Then again a lot of people have had refunds of bank charges as the banks did not show the actual cost of the transaction/event for which the charge was raised. Rather than tell the world that a bounced item cost them pennies, they refunded lots of £20 (or more) charges.
I doubt it costs £30 to change a booking, and a public service organisation should really only be charging the actual cost of the change, plus perhaps a margin of 20%.
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The £30 is a deterrent - not an admin charge. No deterent then peopkle would change at a whim.
NHS appts abused as "it is free". My brother used to charge £3-£5 for breaking appts - money went to RNLI - few missedappts and those that did paid a good charity the donation.
People drive without insurance fined £150 - premium could be £1000.
If the minimum fine for no insurance was £1500 then fewer would drive uninsured.
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Yes but if the OP pulls out of course A - they may not be able to fill that slot, so it may be actually a loss.
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I think the thing at the OP seems to have missed is that course is not something provided for his entertainment. It's a commitment he chose to accept as an alternative to points plus fine, and he's lucky to have been offered it. There were no such courses a few years ago, and not all areas offer them even now.
From what I have read, these courses are not about sitting back and sleeping through a presentation, but require commitment from those attending ... and if someone doesn't participate seriously, then can 'fail' the course be prosecuted anyway.
So far as I can see, the problem here is that the OP doesn't regard the course as a high enough priority to justify cancelling another engagement, and expects a slot to be rearranged at his convenience. That and his continued snarl at the system lead me to hope that he can readjust his approach before the course, or he may find that it's not the end of the saga.
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Quite right NowWheels.
The way I see it is pay the £30 to reschedule.... or accept the original alternative of 3 points plus £60 fine.
Sometimes these courses not only involve classroom work (which is useful) but also driving with instructors. In fact I think everyone should have this type of course periodically.
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If I am paying for a 'service' I expect some degree of flexibility. A £30 fee for clicking a few keys on a computer, to fit a day's course into the busy schedule of a 'customer' is outrageous but the sort of rubbish "Take it or Leave it" attitude we get from a lot of our public 'Services'. Most of these people are Civil Servants and emphasis should be on both of the 2 words!
Edited by Armitage Shanks {p} on 03/01/2009 at 09:52
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If I am paying for a 'service' I expect some degree of flexibility.
you are not paying for a "service" you are a convicted of a motoring offence and this is your "punishment" and flexibility is NOT an option
>>A £30 fee for clicking a few keys on a computer to fit a day's course into the busy >>schedule of a 'customer' is outrageous
its not a course he is not a customer.
>>but the sort of rubbish "Take itor Leave it" attitude we get from a lot of our public 'Services'. Most of these people are Civil Servants and emphasis should be on both of the 2 words!
Ok then AS I am sure you will be happy to pay for - out of YOUR taxes - arranging this "customers" "course" to suit his schedule.
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AE We shall have to differ. If you pay for something it is either goods or a service, broadly speaking. Ok If he isn't a customer - he is a service user. The actual cost of re-arranging his course, unless a place is lost is ZERO. I am a Civil servant BTW, and a taxpayer. I would rather my taxes were spent on providing services to taxpayers than pot plants for Ministry buildings, uselss computer systems, Child Benefit for children who live in Poland but who have one parent living in UK and so on!
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AS we will agree to differ. He is not paying for something, its not goods or services, its not a choice or lifestyle purchase - its a sentence for an offence. As such its not "optional - or convenience" based.
And as a taxpayer I would rather he be charge £60 minimum. In fact I would rather he was bounced off the course with no refund and given the original three points and frankly I am astounded at your viewpoint.
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It IS optional - he chose it!
Edited by Armitage Shanks {p} on 03/01/2009 at 11:26
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