Terms and Conditions

Terms and conditions of service

Introduction

The following terms and conditions represent the basis upon which driving lessons and courses are offered to you, the learner/student (i.e.“You” or “Your”) by the local independent franchised LDC driving school instructor (“LDC instructor”). Please note the contract for service is between You and the local LDC instructor regardless of whether a third party paid for the service. Each LDC instructor operates their own driving school business under franchise from the Learner Driving Centre ("LDC"), a property/brand name of Teaching Driving Limited, and have agreed to be bound by the following terms and conditions. The LDC national booking office is a separate entity which has been authorised to act as a booking agent and a quality controller for the members of the LDC driving school franchise network. The address of the LDC is LDC House, Stuart Road, Pontefract, West Yorkshire WF8 3PQ: Telephone 01977 691800.

Any breach by the LDC instructor of the following terms and conditions will potentially put them in default of their contract for service with You and their franchise agreement with Teaching Driving Limited. Only those driving instructors willing to maintain the highest standards of customer care and tuition are permitted to operate under the LDC driving school name.

1. General Conduct
Your LDC instructor will be courteous, polite, tidy and punctual. They will also behave in a professional and ethical manner at all times. Your LDC instructor’s car will be well maintained, clean and tidy. All cars used by LDC instructors are fitted with dual-controls and insured for driving tuition purposes. LDC instructors have agreed not to smoke in the vehicle and will not use Your lesson time for any other form of business, personal or otherwise.

2. Qualifications
As a minimum Your LDC instructor will be licensed by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) to give driving tuition. The vast majority of LDC instructors are DVSA approved. All LDC instructors will have been specially trained in the use of the “student-centred” LD System of driving tuition and LDC’s customer care standards before being allowed to operate as an LDC driving school franchised instructor. Before an LDC instructor can be finally approved by the DVSA on a permanent basis they may choose to serve a probationary period of 6 months as a trainee instructor on license from the DVSA. Those new LDC instructors still in this probationary training period will have a senior LDC instructor trainer assigned to them to give guidance and occasionally observe their tuition to ensure they maintain the necessary high standards expected by LDC.

3. Course Materials
When a course (i.e. One Week Pass, Semi-intensive, Midway Pass or Test Booster course) is booked through the LDC national booking office, Your Driving Skills Workbook and Driving Skills DVD Video set will be provided to You directly from the office. If You book Weekly Lessons You can purchase the Driving Skills Workbook and Driving Skills DVD Video set from the LDC national booking office or directly from Your local LDC instructor. As an alternative to purchasing the Driving Skills DVD Video set Your local LDC instructor may be be able to loan or rent them to You. The contents of the Driving Skills videos and workbook information are also available via LDCs online student learning portal/apps provided Your LDC instructor gives You access.

4. Driving Licence and Eyesight
You must hold a current, valid driving licence (provisional or full), which must be produced on or in advance of Your first driving lesson. You must prove Your entitlement to drive by providing a licence check code to Your LDC instructor prior to Your first driving lesson. The LDC national booking office or Your LDC instructor can provide instructions on how to do this. You must also check that You can read a number plate at a distance of 20.5 metres (i.e. 67 feet – about 5 car lengths) with prescribed visual aids (i.e. contact lenses or glasses) if normally worn. Any such prescribed visual aids must also be worn on every driving lesson if needed to meet this minimum eyesight condition.

5. Learner safety, comfort and well being
Safety is a shared responsibility between the LDC instructor and You as identified below:

1. In the interests of comfort and safety You are advised to wear suitable footwear and clothing which does not restrict movement or which is inappropriate, distracting or could lead to embarrassing situations.

2. It is important that You act responsibly at all times and give Your undivided attention to the driving task at hand. Should anything be distracting You during the lesson it is important that You make the LDC instructor aware of this fact even if it is something the LDC instructor is doing. Similarly if You are feeling uncomfortable or uneasy about any driving task it is important that You make the LDC instructor aware of this as soon as it is safe to do so. The LDC instructor will be grateful for the feedback and they will think no less of You for doing so.

3. In an emergency situation it is important that You follow the instructions of the LDC instructor and allow them to take control of the steering wheel if necessary to avoid an incident. The LDC instructor may also need to make use of the dual controls (i.e. brake and or clutch pedals) and thus override Your use of them. As soon as it is safe to do so the LDC instructor will advise You of why their actions were necessary and help You to calm down if required. Any subsequent discussion will focus on what can be learned from the situation rather than who was to blame.

4. The LDC instructor will do their best to deliver any instructions or take any actions (even in an emergency) in a calm and measured manner so as not to alarm You or make You feel uncomfortable or disheartened in any way. The LDC instructor will definitely not shout at You or make any sarcastic or derogatory remarks.

