Retrieving my deposit from Jerez advice
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Retrieving my deposit from Jerez advice
Hello one and all I am not sure if this is in the right place but I am wannabe and I need some advice.
I'll try and keep this short.
Many months ago I passed the assessment to FTE Jerez and got accepted into the school. I then set about getting the finances for it which as most people know is a struggle. It got close to my start date so I paid my deposit to Jerez. A few days later I had to put my start date back a few months because the loan was taking ages to sort out. When it came close to the next start date in August I basically got denied a loan which of course was a massive blow and meant I could no longer go to Jerez
It was just too much for me and I couldn't get the money together.
Anyway I have been trying to get my deposit back from Jerez which is non-refundable. Yes I know what you are thinking 'its non-refundable just give up' well £5,000 is a lot of my money which I saved up over a number of years and it would make a huge difference to my life and flying if I could get it back.
As far as I see it I paid them 5K to reserve a place for me and send me some emails. I know it is non-refundable but I feel as if I would have had more pleasure from the money if I had burnt it. It feels as if I have just throw away five thousand pounds.
I am thinking of getting a solicitor involved to try and retrieve the money. what does everyone think? Am I just crazy or should I just leave it? Am I entitled to get it back seeing as I will no longer train with them? Has anyone else had an experience like this?
I'll try and keep this short.
Many months ago I passed the assessment to FTE Jerez and got accepted into the school. I then set about getting the finances for it which as most people know is a struggle. It got close to my start date so I paid my deposit to Jerez. A few days later I had to put my start date back a few months because the loan was taking ages to sort out. When it came close to the next start date in August I basically got denied a loan which of course was a massive blow and meant I could no longer go to Jerez
It was just too much for me and I couldn't get the money together.
Anyway I have been trying to get my deposit back from Jerez which is non-refundable. Yes I know what you are thinking 'its non-refundable just give up' well £5,000 is a lot of my money which I saved up over a number of years and it would make a huge difference to my life and flying if I could get it back.
As far as I see it I paid them 5K to reserve a place for me and send me some emails. I know it is non-refundable but I feel as if I would have had more pleasure from the money if I had burnt it. It feels as if I have just throw away five thousand pounds.
I am thinking of getting a solicitor involved to try and retrieve the money. what does everyone think? Am I just crazy or should I just leave it? Am I entitled to get it back seeing as I will no longer train with them? Has anyone else had an experience like this?
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Approach some solicitor's for a quick chat, for some free advise and see if they can offer you any guidance as to your chances of retrieving your money. They should hopefully give you 5 minutes of their time. You could also try the citizens advise bureau but this would probably be out of their depth
Do not antagonise FTE just yet. Perhaps, if you can not recover your deposit, the money could go towards the cost of say an IR with them if you were to go down the modular route.
Good luck, I hope this does not prove to be an expensive life lesson.
Do not antagonise FTE just yet. Perhaps, if you can not recover your deposit, the money could go towards the cost of say an IR with them if you were to go down the modular route.
Good luck, I hope this does not prove to be an expensive life lesson.
You are relying on their good will, if they couldn't place someone on the course you haven't taken up then they have lost the profit that they would have made and your £5000 will go some way to compensating them for that.
I would suggest that a non-refundable deposit is just that, and to throw money at a solicitor to try and retrieve it is just going to leave you further out of pocket.
I would suggest that a non-refundable deposit is just that, and to throw money at a solicitor to try and retrieve it is just going to leave you further out of pocket.
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I did sign a contract but I have asked them to produce a copy of the document that stated I cannot have the money back but at present they cannot find it.
I think I may speak to a few solicitors but I have a feeling I won't have much luck. Yeah that is a possibility but to be honest I don't think I will be able to go to Jerez. For a start I am going to get my PPL at a local airfield and see where I am financially at the end of that and possibly go down the modular route but right now I don't have the means to get a loan to go.
I do understand that but before I changed my start dates I gave them months of notice and told them not to reserve a place for me so if they lost business on those months due to a place not being filled its not down to me. I have also asked them to provide evidence that I prevented students from joining a course because of me and they cannot find any evidence. If someone was in the same situation as me and didn't pay a deposit would they demand that they pay the five grand? I think not
Yes true but I would only go down the solicitor route if I was definitely going to get the money back. Even if it was only a few hundred pounds its better than nothing and its the principle of it.
Well they say the lessons you learn the most from in life cost you the most
I think I may speak to a few solicitors but I have a feeling I won't have much luck. Yeah that is a possibility but to be honest I don't think I will be able to go to Jerez. For a start I am going to get my PPL at a local airfield and see where I am financially at the end of that and possibly go down the modular route but right now I don't have the means to get a loan to go.
