Getting money back from foreign flight schools...

[Irish_Stu]

Has anyone ever had trouble getting the remainder of the money from their flying account back after having left a flight school in a foreign country?

What would be the best course of action? Any point approaching the CAA or AOPA or anyone else?

Stu

[A and C]

Unfortunatly they probably have you over a barrel the only advice that I can give you is not to throw good money after bad in hopeless legal actions.

You may have some chance of recovering the money if you paid with a credit card

Probably the best and cheapest weapon that you have is to tell your story on these forums. This might just encourage them that for the sake of future business it is best to reach an agreement with you.

It would be interesting to know how much the loss of this money has increased the hourly rate of your training and this should be a tale of caution to those who think that flying abroad is allways cheaper.

[dartagnan]

if the school is accredited by the CAA or FAA, yes,you must contact the authorities and explain your plaint.
School have an operator license, like any airlines, if they start to make fun of their students, they may lose their "license".
Secondly, ask advise from a lawyer. Some lawyers give free first consultation to study your case.

the best protection is pay by credit card or pay after flight.

[mcgoo]

Might be worth calling the FAA flight standards district office (FSDO) in Orlando and see if they can advise anything.

[Irish_Stu]

Cheers Guys,

Schoolboy error I'm afraid. Course paid in full at the start with traveller's cheques.


Will give it another few days before posting my experience on pprune, and yes it will be interesting to work out the hourly cost, and that's exactly what I'll do.

[Privatairdreaming]

I am also having this problem with a certain school on floridas east coast. They have told me they have sent me a cheque several times but whenever i chase it up they tell me it is only being sent that day.
I am now not sure if I trust these companies that say they need so much in the account at all time otherwise you get no flying. Surely if they are providing you with flying hours then they will be getting the money anyway.
Many of my friends are having the same problem some of them have been trying to get there money back from the school since the middle of November. They are now considering taking it to AOPA to see if they can help.

[mcgoo]

Well seeing as you all went to EFT, I would definately contact the Orlando FSDO and log complaints separately, they won't like those sharp business practices going on in their area and maybe enquiries from the FAA will force some action on EFT's part.

[Nichibei Aviation]

You can also file complaints to the CAA as these schools are UK FTO's.

[B2N2]

You can try and file a complaint with the "Better Business Bureau" that serves the region that the school is located in:
http://welcome.bbb.org/

[Chitty's Leader]

Irish_Stu,

I know to which school you refer to. The contract you signed stated that they would refund any monies due to you within 30 days, so try pointing that out to them. Unfortunately, I know of a friend who had the same problem with this school, and it took almost six months of constant badgering by him to get his money back.

I do think though that if you get no resolution, your story needs to be told to forearm other prospective students with the relevant informatio.

[Privatairdreaming]

Well it seems even after sending this company located in florida emails, in which only one person can apparently sort out the accounts and therefore sort out returns of cash that was not used during the training, they just dont want to give us the paying customers what is rightfully ours. I am not asking for a complete refund on the course I just want the money which was not used which is to the sum of serveral thousand dollars to be returned. i am not trying to screw the company so why are they trying to screw all the people who are owed money??
It appears that not many people even get a reply to the emails which are sent.
how can this occur with a school that is CAA approved? Do we the customers not have any legal right to our money considering the contract states all money will be refunded within 30 days. 120 days later I am still waiting.

[BillieBob]

You can also file complaints to the CAA as these schools are UK FTO's.

how can this occur with a school that is CAA approved?

The CAA does not have any interest in the business practices of the training organisations that it approves - it merely checks that they comply with JAR-FCL. In the UK, it is Trading Standards that deal with such matters and, arguably, they might take an interest in overseas organisations that are operating under an approval held by a UK company, such as OFT and MFC. However, in the case of organisations like EFT and NAC, which are wholly outside the UK, your only course of action is through US consumer protection legislation.

[nolic42]

Foreign Schools

Hi Stu,

there is one way of protecting yourself, utilise Australian FTO's as those who are "CRICOS" accredited must have TAS Insurance which Tuition Assurance which helps protect your fees. Another strong point for Australian schools is under the nationbal code if the school cannot deliver the or finish the delivery of the course they must offer a full refund or if after a 6 month period you are unhappy with the school and wish to change they have a fee and refund policy enforced upon them strictly.

Stu the schools you are looking for are heavily governed by the Australian Aviation and Educational Industry which means it offers students a safer way to study. If i can be of any help please do not hesitate to contact me via email as i am involved in the educational side of Aviation training

regards

Nolic42