Advent Computer Training (Barclays Partner Finance)Info and discussion thread

[Willum]

Getting reports that a buyer(s) has (have) been found for Advent and its sister company.

 

Saviour likely for titsup training firm ? Channel Register

 

BBC News - Terms agreed over Hagley training firms

[mantaxi]

if buyers have been found and comtracts to be drawn up within the next few days why are they still not letting us know who they are. surely to be a saviour of 80000 students would be a great addvert for the company so why the secrecy? still sounds fishy to me

[shgtfd]

How much you betting the old directors are involved in the new firms?

[THE ROADIE]

Well, the period for BPF to respond to my letter has been and gone. Still no acknowledgment of the letter I sent to them. The next step for me is to copy the FSA and Financial Ombudsman into the letter and sent copies of my previous letter to all 3 parties. Will send that off tomorrow!

[Lankus]

Just a quick update on my personal situation: I sent Barclays a letter proposing that the loan be cancelled and I was willing to write off the payments i'd already paid in the interest of getting this resolved because the amount i'd already paid totalled a sum I was willing to sacrifice if I could cancel the remainder of the loan. If Barclays are going to pay out the same amount again for a like for like alternative course, this would benefit them because they would be making less of a loss. I know this would not be an acceptable solution for everyone, but in any case, they just called me to say they could not do this and they would not be paying an alternative provider the same amount as our original courses. So Barclays are cutting their losses by essentially finding us cheaper courses than those that we enrolled on. She said she didn't know when a new provider would be found but they are in discussions. So the same old bull***t basically. They're going to send me this info in writing, but I think the time has come for me to now get a solicitor and I suggest everyone does the same because there's no chance at all of Barclays budging without a court forcing their hand. I just hope I don't end up paying out more money for nothing.

[jbaggy]

Getting reports that a buyer(s) has (have) been found for Advent and its sister company.

 

Saviour likely for titsup training firm ? Channel Register

 

BBC News - Terms agreed over Hagley training firms

 

 

Hi All,

If buyers have been found to provide the courses, will BPF be funding the new courses or will someone else be funding the courses?

If its BPF whats to stop them pulling funding again?

And if its someone else does that mean we will no longer have an agreement with BPF? and then have to sign a new agreement?:-?

[chris379NE]

Hi all, this is the first time i have posted, just to say i am also caught up in this whole advent/barclays pf fiasco and curse the day i signed that stupid advent enrolement form, i lost £700 to direct debits and only got as far as the first two text books for the mcsa course, i at least managed to cancel the direct debits for any future payments to bpf last month after reading what the rest of you had done etc, at least having this forum makes me feel a little less isolated in this situation, i wll NOT be accepting any alternative it provider that barclays can find to palm us all off on, i have no interest or confidence in this process now, i earn a low wage and this is the worst mistake i have made in recent years, barclays need to do the decent thing and refund/ cancel payments for all people who have been effected by this pathetic and financially worrying situation, has everyone here signed the government partition at no10 website? best of luck to you all, and thanks for all the good advice, i'll keep checking this forum, this whole situation defies belief!!

[Choco Loco]

Hi guys & gals,

I'm another newbie poster who's been scammed by Advent. I signed up back in July but due to serious illness shortly after I had the course deferred for 6 months. I was still having to pay BPF during this time. I started the course, Advanced Web Design, in the new year only to find that Advent had gone under. I've now refused to pay for a non-existent course only for Barclays to get heavy and threaten me with a debt collection agency. Don'tcha just love em?

 

The thing that attracted me to Advent in the first place, a point that may prove of some use, was an e-mail offering free training. Obviously I contacted Advent about this amazing offer as I had just gone self employed and was earning a very modest income. To say that they panicked was an understatement. I was asked to forward the e-mail to them as the claims on it were totally untrue. Apparently the marketing firm they were using had sent out these e-shots without their consent. Unfortunately I was still suckered in and signed up, with the promise of an almost immediate placement due to my graphics degree. Suffice to say it never happened.

 

I've signed the petition and just e-mailed the free legal advice team, so I wait with baited breath.

 

p.s. If anyone would like a copy of that e-shot then give me a shout. I think I've still got it knocking around.

 

Good luck to eveyone.

