to them for funding purposes as agreed with indivuldual networks did training with the company”..... “it is important that the message gets out there, that protection for leaners exists through FETAC for helping people continue their course or have assigments corrected depending at what stage of their course they are at,” he said in his statement.

He also offered an apology to learners saying, “we will be contacting all the learners we can, bearing in mind we have no staff, as quickly as possible advising them of what they can do to continue or wrap

up their course...We would like to aplogise to all learners who have been inconvenienced by the collapse of the company.”

The offices of Empower in Newtown House on New Orchard Road on the outskirts of the city displayed a notice on the door saying the company has ceased trading earlier this week sparking an outcry from students and staff.

Two weeks ago, the Kilkenny Advertiser reported allegations into misconduct at the centre when FETAC — the statutory Further Education and Training Awards Council confirmed that an investigation was ongoing into the agency.

Students and tutors have since come out and said that they had informed the State accreditation body that they had grave concerns about whether standards were being adhered to at the training company, however, they had been assured by the body that their fears were unfounded and all was above board at the centre.

However, FETAC has since undertaken an investigation into the centre and the authenticity of the courses run there and a report is due to be completed next week. They finally suspeneded the company from enroling any more students on October 7, last.

Empower has administered hundreds of education courses for the public and private sectors across the country employing 10 staff and at least 12 tutors.

Stephen Doran was in receipt of more than €1m from State agencies FÁS and Skillnets since 2002 for the courses which included childcare healthcare, business and more.

Tutors from the centre spoke to Joe Duffy this week claiming that they had not received wages and students were also concerned about where they stood in relation to accreditation and fees to date.

A spokesperson for FETAC said 500 students were assessed in August and a further 500-600 are still on courses that were being provided by Empower.

FETAC suspended Empower's access to the council's certificates pending an investigation and a director of corporate affairs Ultan Tuite told the Kilkenny Advertiser that the investigation would continue into the centre for at least one more week.

Founded in 2002, Empower Training achieved FETAC Quality Assurance Registration in 2006.

It really annoys me that the company director can take the time out to email the local free ad's paper, but can't send one courtesy email to every student on their database to explain the situation. :mad:

hmellen · 15-10-2010 10:23PM

I am organising the Meeting im Langton's Hotel in Kilkenny next thursday 21st October @ 7.30pm. Hope to set up a committee to co-ordinate what we need to do to liaise with FETAC, Colleges in England and other organisation as a group rather than people trying to deal with this individually. We will hopefully gather as much info as possible from students re courses and feed this info back to FETAC etc so that they have all our details. I am appealing for former employees and trainers to come on board to help with the logistics of this. Eddie Langton is supplying the venue, PA system etc and the room holds up to 350 people.
The local Superintendent is to attend to advise re fraud and he is appealing for people to report re fees being taken, especially if anyone's bank account has been accessed without consent. He will hopefully give an update on where the investigation is at.The Gardai won't know the extent of the fraud until everyone reports their particular situation, no matter how small the amount.
FETAC, HETAC, London Metropolitan University,Skillnets and Eddie Hobbs have all been emailed and awaiting replies.
The Sunday World are featuring a big article this week and myself and a trainer are appearing on the Morning Show on TV3 next tuesday morning to keep it alive in the media. Any help with the logistics of organising this would be greatly appreciated. The local print and radio media will also attend.
PLEASE attend or if you can't, follow EMPOWER ACTION GROUP on Facebook because when this all dies down in the media, it will be back to us to sort it out ourselves. There's a better chance if we're an organised Group, look at what the older people were able to do about the medical card when they got organised.
Note re parking: As there is limited parking if there is a very big crowd, PLEASE park at Dunnes Stores Car Park in the city centre and Langton's is 2 minutes walk accross the bridge. Come in through the bar or main hotel and we're in the ballroom at the back.

caprilicious · 15-10-2010 10:42PM

Excellent stuff hmellen, I'll be there with bells on.

I've the mailing list of contacts from one of the September course groups, I'll mail them your details below & facebook link.

I'm really grateful that you are arranging this, it gives me some hope that not all is lost just yet.
Brilliant to hear the Gardai are so proactive in this too, hopefully they'll drag the 'directors' back from Cyprus & make them face up to their responsibility. :mad:

panevthe3rd · 15-10-2010 11:40PM

From what I understand of FETACs update this morning they are going to place students in courses as long as the course was supposed to be over 3 months long. Provided FETAC stick by this then is there much more that can be accomplised by an action group? I will be giving you our details but I'm just wondering what the overall aim is. I don't mind not getting the money back if a alternative course is set up and the qualification is valid. Maybe I'm not understanding FETACs position correctly.