I do understand that but before I changed my start dates I gave them months of notice and told them not to reserve a place for me so if they lost business on those months due to a place not being filled its not down to me. I have also asked them to provide evidence that I prevented students from joining a course because of me and they cannot find any evidence. If someone was in the same situation as me and didn't pay a deposit would they demand that they pay the five grand? I think not
Yes true but I would only go down the solicitor route if I was definitely going to get the money back. Even if it was only a few hundred pounds its better than nothing and its the principle of it.
Well they say the lessons you learn the most from in life cost you the most
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Do you not have a copy of the contact yourself?
Future lesson, if you sign a contract keep a copy and make sure you read it carefully.
Many years ago I was offerd a position with Cab Air to train a sa flying instructor, work for two years with them and then go to Air UK.
I actually paid a solicitor to look at that contact and give me advice which lead me to not accepting the offer from Cab Air. A good decision, I was FO on a turbo prop long before I would have been joining Air UK
Future lesson, if you sign a contract keep a copy and make sure you read it carefully.
Many years ago I was offerd a position with Cab Air to train a sa flying instructor, work for two years with them and then go to Air UK.
I actually paid a solicitor to look at that contact and give me advice which lead me to not accepting the offer from Cab Air. A good decision, I was FO on a turbo prop long before I would have been joining Air UK
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I think I do actually so I'll go dig it up. Yeah sometimes you need to actually need to get a professional to help out with these things even if it costs it saves you a lot in the long run.
If I had known I couldn't get a loan I wouldn't have paid the deposit in the first place. I guess it is my own fault but its such a pain to lose 5K which took me a long time to save
If I had known I couldn't get a loan I wouldn't have paid the deposit in the first place. I guess it is my own fault but its such a pain to lose 5K which took me a long time to save
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FTE actually run a very good modular course which I think most people aren't aware off. If you can't afford the integrated course you could try what CouncilVan suggested and ask if you could put the £5k towards the modular route.
I'm not in the business of defending flight schools but, for what it's worth, commercial aviation is a relatively small community and FTE is one of the 'big three' in Europe so I'd advise you not to burn your bridges too quickly!
I'm not in the business of defending flight schools but, for what it's worth, commercial aviation is a relatively small community and FTE is one of the 'big three' in Europe so I'd advise you not to burn your bridges too quickly!
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FTE's modular course is overpriced - You can get great training for literally half the money, in the UK even.
5000£ deposit seems excessive. The deposit is not meant to cover the entire course, it's meant to cover the immediate loss incurred from you backing out. No way in hell they are out 5000£ because you cancelled. Get professional advice mate, this goes beyond what a deposit/retainer is meant to do. I don't think you'll get everything back, but reasonably speaking you should get quite a bit back.
To put this in perspective, I paid a 500£ deposit for my CPL + MEIR course when I did it. They're taking the p*ss mate.
5000£ deposit seems excessive. The deposit is not meant to cover the entire course, it's meant to cover the immediate loss incurred from you backing out. No way in hell they are out 5000£ because you cancelled. Get professional advice mate, this goes beyond what a deposit/retainer is meant to do. I don't think you'll get everything back, but reasonably speaking you should get quite a bit back.
To put this in perspective, I paid a 500£ deposit for my CPL + MEIR course when I did it. They're taking the p*ss mate.
Last edited by SeventhHeaven; 15th Sep 2016 at 19:18. Reason: typo
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True I probably am whining about it a bit and maybe the burning part was a bit of an over exaggeration but yes I really did pay 5K. Thats what was agreed at the time with FTE. Yes I have asked on multiple occasions and they say that all they can do as a gesture of good will is keep the position open to me and let my deposit stand for a period of 12 months.
The reason I started this tread was to get advice. I understand its non-refundable and yes that means bad luck to me however I have spoken to a few people who have had a similar experience at CTC with a non refundable deposit which they managed to get back through a solicitor. So I wanted to ask if anyone has ever had a similar experience with FTE.
I wish this was a wind up but its not. Given the choice I wouldn't have paid the deposit and lost the money and given the choice I would have liked BBVA to lend me the money to go. One of the reasons I paid the deposit was because BBVA basically told me that I won't have any issue getting the loan then when I paid the deposit they told me that they couldn't lend me the money for some reason or another. Had I know that earlier I wouldn't have spent the money
The reason I started this tread was to get advice. I understand its non-refundable and yes that means bad luck to me however I have spoken to a few people who have had a similar experience at CTC with a non refundable deposit which they managed to get back through a solicitor. So I wanted to ask if anyone has ever had a similar experience with FTE.
