Distance learning beauty therapy - is it a con?

[mamamia]

hi geeks

im a newbie

ive recently completed my beauty therapy course with stonebridge associated college and been told i can undertake a two day placement with any salon to obtain insurance by the guild.

This doesnt sound right to me.

Can anyone comment?

 

[The Guild]

In order to obtain insurance through the Guild of Professional Beauty Therapists Ltd if you have completed a distance learning course with Stonebridge students must also complete practical training at a Stonebridge centre with a qualified lecturer.

 

[leemac]

hi geeks

im a newbie

ive recently completed my beauty therapy course with stonebridge associated college and been told i can undertake a two day placement with any salon to obtain insurance by the guild.

This doesnt sound right to me.

Can anyone comment?

hi i dont know much about distance courses myself but in my last year of college there was a girl who had already done a full distance learning course in beauty therapy. the only problem was she had done all the theory but the course did not contain any practical what so ever! so she when she went to apply for job and for insurance she couldnt get either because she had not been practically assessed by anyone. so she then had to go on to do a year at college and done all her practical assessments through city & guilds.

did you have practical assesments with your course?

 

[bombini]

The guild has given you the correct advice so I guess your next step would be to contact the trainer and arrange the practical.

As for being a con, well I have never had any experience of a home learn course so I wouldn't know but as beauty therapy is about hands on treatments im not sure exactly how a home learn course could tackle this ?

 

[mamamia]

But on thier webpage it says I can undertake 2 days working in a salon or attend a 2 day practical I can obtain insurance.

If the Guld maintains I have to undertake 2 days training at thier centre then i've been missold the entire course no?

what should i do now?

 

[Helen v]

Hi,
I undertook the same course to further my knowledge as although i had completed various short courses i felt like i was missing something. When i purchased the course it sounded very comprehensive and there was no mention of practical training. I was so disappointed, i felt that the course was VERY basic, and after receiving my certificate i even argued the toss with them as there was no indication of their accreditation. I personally feel that their site is very misleading and can fully understand how you are now feeling. Im just lucky that i had already done my training.

Good luck with whatever you choose to do. xx

 

[BABSann]

But on thier webpage it says I can undertake 2 days working in a salon or attend a 2 day practical I can obtain insurance.

If the Guld maintains I have to undertake 2 days training at thier centre then i've been missold the entire course no?

what should i do now?

I think you need to contact them and ask for a full refund

 

[***juice***]

I think that as beauty therapy is such a "hands on" industry, distance learning would be really hard to get much from x

 

[bombini]

Have you got a link to the webpage as I can't see anything on their site about practical training.

I think courses like this are very misleading

 

[mamamia]

I thought the course was level 3 equivalent and after 2 day training in a beauty salon i would be good to go. I work full time so it made sense.

I purchased the course through open study colllege and this is the link to the webpage. It says 2 day training in a beauty salon would "qualify" me.

Beauty Therapy Course (NCFE) - Beauty Courses - Open Study College

Stonebridge also have the same info on thier website somewhere Im in the process of locating it.

I called stonebridge and they said they dont run the course often and if i do 2 days with any salon they would issue a certifcate to me based on that alone. Apparently that would allow me to get insurance. The man would not confirm this on email and insisted i contact the college and speak over telephone.

Im out £300 and have a certificate i cant do anything with.

Do i take my complaint up with open study or stonebridge who supplied the course materials and certificate?

Im so pissed off

 

[kennedia]

Would you not just be able to do the 2 days? Then you will be accredited for insurance purposes. Maybe I am missing something, but it just doesn't seem a whole lot to have to do to me.

 

[bombini]

Im a little bit confused,

Are you annoyed because you have to do the training at the centre or the salon ?

 

[mamamia]

The point is i did the course thinking i could do 2 days in a beauty salon here in scotland the training centre is in portsmouth.

I would have just done the 2 day course but its another £500 and not run often. In fact the guy pushed me to do 2 days in a salon i know.
the giuld wont insure without the portsmouth training and that mught not happen anytime soon. the open study college said 2 days in salon insures me and the guild has said no thats not the case. itsn ot a taught training centre that is allowed for insurance purposes.at this rate I could be waiting for years.

ive been well and truly conned

 

[bombini]

Aaaaaah I see,

Well I would do my best to get a refund. Send them a letter of complaint (signed for) and if they don't refund or offer a suitable alternative contact consumer direct/trading standards.