hmellen · 16-10-2010 12:07AM

FETAC can only sort people out if they (a) have peoples details
(b) actually have our course assignments
(c) can only help those who are already in their system i.e, if tutors have had a chance to submit assignments
There are lots of other people affected, not just those doing FETAC courses, there's the London Metropolitan University Courses and Kingston College not to mind the students who did Skillnets courses and now are worried about their certs. I was talking to a First Aid Tutor who was contracted to do First Aid Courses for the Health Care FETAC course and has found that Certs that Empower were supposed to distribute were found in a hotel recently. The names are on the Certs but the tutor has no adddresses, were supposed to be sent out by Empower. Do you really believe we can trust Empower to organise to send individual student's details to FETAC if they can't even be bothered to send out a few certs!
Also, it will be an opportunity for people who have lost money to come together to get advice from the Gardai. From the feeds I'm getting back, people are not getting much luck from their local gardai stations around the country so we need to get all the complaints re money formalised into one area, i.e here in Kilkenny where the offence took place. We will organise for people to talk confidentially to report if they have lost money, so people, please don't be intimidated to attend.

hmellen · 16-10-2010 12:51PM

New email address for the above action group is empoweraction1@gmail.com.

saoirse81 · 16-10-2010 02:01PM

Fetac need to get into the empower offices, there are assignments on desks, under desks etc and they need to go through everything and find a database of all learners and contact them also.

hmellen · 16-10-2010 06:07PM

I agree, FETAC were supposed to get access last friday but I haven't heard yet if they did. Will be ringing them monday first thing.

arubap · 18-10-2010 11:57AM

What is the number for Fetac? Trying to find out if my wife can continue with the course she signed up to even though it hasn't started.

Clashmore · 18-10-2010 12:23PM

Hi lads,

Arubap: The number for FETAC is 01-8659500.

hmellen: I tried to look your group Empower Action Group on Facebook and was unable to find, has it been set up yet?

For anyone was has recently finished the Train the Trainer Course that was run fron the Kilkenny offices of Empower. I spoke to someone in FETAC about earlier today and was told that we should be o.k because we had the course finished, was also told to keep my assignments until I hear from them. I was told this may take a couple of weeks as they are trying to help the people who are doing longer courses or in the middle of courses first.
Hope this helps people

Clashmore

hmellen · 18-10-2010 06:24PM

If you ring that main line number you need to leave a message and they will ring you back. You can ring a lady called Collette direct on 01 8659529 or email info@fetac.net FETAC are reassuring everybody that this will be sorted but how long will it take!! Watch the Cybil and Martin Show TV3 tomorrow tues 11am. Reporter who broke the story is on with the real story.

hmellen · 18-10-2010 06:33PM

Facebook won't accept the name Empower Action Group so I had to post a not about the meeting on my own page Helen Mallon.
Can send email to empoweraction1@gmail.com

hmellen · 19-10-2010 09:36PM

Sorry, the correct email contact for FETAC is info@fetac.ie

arubap · 20-10-2010 09:33AM

Fetac are being typically poor at responding about this. Basically I feel we've been left holding the bag on this. Anyone else on here who didn't actually start their course and have been offered some alternative from Fetac?

hmellen · 20-10-2010 07:33PM

I can report some small progress. Had a phone call from FETAC @ 7.30pm to say that there is an update going up on their website tomorrow. www.FETAC.ie. Click on "Empower Update" and go to "Frequently answered questions".
Also received return email from Skillnets containing a statement re Empower.
Reminder: Meeting in Langton's Hotel @ 7.30pm tomorrow Thursday 21st October for anyone affected by Empower saga.
Email empoweraction1@gmail.com for further updates after meeting

caprilicious · 20-10-2010 08:05PM

This is the reply I received from them;

We are working with Providers at the minute on taking over the courses we will be in contact with you in the next two weeks regarding your course and going forward.

I still haven't heard about a visa charge back either so looks like I'll be in limbo for another fortnight.

I'll be at the meeting tomorrow though so hopefully there might be more clarity on the situation then.

arubap · 21-10-2010 08:01AM

Does anyone know if Empower has actually gone into liquidation and who the liduidator is? I cannot make the meeting today as am based in Galway.

Have to laugh at the Fetac response to contact the National Consumer agency if you want your money back. They will just fob you off and tell you to get legal representation.

hmellen · 21-10-2010 10:21AM

It is my understanding that Empower have not appointed a liquidator. FETAC have updated their website today. Go to www.fetac.ie. Click on "Empower Update" click on "frequently answered Questions"
Anyone who cannot make the meeting can contact us by email empoweraction1@gmail.com and we will feed information from the meeting back to you. Payments made by credit card might be covered by individual banks under a system called "charge back".
If there are enough people interested and affected, we could look at lodging a Civil case against the directors of Empower as a group and building the case with the Fraud Bureau.

Annasj · 21-10-2010 07:14PM

kqcregg wrote: »

News update! http://www.rte.ie/news/2010/1012/empower.html In the same boat but as I paid thru' credit card I have contacted my banks credit card services to hopefully get a refund. Not looking good in general. From a quick company search the have numerous names registered but a new Ltd company set up in July by some of the same directors! Gets fishier by the minute.