5. The LDC instructor will not use improper language or suggestive behaviour and/or physical contact.

6. You must take note of any medication You are taking which may affect Your ability to drive safely and advise the LDC instructor accordingly before taking any lesson booked. Similarly, You should inform the LDC instructor of anything You feel might impact on Your ability to undertake the proposed lesson safely.

7. In the event it becomes apparent that You are unable to concentrate due to illness, tiredness, or Your emotional state of mind the LDC instructor reserves the right to terminate the lesson early or require agreement from You to choose an alternative less demanding learning activity which can still be undertaken safely.

6. Driving under the Influence
To ensure the safety of You, Your instructor and other road users Your LDC instructor reserves the right to cancel any lesson if You are or if they suspect You are under the influence of drugs and or alcohol. If this occurs the full training fee for the period in question will be lost or charged.

7. Lesson Postponement
Provided the LDC instructor can easily obtain additional work for any individual lessons postponed no penalty will be incurred. If this is not possible the full training fee for the period in question may, at the total discretion of the LDC instructor, be lost or charged. Your LDC instructor reserves the right to postpone lessons if they feel that the weather or road conditions are unsuitable or dangerous. Any lessons postponed by Your LDC instructor will be rescheduled at a mutually agreed time. The LDC instructor cannot be held responsible for any costs incurred as a result of them having to postpone any lessons, for whatever reason.

8. Punctuality
In Your own interest You are advised to be punctual for Your lesson appointments. All such appointments should be recorded in Your Driving Skills Workbook (Appointment Record section) and checked where possible by Your local LDC instructor to ensure that mistakes are avoided. The LDC instructor would normally wait for a maximum of 15 minutes before the lesson would be abandoned and the lesson fee forfeit or become due for payment. A reciprocal waiting time may become necessary if the LDC instructor is delayed due to unforeseen circumstances. Any lesson time lost as a result of the LDC instructor being late would be made up by the LDC instructor either at the end of the normal lesson time if possible or at a later date. Any such shortfall should be recorded in the driving skills workbook lesson appointment section and initialled by the LDC instructor. An appointment record card may be used as an alternative to utilising the appointment section in the Driving Skills Workbook.

9. Payments
All payments must be made in advance of the training and are not refundable in the event that You decide to cancel the training once the booking has been accepted by Your local LDC instructor and booked into their diary. At this point a binding agreement is made between You and the local LDC instructor. This does not in any way affect your statutory rights to be provided with the goods and services You have bought (or bought on Your behalf) from the LDC instructor (please see term 15). Please also note that a full refund will be given if the LDC national booking office is unable to find a local LDC instructor to provide the training service at the price you paid within 14 days or should Your local LDC instructor be unable to meet any special written requirements noted when You initially booked the course or lessons.

LDC do not accept any responsibility for any payments made direct to the LDC instructor. However, in the event of any dispute regarding such fees paid directly to them LDC will try to help You resolve the matter but LDC can not be held responsible for any repayment or refund of such fees paid directly to them.

10. Customer Care Payment Protection Scheme
When You or a third party on Your behalf pay money direct to the LDC national booking office it is held in a separate payment holding account for the LDC instructor. This money is not normally passed onto the LDC instructor until You sign a form instructing the LDC national booking office to do so in part or in full. At various points during the training, the LDC instructor will ask You to signify Your satisfaction with any training given up to that point. You should not sign the form or tick the box on Your LDC Pupil App to confirm this unless You are totally satisfied with the training and want the LDC national booking office to pass on sufficient money held in the payment holding account to cover the training time authorised.

To ensure that each LDC instructor provides services to the same high standards all the LDC instructors have agreed that the LDC national booking office should also act as an arbitrator and withhold any money in the payment holding account in the event of a complaint. Only when this matter is resolved to the satisfaction of the LDC Quality Assurance Manager will payment be passed on, or refunded to You or the third party if not paid by You, as the case may be. In this way, the standards of the franchise network of LDC driving schools can be maintained and You can be assured that You get what You paid for.

Please note if You book directly with Your local LDC instructor this scheme is not operated and LDC do not accept any responsibility for any payments You make to them.

11. The Driving Test

1. Bookings
   Driving tests can be booked by You, Your LDC instructor or the LDC national booking office on Your behalf. Driving test bookings always take priority over other lessons. Therefore, Your lesson may be postponed to allow for someone else’s driving test and vice-versa. Changes to lesson bookings as a result of this will be notified as quickly as possible. Test appointments must be notified to Your LDC instructor as soon as they are known, otherwise they cannot guarantee to provide a vehicle for the test or any lessons just prior to it.

2. Use of the vehicle
   In the interests of customer and public safety Your LDC instructor reserves the right to withhold the use of a car for the test if, in their opinion, Your driving is actually or potentially dangerous – behaviour which if repeated on the test would result in a test failure.

