Am I right to be annoyed? Trailer training/test

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Sophstar

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I booked a 2 day intensive training course costing me £530 with the test fee included. I went today for the first day, which didn't start till half 11 and have been out getting the hang of going back to driving school style driving:rolleyes:, shown how to do the 'official dsa' way of uncoupling/recoupling and spent a couple of hours getting the reversing nailed. I finished at 5pm, apparently I can keep going for as long as I felt necessary but a) there was no break for food b) there was no loo so c) I had to stop drinking my bottle of water despite it reaching 28 degrees outside. This wasn't helping my concentration at all and once I had 'passed' the reversing stage a good 7 times, I wanted to finish before I started getting myself in a muddle.

Now to me a 2 day intensive course would be what I had done today, then maybe a couple of hours tomorrow morning to get used to what a brand new car feels like again and to get a last minute practise in before doing the test just so I could remember all the key points and markers. What I am actually facing is my afternoon of training today and I have a test at 8am tomorrow morning so no practice. How is an afternoon classed and charged as a 2 day course??! Feeling slightly peed off and the fact my car exploded and had to be recovered on the way home is not helping my mood.

Am I right to be annoyed? :confused:
 
Then it's a one day course and test? Bet you feel cream crackered , that's a long time to concentrate! Good luck!
 
Yep - I would be pretty peeved too!!!

My 1.5 Day could be split any old way - as long as instructor was available - I chose 1 long day -then half day reminder then test in afternoon - yes it was hard work and brain was stew by the end of it all!!!

Yes - the instructor I used had no toilet facilities - but Yes we did find a local garage during the driving around.
Yes we stopped for food - In fact he bought me a bacon sarnie for Brunch! :D

Does this instructor/school have a website with feedback - did any reviews reflect the standard you have received - I would be complaining!
 
Local to me a B+E course would be £650 for 4 hours day 1 - 4 hours day 2 - at least 1 hour warm up then test on day 3

Instructors know where easy access loos are as well as all the T bars in case a drink is needed

30 min warm up prior to test is highly recommended

The manner in which your training was done leaves a lot to be desired !!

Tell the company what you think and if they do not rectify the issue then name and shame them
 
I paid £60 an hour. Test is 115 I think. So doesn't sound like a good deal and I would complain about the lack of rest breaks/facilities etc, *if* you asked to use them. If you didn't mention needing the loo the instructor may not have thought about it, presumably they didn't go/ eat either. Strange tho I do agree. Did you pass?
 
no i epically failed! only on the reverse bit, everything else was fine. got picked up at half 7, drove less than half a mile to the test centre and then went straight into the test. all finished by half 9 so money very much wasted. the examiner was great when i realised i fluffed the reverse and said 'well lets just go for a drive then!' so we had a good chat as he has horses too!its ridiculous as if i had gone into my test straight after yesterdays successful reversing i would have passed easily and would have cost me half the price.

i would have even liked an hour before the test just to get used to the steering again and maybe the odd reverse practice. It's a well known driving school which after researching the complaints procedure is a franchise but I will be contacting the principal instructor as to me that's false advertising saying '2 day training' when in fact it's an afternoon and a test.
 
I did my training as a day and a half intensive course as well. Mine was broken up as follows: (I also did a 2 hour assessment a few weeks prior to determine how much training I would actually need)

Day 1 - 9am start, 4.30 finish, including a tea break AM, lunch break and tea break PM. Started with lots of reversing, uncoupling etc, then drove the rest of the day from about 11am around potential test routes, went to the test centre and had a look etc, also stopping in the afternoon to uncouple, couple up etc.

Day 2 - 9am start, LOTS of reversing, uncoupling etc etc. Then hit the road and drove around until a lunch break, then drove again until 2pm... test was at 2.30pm.

My instructor was great, cost £520 for the training plus the test fee. I passed with 1 minor and that was because I didn't accelerate fast enough on country roads. My manouveres were perfect and I think it was because my instructor had the reverse section marked out perfectly in a carpark so I was actually reversing as if it were at the test centre which helped loads.

I would kick up a huge fuss, I think you have wasted your money entirely with this company and I would be having strong words with them!!! I would be very annoyed!
 
I'm doing mine next Monday and Tuesday! He said 9 am start 6-7 hours and then 9am start on tbe tuesday, test about half 11. I did a two hout induction and found the reversing to be ok, but I drive an automatic so need to get used to a manual again. What's more, there's no manual cars in my household! I'm going in search of one to druve for a couple of hours and then mum's taking me into the city.centre to practice roundabouts with a trailer in a car I'm used to. I'm already nervous!
 
I just paid for a few lessons (litetally 3) then took my test. If you can go out in your own transport than do that, as opposed to paying hundreds... And yes, I'd be pretty peeved, and would ask out right what 'intensive training' is happening then in day 2!!!!
 
It is possible to do the lot in a day using an instructor along with their set up with the test about 230 pm but only if the driver already knows how to reverse and un/couple to the standard required as well as having a fair knowledge of the DSA style of driving - perhaps they passed the B test within the last 2 years and still remember it
 
Sophstar I went on a very similar '2 day course'. I'd be interested to know what area you are in. I wasn't impressed. I was absolutely starving, desperate for the loo and my head was pounding as it too was very hot but i couldnt keep drinking my water. The next morning I then had my test at 9. Although turned out the instructor got the time wrong and had actually booked my test for 8 so missed it. He did refund the test for us.

Although I didnt enjoy the 2 days at all I did learn a few useful tips. If I had done my test and passed I probably wouldn't be complaining but because I didnt get to do my test I felt very annoyed with the whole thing. I did then rebook the test myself in our own car and trailer.