Hi All, how does the credit card charge back work? I paid by cc and was wondering where do I start to try and get a refund? A friend of mine who is also doing a course got a call from them in mid oct advising her that if she paid another 600 she could attend more classes. They're unreal............

pinxa · 21-10-2010 08:02PM

Hi all,i paid a 1000euros deposit by credit card.I went to the citizen information center today,they told me to contact FETAC, i asked them could i get my money back by "charge back" they said no,your best hope is to contact the National Consumer Agency and the small claims court.

Because i only paid the deposit im supposed to pay 3 more installments,so went to the bank to cancel the credit card but apparently they can still get the money so you have to write a letter to the Charge Back Unit and explain the resons why you want to cancel the credit card,when you do this they can monitor any transactions/activity coming from empower colleges

norosulliv · 21-10-2010 08:17PM

Spoke to citizen information regarding small claims court and apparently small claims court does not cover situation like these.
I have been trying to get into fetac web page all evening. does anyone know if there is a problem with their web.

looksee · 21-10-2010 08:32PM

I have also been trying to get onto the FETAC website to check out a module and it will not let me in, just keeps saying 'connecting'. Its not a great website but there is not usually any problem accessing it. Maybe a temporary glitch or maybe there are a lot of people trying to get on to it.

hmellen · 21-10-2010 10:09PM

A meeting was held in kilkenny tonight and an action committee was formed. See update from FETAC on www.fetac.ie. Click on "empower update" click on "frequently answered questions". Further clarification received from FETAC by phone before tonight's meeting. Same can be accessed by sending an email to empoweraction1@gmail.com

hmellen · 21-10-2010 10:13PM

A meeting was held in kilkenny tonight and an action committee was formed. See update from FETAC on www.fetac.ie. Click on "empower update" click on "frequently answered questions". Further clarification received from FETAC by phone before tonight's meeting. Same can be accessed by sending an email to empoweraction1@gmail.com

caprilicious · 21-10-2010 11:00PM

Excellent meeting tonight Helen, it was great to get some up to date info on what actually is happening.
Great also to know I will be able to proceed with the course

Annasj wrote: »

Hi All, how does the credit card charge back work? I paid by cc and was wondering where do I start to try and get a refund? A friend of mine who is also doing a course got a call from them in mid oct advising her that if she paid another 600 she could attend more classes. They're unreal............

Annasj, I spoke to my visa company, they asked me to put the charge back request in writing.
At the time when I contacted them, it was the day this Empower closure was in the the news but they hadn't heard about it at the time.
They asked me to print out copies of whatever online news there was of the closure, details of my course etc.

That said, it was over a week ago that I posted that in & so far no news.
I'm actually going to cancel the charge back seeing as the course is going to be continued, but if you don't want to continue then definitely contact your bank first.

Regards the meeting tonight, my heart goes out to the office staff of Empower.
They attended tonight & put their story across, basically they had no idea what was happening, they have not been paid since the company closed, nor are they entitled to any social welfare even though they have lost their jobs.
Its an absolute disgrace that their employers could do this to them :mad:

Here's the direct link to the Fetac/Empower FAQ: http://www.fetac.ie/fetac/providers/registration/AnswerstoEmpowerlearnersFAQs.htm

hmellen · 22-10-2010 05:57PM

Sadly, there are still people who have not heard about Empower, turning up for courses this week and this weekend. Please email empoweraction1@gmail.com or ring 0872928424 for advice over the weekend as FETAC are closed until tuesday.
A good meeting last night, and so delighted to see some of the staff there so we could show our support and let them know we never blamed them for any of this mess. A member of the Committee would like to conect up with any of the staff to fill them in on other information which we were unable to discuss at the meeting,
thanks
Helen

dilljen · 25-10-2010 09:55AM

An article reported in the Kilkenny Advertiser:

"A war of words has begun on the social networking site Facebook where students and teachers have been conversing with the couple and voicing their anger at what has happend".

Does anyone have the link to this discussion? I have searched Facebook but can't seem to find it - I would like to see what exactly Stephen Doran and Vivienne are saying.

Any help would be greatly received.

hmellen · 25-10-2010 01:35PM

At the Empower Action Meeting it emerged that FAS contacted people by letter in JUNE about a Health Care Level 5 Course being run by Empower Care, with Directors named on the Empower Care Company Registration as Richard Anglim and Stephen Doran.
Approx 30 learners paid sums from €250 - €1500 to access the same course, many being promised work if they took up the course. We are currently trying to contact all 30 of these learners to get them in contact with the Empower Action Group to see where they go from here. Please contact empoweraction1@gmail.com.
It seems the FETAC website may have crashed as it is currently inaccessible.

Empower Training courses temporary cancelled

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