3. Test cancellation
   Three clear working days (Sundays and public holidays don’t count as working days) notice of test cancellation or postponement is required by the DVSA. Therefore to cancel a test booked for a Friday You need to do this online no later than the preceding Monday thus giving three clear working days (i.e. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday). Failure to provide the required notice will result in the loss of Your test fee. The LDC instructor cannot be held responsible for any postponement or cancellation of tests by You or the DVSA. However, the LDC instructor will do all that is possible to arrange another test as quickly as possible and to help You to reclaim expenses from the DVSA if appropriate

12. Special Offers and Lesson price increase
Driving lesson prices are subject to change and our prices are determined by postcode area and dependent upon transmission (manual or automatic). An LDC instructor operator has the right to increase their individual prices higher than the Minimum Price Per Lesson (MPPL) we advertise on this website for a particular postcode area. An LDC instructor may decide to run a special offer but can withdraw or change that special offer at anytime.

13. Complaints
In the event of a complaint all efforts must be made to resolve the problem directly with the LDC instructor. However, please do not let a problem linger. If You booked Your course or lessons through the LDC national booking office You may contact the person who arranged Your training in the first place for advice and help by ringing 01977 691851. If You booked directly with the LDC instructor You will need to put Your complaint in writing to the LDC instructor franchise Quality Assurance Manager, Teaching Driving Limited, LDC House, Stuart Road, Pontefract, West Yorkshire WF8 4PQ or email
quality@learnerdriving.com.

Please note in the event of any dispute regarding fees paid directly to the LDC instructor, LDC will try to help You resolve the matter but LDC can not be held responsible for any repayment or refund of such fees.

14. COVID-19 Safeguarding Measures
Please note while COVID-19 remains a threat Your LDC instructor may also require You to abide by the supplementary terms and conditions of service found on the website of the independent LDC instructor or at the end of these terms.

15. Your Statutory Rights
Nothing in these terms and conditions will reduce Your statutory rights relating to faulty goods or services provided. LDC instructors have a statutory obligation to provide You with goods and services fit for the purpose for which they were bought and as described. Similarly, any goods supplied by the LDC national booking office must also be fit for the purpose for which they were bought and as described. If You have any doubts about Your statutory rights please contact Your local Trading Standards Department or Citizen’s Advice Bureau.

16. Gift Vouchers
All gift vouchers purchased through the LDC national booking office or directly with Your local LDC instructor are only valid for 6 months from the date of purchase and are subject to the following terms:

• The gift voucher can only be used by the recipient named on the gift voucher and is not transferable.
• The voucher is only valid for 6 months from date of purchase. This means that You must have started Your driving lessons within the 6-month period, but not necessarily finished them. If the voucher has not been redeemed before the expiration date it will not be reissued.
• The voucher is non refundable.
• The voucher has no cash value.
• If a voucher is still valid and lost, another can be re-issued for an admin fee of £10.
• Should the name of the driving instructor on the voucher no longer be an LDC instructor our team will help You find another LDC instructor if possible or if not the initial sum paid to the LDC national booking office for the voucher will be refunded in full for any outstanding hours remaining. Please note gift vouchers purchased directly from the LDC instructor can only be refunded by the LDC instructor. The LDC do not accept any responsibility for gift vouchers directly purchased from the LDC instructor.
• If lesson prices have increased before the voucher has been redeemed the holder of the voucher may have to pay the extra cost – this decision is purely down to the LDC instructor named on the voucher.

Please note that LDC instructors only accept official LDC gift vouchers and have the right to decline any third party vouchers that may claim to be accepted by any driving instructor.

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Below is a copy of the supplementary terms and conditions your LDC driving school operator may require you to accept to their standard terms and conditions as identified above and shown on their website where "I, me and my" is referring to the specific LDC driving instructor in question :

“Supplementary COVID-19 Safeguarding Terms and Conditions

To safeguard you, me and my other students while COVID-19 remains a threat it may be necessary to abide by the following additional terms and conditions. These terms and conditions are designed to help reduce the risk of contracting or transmitting the virus while taking driving lessons. Where there is any conflict between my standard terms and conditions of service and those listed below, these take precedence.

1. What are the risks of contracting COVID-19
COVID-19 is an extremely contagious disease that can lead to severe illness and in some cases death. I will do my best to minimise the risk to you by sanitising those surfaces that you might touch and by ventilating the car whenever possible before each lesson. Due to the fact we will not be able to observe the 2 metre social distancing rule while in the car, and because we will be operating in a confined space used by a number of different people, I am unable to guarantee you will not be infected by COVID-19 during your driving lessons.

2. Accept full responsibility should you or a member of your household become infected
By undertaking driving lessons with me you are agreeing to

1. accept full responsibility (except where I am negligent) for any loss, cost or expense you might incur should you contract COVID-19 or pass it on as a result of taking driving lessons with me
2. not take any action against me to recover any such loss, cost or expense.

