Exec PA Diploma-Pitman Training-Irresponsible and Unprofessional Financial Accounts ** SUCCESSFUL OUTCOME**

[Executive-PA]

Hi All,

 

I was wondering if someone would be able to help me in this situation.

I am having issues with the Pitman Training Course that I’m currently enrolled on.

 

I enrolled on my Advanced ECDL/Executive PA Course in September 2014.

So you can Imagine how shocked I was when in February 2015 the Pitman finance department in Croydon contacted me to say my account was in default.

They stated that it had been so for 6 WHOLE MONTHS!

When asked why they had not contacted me earlier to bring the matter to my attention.

 

The response I recieved was “we had a backlog…we were poorly and unwell” etc.

I felt very angry and upset as a result of this I left the centre and went home.

 

I kept trying to call the accounts department as I thought of some suggestions on how I can resolve the account

and continue my studies but it goes straight to Voicemail,

 

 

I have left emails, called the office and when asking Head Quarters about the next procedures

they simply distanced themselves from the situation going on to state Pitman Accounts in Croydon

were a separate company and just advised me to keep trying.

 

I emailed Patricia Porter at Croydon and had left my details, but no attempt whatsoever had been made to contact me.

 

After attempting to call Pitman again today I was placed on hold to wait for someone in the accounts department.

I was then informed “Sorry they’re all in meetings”.

Then very coincidently the financial controller Patricia Porter at the Pitman Croydon Centre messages me less than a minute after the call with the one line email response below:

 

“Dear Alesha I am away from the office today. Regards Patricia Porter”

 

Immediately I messaged Patricia back and asked “Who can I speak to regarding my account in your absence?”

 

I received no response at all.

 

Exactly how do you treat a student with an attitude like that?

 

I’m so disappointed by this lack professionalism and can’t believe I have to resort to an online post to try and reach out for advice.

It is so off putting when you have an organisation with an attitude of

“We won’t accept or return your calls when there is a problem…But we will be glad to accept your money anytime!”

 

I have made every effort to reach out to them to no avail and I would really like to get further advice on what I can do about this situation

as I find the accounts department in the Pitman Croydon very uncooperative,unreasonable and utterly irresponsible!

 

Regards,

 

Alesha

Edited February 11, 2015 by citizenB

[citizenB]

Formal complaint in writing to their Head office.

 

How were you making your payments to the course, by direct debit? If so, did you not notice the payments were not being taken ?

[Executive-PA]

I was given a 24+ Learning Loan of £1417

 

 

I just assumed that they were taking the payments from there

 

 

I was shocked they were contacting me to say they hadnt taken any payments.

 

 

I just fail to understand why they have waited so long and then tried to blame me as to why their accounts department is so slack with student money.

 

I said to them that i would pay the amount that i had originally agreed and signed it

was actually them that forwarded the contract to me but they say due to the circumstances

they want to disregard the original contract and up the payments.

 

Which sadly I cant do as I can only afford the amount per month that I signed

and agreed for in fact they still had all the banking paperwork I signed and sent me an emailed copy yesterday.

[citizenB]

If the error was their fault, then I think they need to man up and take ownership of the problem and resolve it for you. Clearly it is their fault. As I advised earlier, make a formal complaint in writing to their head office. I guess you could email them but also send a copy by tracked mail to their Head/Registered office. That way it cant be hived off at a local level and not dealt with.

[citizenB]

I find the reason they have given for not taking the money to be quite disingenuous - how many other students have now been faced with this problem due to the poor health of their staff !!

[Executive-PA]

If the error was their fault, then I think they need to man up and take ownership of the problem and resolve it for you. Clearly it is their fault. As I advised earlier, make a formal complaint in writing to their head office. I guess you could email them but also send a copy by tracked mail to their Head/Registered office. That way it cant be hived off at a local level and not dealt with.

. Thanks for your advice I will write a letter to their head office and keep you updated on the outcome

[dx100uk]

type in pitman training

in the middle search of the top red toolbar

 

 

seems you are not alone

 

 

dx

[Executive-PA]

Thanks for that I didnt realise that there were others...I need to ask you guys something do you think its worth me CC ing the Finance controller and Tutors at Pitman whilst emailing the Head Office? its just they are threating to put my studies on freeze and im afraid i'll be left playing catchup on limited time I just want everyone made aware of whats going on so there is no contradictions or anything

[citizenB]

Thanks for that I didnt realise that there were others...I need to ask you guys something do you think its worth me CC ing the Finance controller and Tutors at Pitman whilst emailing the Head Office? its just they are threating to put my studies on freeze and im afraid i'll be left playing catchup on limited time I just want everyone made aware of whats going on so there is no contradictions or anything

 

Absolutely, sounds like a good idea to let anyone who has their sticky paws on your account, know what you are in the process of doing.

[Executive-PA]

Absolutely, sounds like a good idea to let anyone who has their sticky paws on your account, know what you are in the process of doing.

thanks my dear I did email there head office last night stating that I'm lodging an official complaint. I have to call the CAB today I called the NCS yesterday for advise so hopefully the will put me in touch with the educational ombudsmen of that centre.

[citizenB]

[PitmanJam]

Hi Executive-PA, I am sorry you have experienced these issues. I work within the Pitman Training Head Office, and have passed your situation on to both the centre manager of Pitman Training Group, as well as our customer support team at Head Office - who are looking into this for you now. Our main customer support email address is: [email protected] Thanks

[citizenB]

PitmanJam - can you please make contact with our admin department before posting.

 

[email protected] (no spaces) You will not be permitted to post until this has been done.

 

I notice you were asked to do this back in 2013 for another thread, but we have not heard from you.

 

Please note, this message applies to any and all Pitman representatives.

Edited February 12, 2015 by citizenB

[PitmanJam]

Hi @CitizenB I have requested access several times and not had a reply from your team? Thanks

[citizenB]

Hi @CitizenB I have requested access several times and not had a reply from your team? Thanks

 

Received only the one sent today ? Private message sent to you and your post above has been approved.

[PitmanJam]

No problem - I sent a few in 2013 to the same email address and also to a user called @HoneyBee? Thanks for sorting for me

[citizenB]

[Executive-PA]

Hi All,

 

Thanks a lot for all your support I thought I should just let you know I received a call from pitman today and the have agreed to honour the original agreement. I'm so pleased as I really want to continue with my studies thanks for all your help and advice citizenB your a star!!

[citizenB]

Awww shucks..

 

I am really pleased you have a resolution and will amend your thread title to reflect this.

[honeybee13]

That's a great result, well done guys.

 

HB