Learner drivers enrolled in driving courses are increasingly taken for a ride, so to speak.
Consumer complaints against driving schools edged up 16% year on year to 73 cases last year.
A common tactic of some driving schools is to entice you into enrolment for a driving course. But no sooner have you paid the agreed price and settled down for your driving lesson, you are bombarded with demands for extra payment of additional training.
Another area of consumer dissatisfaction concerned the frequent changes of instructors assigned to students which generally has the effect of impeding the learning progress.
In a typical case, the complainant (a Ms. Tang) enrolled in a driving course which claimed a guaranteed 90% pass rate, and paid the fee of $9,822.
While preparing lessons for the written test, she was told that the course she enrolled entitled her to only 15 sessions (45 minutes each) of driving practice on the road. This was far short of the 30 hours suggested by the Transport Department, according to her instructor, and that only some 30% of the students taking this course could successfully pass the driving test.
The instructor went on to persuade her to pay an extra $3,280 for 5 more supplementary lessons of road practice, and to switch to a smaller car, in order to increase her chance of success in the test.
Dissatisfied with its sales practices which misled her into believing that the course would provide the adequate training necessary, she approached the school but it would agree only to give her a special concessionary price for the additional lessons. She turned to the Council for help.
Upon conciliation of the Council, the school denied it had misled Ms. Tang and noted that the instructor concerned had over-exaggerated. It offered her preferential fees for additional lessons, and the service of an experienced instructor to help her pass the test in application for a driving licence.
Ms. Tang was nevertheless still dissatisfied and declined any further offer but that she would continue to complete the course and sit for the exam.
In another case, the complainant (a Mr. Yeung) completed his course for light goods vehicle, and successfully passed the driving test. On the day, after the test, he and other candidates were distributed their test result by Transport Department staff.
But quickly they were collected by staff of the school. All the candidates were then led into two rooms separating those who passed and those who did not. Once inside, the staff began to sell them a course specially designed to provide additional driving lessons for the successful learners.
All the time, his driving instructor was allegedly closely around, and when he indicated to leave the room the persuasion took on an intensified level. He felt under pressure to accede to the demand, in order to return to his work in the office. Reluctantly he agreed to a supplementary 3-lesson course at $1,365.
Upon Council's conciliation, the school denied ever exerting any pressure on Mr. Yeung claiming that the complainant could have got back his test result and was free to leave the room any time. However, since Mr. Yeung has lost confidence in the school, it agreed to the refund of the extra fee.
In yet another case, the complainant (a Ms. Kong) was attracted to enrolment of a course which advertised "One Car One Instructor" at $14,518. But in less than 6 lessons, her instructor was changed three times.
She found the frequent changes of instructor to be seriously slowing down the progress of her learning as she had to adjust to new instructions every time. In desperation she approached the Council for help.
Upon conciliation, the driving school explained that the first instructor got promoted to a new job, the second resigned and therefore a third instructor had to be assigned to her. The school subsequently agreed to provide 2 additional lessons free to make up for the loss of progress in the course.
The attention of motorists is also drawn to applying for a Mainland Driving Licence through the service provided by some motoring schools for cross-boundary driving. There is the risk that the licence so applied through an intermediary in Hong Kong may not be valid.
Consumers possessing a valid full Hong Kong driving licence are advised to apply in person for the direct issue of the Mainland Driving Licence for private car from a designated Vehicle Control Office of the Mainland Public Security Bureau.
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- 2014.02.17