BSM, dont be fooled into thinking they are any better than an Independent Instructor. (BSM)

Member Name: Mike Frampton

Product:	BSM
Date:	14/01/09 (230 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Car was reasonable. Instruction was ok on the whole.

Disadvantages: Cancelled and re-arranged appointments.

To summarise BSM were ok, but i would consider an independent instructor first, especially if you hear of a good one by word of mouth. BSM simply dont live up to the professional image they adverise themselves as.

I decided to go with BSM because their marketing was quite appealing and i expected a large organisation to conduct itself in a more efficient and professional way than perhaps a smaller driving school would do.

All in all the experience at BSM was just about acceptable but not as good as i had hoped for.

There were several problems with lesson appointments being cancelled or re-arranged. One key appointment that was cancelled was the one the day before my test.

One thing which stunned and annoyed me was that BSM wouldnt allow me to book extra hours with them. This seems insane!, but the instructor insisted that i go into the test with less hours than i wanted. I seem to remember i had around 28 hours and wanted to book more in the region of 32 hrs. I ended up failing the test.

The instructor was for the most part an effective trainer, there were occasional bouts of frustration on his behalf (even in the first few hours of training!), which i wouldnt have expected from a professional. Likewise there was also a bit of a problem with the instructor expressing his personal and quite strong predjudiced views on life whilst we were driving which also came across as unprofessional. Finally there were quite a lot of mid lesson cigarrete and phonecall breaks which at times were perhaps a minute or two too long.

I found the videos tutorials on the BSM website quite useful, but i was quite suprised when the instructor told me that i shouldnt bother looking at them. I also bought the BSM book, which the instructor also told me i shouldnt bother reading!! His comments were almost scornful!! This comes across as totally disorganised, incoherant and unprofessional on behalf of BSM.

One final point is about the BSM drivers log book, this was filled in at times by the instructor, but was never completed properly. From day 1 various details were enterered incorrectly - for example students licence number and some kind of BSM customer number were entered the wrong way round.

I guess with a bit of luck its possible to get a very good instructor through BSM, just dont expect the flashy corporate image to mean you will get any more than you would do from an independent instructor. Its just nice marketing, nothing more!!

Summary: BSM simply dont live up to the professional image they adverise themselves as.