[Fuzzbutt]

My local Trading Standards called me today, very helpful and sympathetic. She said, when I told her what the solicitor's letter we've been sending Barclays said, it was all true and she is also writing to BPF on my behalf. After 8 weeks of BPF not resolving this she advised take up the complaint with the Financial Ombudsman (they won't act before 8 weeks from your initial complaint because they consider that a reasonable time for Barclays to have resolved the issue with you). So I'll do that. You can download the forms from their website.

I asked about a small claims court as the next step if that fails and she said yes, good idea. Pretty unlikely any judge would rule in Barclays favour but they may try to argue the 'we have an alternative trainer' line. But being able to dispute the like for like would blow that out of the water anyway.

 

I suspect Barclays are going to hang themselves with their own rope anyway, given another month. After all, the longer they let this drag on with no new trainer in place the less impressed any judge will be with their pathetic excuses. And being able to place 1,000+ people on an identical, like for like course anyway is pretty far fetched and so they won't be able to do it. End of game....Barclays last shred of credibility gone. Win win for us.

 

So I will watch and wait for a few more weeks I think.

[skyblue dave]

Keep signing troops.

 

Petition to: Request money back for students of the collapsed IT Firm Advent Consulting Ltd. | Number10.gov.uk

[Lankus]

After 8 weeks of BPF not resolving this she advised take up the complaint with the Financial Ombudsman (they won't act before 8 weeks from your initial complaint because they consider that a reasonable time for Barclays to have resolved the issue with you). So I'll do that. You can download the forms from their website.

 

 

Hi FuzzButt, i'd call the Financial Ombudsman tomorrow if I were you. I did this weeks ago and they got straight on the case. The FO said to give Barclays 8 weeks to respond to my complaint that the FO were sending on my behalf. So you don't want to end up waiting another 8 weeks after contacting the FO.

[Fuzzbutt]

Sorry Matthew, I wasn't clear - yes, I did contact the FO as soon as all this blew up and they sent an initial letter on my behalf to Barclays 1st week of Feb. Barclays wrote to acknowledge they'd had that letter but didn't comment on it. FO sent me a complaints pack in the post but told me they couldn't act until 8 weeks had passed (1st week April now).

 

Definately contact the FO ASAP though.

[Bluedo]

Hi I'm just wondering if I contact the FO tomorrow will the 8weeks be from when I sent the complaint letter to BPF or will it start from when I contact the FO

 

also with the common opinion being no-one wants another provider then BPF should be concerned at the backlash this will cause I don't know how they think they can find a provider willing to take on disgruntled unhappy students. I wouldn't want to be the new provider inheriting all this aggro.

on their head be it! keep posting updates thanks for all the help and info

[mantaxi]

when you think of the amount of money bpf will lose i don't think they are going to give up with out a fight. approx 8000 students at approx £5000 a time + any interest that has to be paid amounts to millions. could be near £50 million. if they paid advent about £20 million they stand to lose a lot of money if they paid us back. if you had paid via credit card i would have thought you would have got your money back by now can't see them saying hold on we will find you another provider. bet if there was only a few hundred that paid through bfp they wouldn't be looking for another provider, would not be in thier interest not enough money. can't see that they have a leg to stand on in this case. hopefully get a reply to the solicitors letter soon. will let everyone know when i recieve it. if i get one that is. keep asking the question can they do this to us? so far more no's than yesses the more no's the better means we must have a good case against them.

[Bluedo]

Hi Mantaxi,

Thanks very much for that just saw it will send it tomorrow, you're right about the amount money involved and the fact that they're saying they've contacted a new provider that will be signed in a couple days but that was a week ago and still no news.(no news is good news) The Administrators are even singing that tune now too?? makes you very suspicious at what they're all up to. The more no's the better and if we all keep protesting and complaining then somebody will have to listen and help us

If this was all above board then there would be no need for all the secrecy but it all stinks therefore they must be hiding something and depending on people not knowing their rights.

[cashins]

Thanks very much for that just saw it will send it tomorrow, you're right about the amount money involved and the fact that they're saying they've contacted a new provider that will be signed in a couple days but that was a week ago and still no news.(no news is good news) The Administrators are even singing that tune now too??

 

As far as I can see they are still pushing out standard letters/messages etc.

 

Apart from confirmng that the account is frozen, I have had no direct response to anything I've sent.

 

David

[cjclegg]

Wish I had contacted financial ombudsman sooner, I have to wait 8 weeks from today..... Nightmare.....

