Course Cancellation and refund - what's your policy?

[descry0]

I'd like to get other people's view on course cancellation policies. I enquired when booking a course and this is the response:

"Our cancellation policy is pretty relaxed - you'd loose £100 to cover the VAT we've had to pay, advance payment on materials (bow staves need to be bought well in advance to season), land rent and a bit for admin. Or with enough notice he could transfer the full fee to another course."

No information on the website.

I had bought a specialised course for my partner as a Christmas and Birthday present. We were both really excited by this course and hoping that I could save enough to go with him. Unfortunately, He's been trying to get leave since early Jan with no joy. With 5 months advance notice I'm hoping they will only charge for basic admin.

Even though £100 is quite steep I can understand such a policy if it was under a month or even two prior to the course but a good 5 months gives ample time to get interest and fill the course with no grievance to the company. Not sure if I fully understand the VAT implications either.

I'm still awaiting a reply but would like to know your views? please? thanks.

 

[boatman]

Check but the VAT bit is nonsense, only due when the service is provided as then your money in advance becomes the payment.

 

[Duggie Bravo]

For me that doesn't stack up.
If they refunded the course fee, they wouldn't then pay VAT.
Unless they never plan to run the course the consumables would get used on the next course.
Land rent would be payable whether they had 10, 9 or 1 student.
There would be some admin costs that would need to be recovered.
Not knowing the cost of the course, but I would expect a 10% non refundable deposit to be paid when booking a course, but for a voucher normally 6 months to use it.


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[descry0]

Thanks Boatman. Will check too.

 

[descry0]

Thanks Duggie. I had similar thoughts and quite happy to pay up to 10%. Just a little worried what they will actually ask for....

 

[plastic-ninja]

My policy for Breadmaking courses is very simple.
Total cost is £80 for the day.
Deposit required on booking is £15. It is not refundable.
If someone has to cancel but gives reasonable notice there is a good chance I can fill that space.
If I can fill it I will refund them in full.If not then I am down by £65.
I think it is fair.Not knowing the details of the course you booked it is difficult to judge the fairness of the cancellation policy but it appears strange.
Cheers, Simon

 

[Paulm]

For me that doesn't stack up.
If they refunded the course fee, they wouldn't then pay VAT.
Unless they never plan to run the course the consumables would get used on the next course.
Land rent would be payable whether they had 10, 9 or 1 student.
There would be some admin costs that would need to be recovered.
Not knowing the cost of the course, but I would expect a 10% non refundable deposit to be paid when booking a course, but for a voucher normally 6 months to use it.


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+1 on all points !

With that much advance notice they ought to do a lot better.....

Cheers, Paul

 

[Oakleaf]

No disrespect implied nor intended, but in such cases its always difficult to accurately comment without ever detail and both sides etc etc.

Soooo - please read this as general observation that I just happen to put here

1. VAT - most likely only due once something is fee'd. If it is refunded then the VAT is reclaimed in the next cycle. As described above, it is difficult to see the relevance of VAT as a 'cost' to them - unless referring in context to VAT incurred on materials purchased, leases etc. But to raise it indicates either subterfuge or ignorance - neither of which speak well.
2. Both by statute and good business practise terms & conditions should be clear and up front. If they weren't then producing them after the event is not only poor practise but smacks of unfair contract terms - there is ever chance that in formal proceedings implied terms - and likely much less onerous than those stated would be applied.
3. Its easy to jump on traders. There's often an assumption they are business experts. Frequently they are experts in a field - such as Bushcraft, but have no more business skills/ knowledge than the next person. Thats where things rapidly get confusing. I'd much rather deal with someone who sets things out clearly on their website or in correspondence etc as part of the booking - ie no surprises. It makes for a happier life all round.
4. Working at things from both sides of the fence, my comment above at #3 applies to the trader and customer equally!
5. Customers whether by accident or design can cause problems. Regardless of the rights and wrongs, years of best intentions can be destroyed or at least damaged by customer conflict. Forget statutes and rules. Plain common sense dictates getting terms etc properly sorted and as flexible and friendly resolution approach to customers as possible. If a trader you are dealing with doesn't have common sense, much of the rest of it is irrelevant! There are a plethora of providers out there.


I do hope things can be resolved amicably for all parties.

 

[Big Stu 12]

I know this might sound Harsh, but when you entered into the contract of sale you agreed to all the items in that contract, the fact they are using VAT ect is another subject, I am not a specialist in this area what they can charge for if you cancel but VAT seems a bit wrong to me, the rest is just their fee for the work thaty hae done to procure the items ect and those cost will atract VAT.. at some stage, wether or not they use them for another course thats up to them they ahve still ahd to do teh work.

Myself if I dont like teh cancelation fees I then dont book.