Good luck for your test!
 
ROG said:
It is possible to do the lot in a day using an instructor along with their set up with the test about 230 pm but only if the driver already knows how to reverse and un/couple to the standard required as well as having a fair knowledge of the DSA style of driving - perhaps they passed the B test within the last 2 years and still remember it
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Nope, haven't done the B test, never towed, nothing, zilch diddly squat! Going out yesterday was the first time ever. I only have experience of the uncoupling etc from when a friend towed for me and I helped sort it but had to learn the 'proper way' for the test. I have just rung the driving school helpline and said 'am i right in thinking that WAS NOT 2 days training?!' and she very much agreed saying that would be classed as a half to 1 day course, a cost difference of nearly £200 to what I paid. I have emailed citizens advice with my enquiry about the advertising and just writing an email to the instructor to say HOW do you class that as 2 days!

What a mess. It's just one thing after another:rolleyes:
 
Con234 said:
Sophstar I went on a very similar '2 day course'. I'd be interested to know what area you are in. I wasn't impressed. I was absolutely starving, desperate for the loo and my head was pounding as it too was very hot but i couldnt keep drinking my water. The next morning I then had my test at 9. Although turned out the instructor got the time wrong and had actually booked my test for 8 so missed it. He did refund the test for us.

Although I didnt enjoy the 2 days at all I did learn a few useful tips. If I had done my test and passed I probably wouldn't be complaining but because I didnt get to do my test I felt very annoyed with the whole thing. I did then rebook the test myself in our own car and trailer.
Click to expand...

The driving school is a popular one in Guildford and that's where I did the 'training' and test. He took me on 1 test route that he believed I would be taken on at 8am to avoid very heavy Guildford traffic which was completely wrong. The examiner was mighty unimpressed when I said I had only been shown one route and in fact he took me through the town centre and rush hour traffic. Luckily the examiner admitted if I had done the reverse correctly I would have easily passed with only 4 minors on my driving. Goddam it.:mad:
 
Sophstar said:
Nope, haven't done the B test, never towed, nothing, zilch diddly squat! Going out yesterday was the first time ever. I only have experience of the uncoupling etc from when a friend towed for me and I helped sort it but had to learn the 'proper way' for the test. I have just rung the driving school helpline and said 'am i right in thinking that WAS NOT 2 days training?!' and she very much agreed saying that would be classed as a half to 1 day course, a cost difference of nearly £200 to what I paid. I have emailed citizens advice with my enquiry about the advertising and just writing an email to the instructor to say HOW do you class that as 2 days!

What a mess. It's just one thing after another:rolleyes:
Click to expand...
You cannot do B+E without passing B first

The B test is often called the car test
 
In most cases I would recommend going to a LGV training school to do B+E because you normally get a LGV instructor doing it

That does not mean others are less good at it but I have never come across a complaint from anyone who trained for B+E with a trainer who also did LGV

I think the reason would be that any complaints would also impact on the main business of LGV
 
That's a bit rubbish :(

I did a 2.5 days course with 2 days training and the half day being my test day. The guy who runs it said to bring a packed lunch as we were on an airfield and toilets weren't mentioned but I didn't ask.

My day started at 9am and we did all the reversing, uncoupling/re coupling etc on the air field, had lunch then went for a drive around Lincoln :O Was an eye opener that's for sure and we used Tesco or Waitrose for toilet breaks :) Day finished about 4pm
2nd day was very much the same as the first, bit more driving around the city and more reversing practice and we also drove to the test area and drove all the way around Beverley.

The .5 day started stupidly early, my instructor drove us to Beverley then swapped with me so we did a few more routes then off to the test centre. I actually did a text book reverse but failed on a stupid driving mistake, not a towing mistake a driving mistake.

I managed to rebook a test and my instructor was fab, let me have a good drive again and practice in the morning and off we went again, this time I passed, even had the same examiner who laughed and said how many times am I going to see you? lol

The 2.5 days was £450 I think and that included the test. I Then paid another £200 for a days use of the car and test for my 2md go.

I would shop around if you can, although my Instructor did say a lot of driving instructors are taking the mick a bit with their prices.
 
I had my own car/trailer so only paid an hourly rate. Instructor was a HGV instructor. But he wanted me 2 hours before the test to practice things. I had 2 lessons (2 hours each) before this also, and that was that!

We stopped at garages or services sometimes for the toilet and also a coffee (he paid!). My test was also delayed due to the examiner not turning up and i ended up having ages before my test but he didnt charge me for it.

I also passed!

So - no, what you are describing is outrageous. Much better to find an independent person as opposed to a massive company? To me a 2 day training course is a 2 day training course. 2 days of training!
 
I would ask for your full second day's training to be given with x hours of practice plus a test near the end of the day
 
poor you:( when i did mine the first time i did a 3 day course thing and i found it too intense and i was exhausted. I also failed. I then went back and did a few 3 hour sessions; then the day of my test we did 2 hours before it. My instructor also frequently offered me breaks and discussed beforehand that we would stop at a local asda at say 11am, for a cup of tea and toilet break. He also stopped somewhere where we could get lunch - ok, it was a burger van but hey:o I think you are right to be peed off but i think its always pertinent in these cases to ascertain what you are getting for your money beforehand :(
 
I used to work in marketing for a driver training company and I always used to pull them up on this - if you get a 9am test slot, you should not be charged for a second full days training.

OP, I failed my cat C test in exactly the same way as you, failed it outright on the reverse, which was actually perfect - had I used the yellow line as the kerb and not the actual kerb(?) but the rest of the drive only had 4 minors! Grr. I really wanted my B+E anyway, I only did the C as we had funding to get more women drivers in LGVs!
 
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