The following terms and conditions represent the basis upon which driving lessons and courses are offered to you by your local Caledonian Learner Driver Training instructor (Caledonian LDT). Please note the contract for service is between yourself and the local Caledonian LDT instructor. Each Caledonian LDT instructor operates his or her own business under franchise from the proprietor of Caledonian Learner Driver Training and has agreed to be bound by the following terms and conditions. The Caledonian LDT Booking Office is a separate entity which has been authorised to act as a booking agent for the members of the Caledonian LDT instructor franchise network.
1. General Conduct
All instructors are bound by a strict professional code of conduct and have been CRB checked and approved by the DSA. Your CLDT instructor will be courteous, polite, tidy and punctual. He or she will also behave in a professional and ethical manner at all times. Your LDT instructor’s car will be well maintained, clean and tidy. All cars used by LDT instructors are fitted with dual-controls as part of their standard equipment. The cars are of course fully insured for driving tuition. LDT instructors will not smoke in the car while giving tuition, nor will they use your lesson time for any other form of business, personal or otherwise.
2. Qualifications
As a minimum, your LDT instructor will be licensed by the Driving Standards Agency (DSA) to give driving tuition. He or she will also be proficient in the use of the Caledonian Learner Driver Training System of tuition.
3. Course Materials
Caledonian LDT Instructors will provide, where appropriate, a free “Client Journal” to each learner client. Books, DVD’s and CD’s, all of which are relevant to Learner Driver Training, can be purchased from stock or may be available from your instructor. In some instances, some materials may be offered from the office at no cost. All materials purchased (or provided free) from the office, are yours to keep.
4. Driving Licence and Eyesight
All learner driver clients or those undertaking Driver Development Courses must hold a current, valid driving licence (provisional or full), which must be produced on, or in advance of, their first lesson. Clients must also check that they can read a number plate from the distance prescribed for the type of training to be provided. (Currently, Provisional or Full licence Holders require to read a standard number plate from 20.5 metres (i.e. 67 feet – about 5 car lengths) with glasses if normally worn.
5. Payments
Please note payments must be made in advance of the training. To book a course, the full course fee is required no later than 48-hours prior to your lesson.
Please note that training fees paid are not refundable in the event that you decide to cancel the training once the booking has been accepted by your local LDT instructor. Similarly, no-shows are fully chargeable.
At this point, a binding agreement is made between yourself and the local LDT instructor. This does not in any way affect your statutory right to be provided with the goods and services you have bought (please see term 12).
Please also note that a full refund will be given if the LDT Office or your local LDT instructor is unable to meet any special requirements noted with the order on this document and as shown under “Special Requirements” overleaf.
Trainee driving instructors should note that this clause also refers to discounted, prepaid instructor training packages.
6. Customer Care Payment Scheme
When you pay direct to the LDT Office, money is being held on behalf of you and the LDT instructor. This money is not normally passed onto the LDT instructor until the client signs a form instructing the booking office to do so, either in part or in full. At various points during the training, the LDT instructor will ask the client to sign a form confirming they are satisfied with any training given. The client should not sign this form unless totally satisfied with the training. A signature on this form will confirm the client’s satisfaction with training and will be our authorisation to pass the agreed fees to the LDT Instructor. DSA Test Fees are not included in the costs quoted overleaf – unless specifically stated otherwise.
To ensure that each LDT instructor provides services to the same high standards all the LDT instructors have agreed that the LDT Office should also act as an arbitrator and withhold any money in the event of a complaint. Only when the matter is resolved to the satisfaction of the LDT instructor franchise Quality Control Manager will payment be passed on or refunded as the case may be. In this way, the standards of the franchise can be maintained and you can be assured that you get what you pay for. Please note if you book directly with your LDT instructor this scheme is not operated unless specifically requested and agreed by your LDT instructor.
7. Lesson Postponement
Provided the LDT instructor can easily obtain additional work for any lessons postponed no penalty will be incurred. If this is not possible the full training fee for the period in question may, at the sole discretion of the instructor, be lost or
charged. Your LDT instructor reserves the right to postpone lessons if he or she feels that the weather or road conditions are unsuitable or dangerous. The LDT instructor cannot be held
responsible for any costs incurred as a result of him or her having to postpone any lessons, for whatever reason.
8. The Driving Test
a) Bookings
Driving tests can be booked either by you or your LDT instructor, and are charged separately at the time of booking. Driving test bookings always take priority over other lessons. Therefore, your lesson may be postponed to allow for someone else’s driving test and vice-versa. Changes to lesson bookings as a result of this will be notified immediately. Test appointments must be notified to your LDT instructor as soon as they are known, otherwise he or she cannot guarantee to provide a vehicle for the test.
b) Use of the vehicle
In the interests of customer and public safety
your LDT instructor reserves the right to withhold the use of a car for the test if, in the Instructor’s opinion, your driving is actually or potentially dangerous.
c) Test cancellation
Three clear days’ notice of cancellation or postponement (not including weekends and public holidays) is required by the DSA. Failure to provide the required notice will result in the loss of your test fee. Your LDT instructor cannot be held responsible for any postponement or cancellation of tests by the DSA. However, he or she will do all that is possible to assist you to arrange another test as quickly as possible and to help you to reclaim expenses from the DSA.
9. Punctuality
In their own interests clients are advised to be punctual for lesson appointments. All such appointments should be recorded on an Appointment Card and in a Diary to ensure that mistakes are avoided. The LDT instructor would normally wait for a period of 10 – 15 minutes maximum before abandoning the lesson. This will result either in the fee being forfeited, or charged. A similar waiting time may become necessary if the LDT instructor is delayed due to unforeseen circumstances. Any lesson time lost as a result of this would he made up by the LDT instructor either at the end of the normal lesson time (if possible) or at a later date. Any such shortfall should be recorded on the appointment card and initialled by the LDT instructor.
10. Learner Comfort and Safety
In the interests of comfort and safety learners are advised to wear suitable footwear and clothing which does not restrict movement. Learners must also take note of any medication they are taking that may affect their ability to drive safely and advise their instructor accordingly before taking any lesson booked.
11. Complaints
In the event of a complaint, all efforts must be made to resolve the problem directly with the LDT instructor. However, please do not let a problem linger. If you made your original booking through the Caledonian LDT Office, all complaints should be submitted in writing either by emailing admin@caledonianldt.com or by post to the Quality Control Manager, Caledonian Learner Driver Training, 17 Struan Road, Glasgow, G44 3AT. Note should be made that requests for financial recompense should be addressed directly to the instructor where payments for services have been made directly to the instructor. Caledonian LDT agrees to act as an arbitrator in such circumstances between the Client and the self-employed Instructor.
12. YOUR STATUTORY RIGHTS
Nothing in these terms and conditions will reduce your statutory rights relating to faulty or misdescribed goods or services. LDT instructors have a statutory obligation to provide you with goods and services fit for the purpose for which they were bought and as described. Similarly, any goods supplied by the LDT Office must also be fit for the purpose for which they were bought and as described. If you have any doubts about your statutory rights please contact your local Trading Standards Department or Citizen’s Advice Bureau.
Caledonian Learner Driver Training is a DVSA Recommended Driving Instructor Training Establishment.
