I signed up for a Criminology course at a cost of £329 - I paid up front in full instead of by instalments (bad mistake!). Immediately before I received my first lot of materials my life changed dramatically, and once the shock had calmed a bit I got in touch with the college and told them that I needed to cancel my course.
I sent a recorded letter about a week after receiving the materials from them - which incidentally I never even looked at.

I got a quick response informing me that course cancellations are governed by the Distance Selling Regulations 2000, and stating that they are well within their legal rights not to offer a refund, as I had cancelled outwith the seven day cooling off period.

Of course I understood the legal side of their argument however I felt that if I laid out my specific circumstances they might reconsider, therefore I wrote once again, as below.

Dear A****n J***s,
Re. Cancellation of Criminology Course

Thank you for your letter dated 30th March regarding my request for cancellation of the above course.

I was surprised to hear that you are not willing to cancel my enrolment, or offer even a partial refund. I am at present going through a very difficult time. Although I did not want to have to go into detail about the reasons for my cancellation, I feel that I have no option but to tell you the exact circumstances.

My partner tried to commit suicide and this has turned my life upside down. My commitment now is to her and her welfare. I relied on her to help with the physical things that I cannot manage myself, as I am disabled due to the effects of polio in the 1950s (I am now suffering with post polio syndrome/the late effects of polio) obviously all this has had a life changing effect and I cannot cope with any extra demands now or for the foreseeable future.


I am in receipt of Disability Benefit and this is my sole income, I cannot afford to 'lose' over £300 due to circumstances beyond my control, especially as I will now have to pay for care whilst my partner is not able to look after me.


I would ask you, as a gesture of goodwill to reconsider your decision with regards to the cancellation of my course. I would of course understand that you would need to retain a certain amount of the course fees for administration purposes.


Yesterday I received another letter from Stonebridge reiterating their "legal rights" and telling me that they are ..."sorry to hear that you no longer wish to persue this course, and your reasons for not wanting to do so." and stating that they would allow me to put the course 'on hold' for a duration of my choosing, and would even waive the normal £40 fee to change to another course of the same value or less should I choose to do so.

This is all very well but what they don't seem to realise is that I very much wanted to do this course....but I do not feel that I am able to, now or in the future, after what has happened. I am 59 years of age, I have more than enough to cope with now, to be honest I feel like ending it all myself....just can't see the point anymore..

Unless you can be sure that life will not deal you a blow, avoid this company....they have absolutely no compassion.