3. Consider whether you or a member of your household might be particularly vulnerable
If you or any persons you are likely to be in contact with are at risk of having a severe form of the illness as a result of being infected by COVID-19 (e.g. senior citizens, pregnant women and those with underlying medical conditions) please consider very carefully whether you should be taking a course of driving lessons at this point in time.

4. Immediately let me know if you or any members of your household have been exposed to serious risk of contracting COVID-19, tested positive for it, advised to self-isolate or shown symptoms of it.
If you know you may have potentially been in a situation where you or any member of your household may have contracted COVID-19, been tested positive for it, advised to self-isolate (e.g. NHS Test and Trace or equivalent) or shown symptoms (see below) it is vital that you let me know as soon as possible. Please note, I do not need personal details of any individual to whom this may relate.

COVID-19 symptoms include:

1. a high temperature (38C or above)
2. a new, continuous dry cough
3. unexplained loss or change to your (or their) sense of smell or taste

This list is not exhaustive. For the latest information please refer to the Government guidelines or refer to https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/check-if-you-have-coronavirus-symptoms/

Without charge to you this will help me to decide whether it will be necessary to postpone any future lessons until it is safe to continue based on the latest Government guidelines. Should I discover you could have given me more notice of this I reserve the right to charge you for any driving lessons postponed.

5. Be prepared to answer truthfully any questions I might ask before any driving lesson about potential COVID-19 exposure or symptoms
I may need to ask you questions about whether you have been in contact with people:

1. who might be infected (e.g. advised to self-isolate) or
2. who might have recently returned from abroad or
3. who you know are definitely infected or
4. who are particularly vulnerable to a severe form of the COVID-19 illness (also see 3 above).

I will also need to ask you about whether you or indeed anyone else in your household have experienced symptoms (see 4 above). In this regard I may need to take your temperature using a non-contact thermometer. Please note I do not need personal details of any individual to whom the above may relate.

Without charge to you, I reserve the right to postpone the lesson if I suspect you may have symptoms consistent with being infected by COVID-19 or have been seriously exposed to it until it is safe to continue based on the latest Government guidelines. Should I discover you could have given me more notice of this information I reserve the right to charge you for any driving lessons postponed as a result.

6. Reciprocal information about me and the need for action regarding points 4 to 5
I will inform you if I suspect I or anyone in my household have:

1. been exposed to a serious risk of contracting COVID-19 or
2. tested positive for COVID-19 or
3. exhibited symptoms of COVID-19 infection or
4. been advised to self-isolate.

If so, I may need to postpone your driving lessons (including attending any driving test) and self-isolate, based on current Government advice, for at least 14 days or indeed longer in the case of a severe infection. In this instance any scheduled lessons would be carried forward until I was in a position to resume training.

7. Wear a face covering or mask during the lesson
The wearing of a face covering or mask is recommended if social distancing is not possible. Therefore, I may require you to wear a face covering or mask during the lesson. Please bring your own face covering or mask, which should be one that you feel comfortable wearing. This must not interfere with your ability to drive safely.

Please notify me at least 48 hours prior to any driving lesson if you do not have a suitable face covering or mask. I may be able to supply a disposable mask or a reusable mask at an additional cost. I reserve the right to postpone the lesson in this situation without charge. However, should insufficient notice be given and you turn up for a lesson without a suitable face covering or mask I also reserve the right to postpone and charge for the lesson.

8. Endeavour to properly wash your hands and face just prior to each lesson
If at all possible, please wash your hands and face thoroughly with soap and water for 20 seconds immediately prior to attending a driving lesson. I will still require you to sanitise/wash your hands, after fitting a face covering or mask and prior to entering the car, using a suitable product that I will supply for this purpose. If you can not do this for medical reasons you may be required to wear suitable gloves instead. I will also make sure my hands are clean or suitably gloved as the case may be. At certain intervals it may be necessary for you to re-apply hand sanitiser or wash as I direct.

9. Avoid having to bring any extra objects to the driving lesson
Please be mindful not to bring any objects with you that may potentially be a carrier for COVID-19, if at all possible. You can bring your phone with you provided it is switched off and can be kept on your person. Anything that cannot be kept on your person will need to be placed in a plastic bag or container provided by me for this purpose and returned to you at the end of the lesson.

10. Avoid paying in cash
If you do bring cash, make sure it is the precise amount that is needed to pay for the lesson or lessons you want to purchase. I will ask you to drop it into a bag or container that I will keep for this purpose. The best way to pay for my service is to pay via online banking direct into my account. Please consult with me for other options.

11. Car ventilation
It is known that COVID-19 transfer is reduced in open spaces therefore I may ventilate the car by keeping some of the windows open during the lesson. If this is not practical, I will endeavour to ventilate the car between lessons.”