[Bluedo]

Wish I had contacted financial ombudsman sooner, I have to wait 8 weeks from today..... Nightmare.....

 

Just contacted FO and I've to wait 4 weeks and contact them again either if I haven't heard anything or if I don't agree so that's from date of complaint letter you're right CJ Nightmare.

 

 

 

Apart from confirmng that the account is frozen, I have had no direct response to anything I've sent.

 

David

 

Only 1 different from "were sourcing a new provider" is "We're sorry that you have reason to complain and it's been assigned to a dedicated complaint handler" but same here no reference to anything specific

[Stevolfc]

Hey Guys,

 

I'm new to the forums! - been reading for a couple of weeks now but i've decided to join the fight! I've joined the petition and i've already wrote to barclays and got the usual response "we are finding a new provider shortly" bla bla. I'm going to ring the Financial Ombudsman later on to see if i have a case as i'm fed up with all this now! I've paid off my agreement with advent a few months ago in full - what a waste of money. No qualification and nearly 5k down!!!

[Bluedo]

Hey Guys,

 

I'm new to the forums! - been reading for a couple of weeks now but i've decided to join the fight! I've joined the petition and i've already wrote to barclays and got the usual response "we are finding a new provider shortly" bla bla. I'm going to ring the Financial Ombudsman later on to see if i have a case as i'm fed up with all this now! I've paid off my agreement with advent a few months ago in full - what a waste of money. No qualification and nearly 5k down!!!

 

Hi Stevolfc welcome aboard let us know how you get on

[Stevolfc]

Hi Stevolfc welcome aboard let us know how you get on

 

Cheers Bluedo!

 

I've just spoke to the FO - They're going to send another letter to Barclays now for me explaining breach of contract as i appear to have been fobbed off from Barclays. I think it will take 8 weeks or so. Hopefully non of this B*** S*** about a new provider comes back through my door!!!

[Fuzzbutt]

Good luck! The more of us keeping on Barclays case the better....they're grasping at straws I think to keep their grubby paws on our money. The sickening thing is they must know they are in the wrong here, morally as well as legally.

[Bluedo]

Is it only a coincidence that there were a number of company name changes in December? Anglo Capital became Access 2 Careers.

Access 2 Careers became WDNTOE.

Ideas for Careers became WDNTC TEN.

Advent Computer Training became WDNTS.

Advent Consulting became Advent Computer Training.

Finally Advent Consulting was re-incorporated with new directors with a registered address at Bulley Davey Accounts (specialising in rescuing companies, insolvency, etc). SOMEONE SHOULD BE ASKING THE DIRECTORS OF THESE COMPANIES A LOT OF QUESTIONS! and Advent (2)

 

I know that a bit at a time these have all been found but thought it may be useful having them all here together although the WDNTOE etc. I've just saw it so they needn't try fob us off with new provider with any of these names OR ELSE!!

 

"A spokeswoman told us: "We did inform some companies at the end of last year that after a notice period we intended to cease partnering with them."

 

http://blogs.mirror.co.uk/investigations/2010/02/barclays-pulls-the-plug-on-tra.html

Edited March 12, 2010 by Bluedo

[PW1]

Hi all

I've been following this thread for weeks now and I'm in the same boat as most of you Im with bpf and have been paying for nearly a year now.

 

early on I phoned barclays to freeze my account and they said they would but it would take a few days to action. my payment for feb was due out 3 days after and they said it would probably still go out but the march payment deffinately shouldn't.

I phoned again a week later and they said that my account was frozen and they said this without any prompting from me.

 

I've just checked my bank statement online and the march payment has come out.

 

Other than phoning just to complain does anyone have any ideas on how I should handle this?

My view is that it shouldnt have taken 3 or 4 days to freeze an account but Im willing to give them the benefit of the doubt on that but I'm absolutely outraged that they are still taking payments on an account thats supposedly froze!

[Bluedo]

Hi PW1, welcome,

I sent a letter asking to freeze the acc. and asked for it to be confirmed in writing but never received a reply then was advised here to phone BPF so I did and they agreed to freeze acc. and then sent me a letter stating they had done so.

So I'd suggest you phone them again and they should refund the payments from when Advent ceased to trade and get it confirmed in writing from them that they have froze the acc.