I wish this was a wind up but its not. Given the choice I wouldn't have paid the deposit and lost the money and given the choice I would have liked BBVA to lend me the money to go. One of the reasons I paid the deposit was because BBVA basically told me that I won't have any issue getting the loan then when I paid the deposit they told me that they couldn't lend me the money for some reason or another. Had I know that earlier I wouldn't have spent the money
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Well it was a telephone conversation so I can see if it was recorded. Oh well it is always worth a try. That was an expensive lesson. Maybe they'll bet me have 5k's worth of accommodation and board haha
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Will they allow you use the 5 grand towards a PPL? At least build up 5 grand worth of flying/ground exams and then complete the PPL back in the UK when you have more cash saved.
Just an idea
Just an idea
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Yeah well at the time of course it was a sure thing but as you know things can change on a minute by minute basis and often completely out of the blue. Hindsight is a wonderful thing.
I speak to them very regally and its usually Carmen I speak to and have been for some months now. She has handed me over to the finance director now so I'll send him an email to see what agreement we can come to. That was also my thought too. I was going to suggest doing some training with them to burn off the money but I won't know till I speak to him.
And no I won't be flying with Jerez I just can't afford it without a loan. I will if they let me use up my deposit but if I can't then I won't
I speak to them very regally and its usually Carmen I speak to and have been for some months now. She has handed me over to the finance director now so I'll send him an email to see what agreement we can come to. That was also my thought too. I was going to suggest doing some training with them to burn off the money but I won't know till I speak to him.
And no I won't be flying with Jerez I just can't afford it without a loan. I will if they let me use up my deposit but if I can't then I won't
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Not to put salt in the wound but a lesson to everyone: don't deposit money to a school if you don't have ALL the funds available from day 1. Looks like you deposited to keep your place in haste. Sure the school gave you a deadline but where is the school running away? Wait till you get the funds (or not) and if the deadline has passed reapply! IF you got in once, you should be able to get in again (if you had the money).
The school is not wrong asking for a deposit, they dont care if you are rich or poor, show them 5000 and theyll take it and assume you'll pay the rest like you did the deposit. I hope you can use the money for some sort of training with them.
The school is not wrong asking for a deposit, they dont care if you are rich or poor, show them 5000 and theyll take it and assume you'll pay the rest like you did the deposit. I hope you can use the money for some sort of training with them.
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I don't disagree with any of that. Its a hard lesson learnt and I thought I knew better but there we go. No of course not they don't give a fishes tit about you all they want is the money.
Well I'll see what comes of it but its certainly taught me a lesson and I hope everyone else takes heed. Fingers crossed that I can maybe do a small amount of training there as some sort of consolation.
Well I'll see what comes of it but its certainly taught me a lesson and I hope everyone else takes heed. Fingers crossed that I can maybe do a small amount of training there as some sort of consolation.
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Well there has been quite a development recently. I managed to speak to the finance director who spoke to the CEO and on this very rare occasion they have decided to give me back my deposit.
This is a fantastic turnaround and just goes to show speaking to the right people and being polite makes a difference. This has certainly taught me a lesson and I hope anyone else reading this can learn a thing or two too
This is a fantastic turnaround and just goes to show speaking to the right people and being polite makes a difference. This has certainly taught me a lesson and I hope anyone else reading this can learn a thing or two too
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Cheers mate yup thats the lesson here. The only reason I did it in the first place was under the promise from everyone that it was a sure thing and that I would receive the money but as we know nothing is certain and anything can happen
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That's great news, it can be quite stressful to have that sort of money on the line.
It goes to note that the folks at FTE Jerez are a decent bunch of people. It's great you sorted this issue without having to resort to a legal route.
It goes to note that the folks at FTE Jerez are a decent bunch of people. It's great you sorted this issue without having to resort to a legal route.
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Yeah at the end of the day it was my fault but they are all mega helpful and go out of the way to help anyone. I can't speak highly enough of them. I think I'll send over a bottle of something to say thank you for putting up with me
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What a great result for you and, also, a fine advertisement for FTE Jerez. You are far more likely to have good things to say about them than if they'd kept your money and, as I'm sure you're aware, the aviation world is so small that a student pilot now may well end up with more influence over a company's name in the future.
My suggestion, no longer needed of course, is that you try and contact another potential student and have your deposit transferred to their account while they write you a cheque for something similar (if not the same). Maybe you could use that next time
My suggestion, no longer needed of course, is that you try and contact another potential student and have your deposit transferred to their account while they write you a cheque for something similar (if not the same). Maybe you could use that next time
