I'm just over half way through an electrical course with New Career Skills which I paid £6000 for. I am paying £230 per month for 3 years on finance that was set up with the company when I signed up which I can barely afford. I haven't yet got any qualifications and in all honesty I'm not very impressed with the course. I don't feel I'm getting my money's worth.
I have today receieved the following email
New Career Skills Limited – in administration
Joint Administrators - Allan Watson Graham and Jane Bronwen Moriarty
Allan Graham and Jane Moriarty were appointed Joint Administrators of New Career Skills Limited (“the Company”) on 28 November 2013.
The Watford and Doncaster training centres will continue to operate as normal whilst the Joint Administrators seek a buyer for the business, and your current training courses will remain as scheduled.
In the event that you have any course related queries in light of the information, please direct these to your head office contact.
Kind Regards,
The Joint Administrators
Allan Watson Graham and Jane Bronwen Moriarty were appointed Joint Administrators of New Career Skills Limited on 28 November 2013.
The affairs, business and property of the Company are being managed by the Joint Administrators.
Allan Watson Graham is authorised to act as an insolvency practitioner by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales.
Jane Bronwen Moriarty is authorised to act as an insolvency practitioner by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland.
The Joint Administrators act as agents of the Company and contract without personal liability.
Can anybody offer any advice on where to go from here? Should I sit and wait and see what happens? Am I f*cked if the company goes into liquidation?
Any advice would be much appreciated.
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Comments
Was it full or part time?
The qualifications you get at the end are City & Guilds Level 3 Certificate in the requirements for Electrical Installations (2382), Level 3 Certificate for in Service Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment (2377) and EAL Level 2 Certificate for Domestic Electrical Installers Part 'P' Compliant.
So in the short term you don't appear to have any problem. It maybe worth you talking to your Head Office contact and also Citizens Advice on potentially where you stand.
Good luck in resolving this problem, even more luck in getting some qualifications and making a decent career
The 2382, 2377 and EAL Level 2?
Funnily enough, get hold of the 2013 JIB handbook and see whos name is in the back
You've got the same kind of protection as when you buy something on a credit card.
Hope it all gets sorted soon.
This sounds really disheartening And I really hope you get you're money back or continued training.
So S75 CCA act won't help you just yet as the services are still being provided.
However in the event that the training is not of the promised standard or a buyer for the business is not found and the course is terminated the finance company would indeed be liable. While they may try to pay out only for the value of the portion of the course that was not provided rather than the whole, a counter argument is that without the qualification the whole course is worthless.
However, in order to put yourself in the strongest possible position with the finance company I would strongly suggest that you write to them and inform them of the situation, sending a copy of the communication you have received and reminding them that they are jointly and severally liable in the event that the goods and services, as contracted are not provided. You should cite S75 CCA in your letter and request a response from them. Chase it if you don't get one.
Keep copies of all the relevant documentation you have. If you have mislaid any relevant documents ask for copies from the administrators.
Something along these lines should suffice:
[Your address and contact 'phone number]
[Finance Company address]
Dear
[Reference: account number]
On [date] I signed up for [insert name of course] provided by [insert name of company providing the training] at a cost of [£xx] which is being paid for through a finance agreement with your company under the above reference/account number.
As explained in the attached email, the course providers are now in administration and it may be that the contract for the provision of the course and the [insert qualification name] will not be fulfilled in the event that a buyer for the company is not found.
I understand that, along with the supplier of the goods and services, under section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974 you, as the finance company involved in the transaction, are liable to the customer (me) for any breach of contract or misrepresentation.
The purpose of this letter is to put you on notice that, in the event that the supplier fails to deliver the goods and services and is in breach of contract, I will be holding you liable for this breach.
Can I take this opportunity to remind you of the requirements of the Practice Direction on Pre-Action Conduct and in particular to Paragraph 4 concerning the Courts powers to impose sanctions for failure to comply with the Practice Direction.
Please can I have your response to this letter within 14 days.
Yours faithfully,
[Your name here]
Enc
Although, depending on how far into the course you are and what you may have to show for it, you could try and register with the JIB as either an electrical labourer, an electricians mate or an electrical improver. Rates are okay and you can either do day release or a couple of evenings a week at college. If you can get a firm to sponsor you, even better.
Good luck
Message me if you want more info/advice
You will be able to gain an Adult Trainee card which has to be renewed each year with proof of a college course.
The only other one would be general operative card. (Cant remember the exact wording)
Mates and Improvers are "technically" illegal under the JIB
@ eaststandmike **hint hint**