 

[BABSann]

The point is i did the course thinking i could do 2 days in a beauty salon here in scotland the training centre is in portsmouth.

I would have just done the 2 day course but its another £500 and not run often. In fact the guy pushed me to do 2 days in a salon i know.
the giuld wont insure without the portsmouth training and that mught not happen anytime soon. the open study college said 2 days in salon insures me and the guild has said no thats not the case. itsn ot a taught training centre that is allowed for insurance purposes.at this rate I could be waiting for years.

ive been well and truly conned

I would put it to them that Portsmouth is a hell of a long way for you to travel to and from Scotland.I know I live just down the road from Portsmouth.Tell then that on no account would you have agreed to do the course had you known you would have to travel that sort of distance.Is there no other training school for you to do your 2 days in?(somewhere a bit nearer)

 

[sharon h]

This is what I found on the down loadable prospectus from stonebridge
Practical training​

Optional practical training is available for many of our courses. These
practical training days are held at various locations throughout the
Untied Kingdom.
The goal of our practical training is to provide students with on-the-job
practical experience. Practical training in this context provides the
opportunity for our students to apply the theory-based knowledge they
have experienced during their course to “real-life” working situations
and environments.
Our high standard of practical training offers students the necessary​

hands on experience to obtain additional qualifications

Beauty Therapist​

Distance learning course of 15 lessons
then the syllabus on the course, then at the bottom it states

Qualification​

Beauty Therapist Diploma
Accredited for the Guild of Professional Beauty​

Therapists Membership

there is no mention of practical training required for this course be it at a local salon or even at one of their training academies which is bad in itself as they should explain after each course if practical is required on that course and for how long, how much it is going to cost for the practical training days so the student knows where they stand.

then on the net:
In one section it states you Do not have to pay out any more money to qualify.
then some where else on the site it states you have to pay x amount of money to go on a practical training day.
then on the prospectus it states Optionl practical training near the beginning of the prospectus.
even when you go on the beauty course info on the net there is a bit for additional info it does not even state it there u need to do any form of practical training. the course is totally misleading.

I personally would write an official complaint and ask for your money back as I personally would not travel all that way and pay out xx amount of money to do the 2 day training, cost of fuel to get there, find somewhere to stay, food etc. let us know how you get on and I HOPE you get it sorted x :hug:

 

[mamamia]

hi everyone

im calm today!!

thanks to everyone who replied

im going to write letterof complaint and if no response im hitting them with court summons.

my only query now is who do i write to?

i bought the course from open study college and recieved all materials and the bloody certificate from stonebridge. Open study claim openly on thier website that I can do 2 days at any salon to qualify for insurance purposes and have stated over email that my £300 paid covers the costs of practical training at thier centre.

Stonebridge wont give me that info on paper (only over telephone) and although thier website is very miselading its doesnt openly say 2 days at a salon qualifys me.

Im assuming my contract was with open study college and that I sould write to them?

Also should i write to the giuld and get iton paper that 2 days in salon doesnt cover me and then send them that letter along with my letter of complaint?

 

[christine.t]

hi everyone

im calm today!!

thanks to everyone who replied

im going to write letterof complaint and if no response im hitting them with court summons.

my only query now is who do i write to?

i bought the course from open study college and recieved all materials and the bloody certificate from stonebridge. Open study claim openly on thier website that I can do 2 days at any salon to qualify for insurance purposes and have stated over email that my £300 paid covers the costs of practical training at thier centre.

Stonebridge wont give me that info on paper (only over telephone) and although thier website is very miselading its doesnt openly say 2 days at a salon qualifys me.

Im assuming my contract was with open study college and that I sould write to them?

Also should i write to the giuld and get iton paper that 2 days in salon doesnt cover me and then send them that letter along with my letter of complaint?

Send your letter of complaint to both companys honey.. The whole thing is absolutely ridiculous! Misleading isn't even the word! Let us all know how you get on.. Xx

 

[The Guild]

The information in the prospectus is incorrect, and we have contacted Stonebridge and asked them to amend this.

We are looking into this, and we will keep you informed.

 

[sharon h]

I agree with christine, send a letter to both companies. you have on here written confirmation from the guild that you need the practical training from stonebridge to get insurance, and this should be made perfectly clear on both their sites and on their prospectus. x :hug: