1. YOUR DRIVING LICENCE

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a) Clients must ensure that they hold a valid and signed current driving licence, which must be produced at the first lesson and will be subject to occasional checks by Links Driving School.

b) Clients must ensure that the correct details are shown on their licence, such as current name and address.

c) Clients must inform Links Driving School if they receive any endorsements on their driving licence during the time they are receiving tuition in addition to any impending prosecutions. Failure to do so may result in the termination of lessons.

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d) Links Driving School will need the Client to carry out, through the DVSA, a driving licence check to ensure the correct category of vehicles to be driven by the Client and to determine any endorsements on the provisional/full licence. The Client must therefore provide a paper copy of their driver record on the first meeting with Links Driving School. Failure to do this could result in the withdrawal of tuition.

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2. APPOINTMENT CARD​

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Links Driving School will issue an appointment card on the first lesson. All Clients are advised to keep the card with them during lessons to enable an accurate record of training and to assist with planning of future lessons. This card will be updated to show all appointments and all monies/credits from the Client's prepayments.

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3. PUNCTUALITY​

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a) Clients are advised to be punctual for their lesson appointments. All such appointments will be recorded on their driving record card to ensure that mistakes are avoided. The instructor will wait for a maximum of 15 minutes after the lesson start time but the lesson would then be abandoned and the lesson fee forfeited.

b) A reciprocal waiting time may become necessary if the instructor is delayed due to unforeseen circumstances. Any lesson time lost as a result of this would be made up by the instructor either at the end of the normal lesson time if possible, or at a later date. Any such shortfall will be recorded.  Links Driving School will send out a text message by telephone of any delays to the next lesson.

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4. HEALTH AND SAFETY​

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a) Clients are advised to wear suitable footwear and comfortable clothing that does not restrict any movement, please ask your instructor for any advice you may require.

b) The training vehicle will be kept at a comfortable temperature, and you should not need to wear any coat or jumper whilst driving.

c) There is a NO SMOKING policy operated within the driving school car.

 

d) Clients must inform Links Driving School of any disabilities they may have OR prescribed medication being taken, which might affect their ability to drive. If in any doubt, please speak to your instructor before driving.

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e) Links Driving School reserves the right to withdraw any tuition or the supervision to the test centre if in the opinion of the instructor the Client is:

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• Not properly licensed to drive including failure to bring to the test a valid driver’s licence

• Medically unfit (including eyesight)

• Under the influence of drugs or alcohol

• Falls into arrears over lesson payments

 

f) No liability of any kind can be accepted by Links Driving School for the loss of, or damage to any property belonging to, or in the possession of the Client.

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5. TUITION FEES​

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a) Payment for lessons can be made by cash or cheque to your instructor prior to the lesson commencing, or by using the FPO method  for block bookings.

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b) If the Clients preference is for block booking driving lessons, then whole payment is required up front (see clause 7d)

c) A driving lesson is defined as lasting 60, 90 or 120 minutes.

d) Use of the school car for driving tests will be £85.00 and will incorporate a 60 minute lesson prior to said test. 

e) All accounts must be cleared before proceeding on an official driving test.

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f) Fees and pricing structure is subject to periodical change, but the pricing plan that you start on will be the plan you remain on until first test.

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g) Cancellation of a lesson less within less than 24 hours will incur the full cost of that missed lesson.

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6. POSTPONEMENT OR CANCELLATION OF A LESSON(S) BY LINKS DRIVING SCHOOL​

 

a) If a lesson has been cancelled at short notice due to instructor sickness, vehicle failure, extremely poor weather conditions i.e. snow or other emergency matter, an alternative appointment shall be made with mutual consent.

 

b)  Clients should appreciate that it may not always be possible to notify cancellation in the unlikely event of a breakdown occurring on the way to a driving lesson/test, so an alternative appointment shall be made with mutual consent.

 

c) Due to the current high demand and difficulty in getting a practical driving test. it is important that any Driving tests take priority over lessons, therefore a lesson already booked may sometimes have to be cancelled or postponed if Links Driving School receives short notice of a driving test. An alternative date and time will be arranged by mutual consent.

 

d) Except provided in clause 6a above, the school will where possible give notice of rearrangement or postponement of a lesson within the same time limit as the school imposes upon a pupil postponing or cancelling a lesson (see clause 7a).

 

e) If circumstances arise that the instructor feels that it would be in his/her or the Client’s best interest to discontinue future lessons, then the Client will be notified of this fact in writing. Every attempt will be made to find a suitable alternative instructor or driving school for the Client, but the Client is under no obligation to accept any such offer. In this event, a refund will be made of any monies remaining in the Client’s prepayment account.

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7. POSTPONEMENTS OR CANCELLATION OF LESSONS BY CLIENTS

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a) At least 24 hours’ notice of postponement or cancellation of a lesson is required. Late cancellations will be charged for as specified in the fees section.

b) Such notice to the school or instructor (in writing or by telephone) shall be deemed to have been served on the day that the communication is received at the schools premises, where it will be timed and recorded by Links Driving School. Telephone answer machine messages, mobile phone text messages, and email messages are acceptable methods by which to cancel or postpone lessons.

 

c) If Links Driving School considers the Client to be cancelling too many lessons outside or within the 24 hour statutory notification period (see clause 7a) , then Links Driving School reserves the right to withdraw services immediately and will refund any monies remaining in the Clients prepayment account.

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d) The Client is entitled to withdraw the services of Links Driving School at any time, and written notification by mobile phone text message or email message are acceptable methods of cancellation. Any outstanding prepaid monies for block driving lessons will be refunded within 3 working days by the Faster Payment Service (BACS). The Client or their representative must provide suitable bank details for this refund. Their will be a 10% cancellation fee subtracted from the total owed.

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8. POSTPONEMENTS OR CANCELLATION OF A TEST

 

a) The attention of Clients is drawn to the fact that a statutory period of notice is required under government regulations for the cancellation or postponement of a test. This is currently three clear working days (not including test day itself).

 

b) If possible the pupil will be advised in good time of the advisability of cancelling a test. Links Driving School cannot be responsible for the loss of the test fee if the pupil fails to immediately notify the test booking office. The address and telephone number is given on the test appointment document.

 

c) Links Driving School cannot be held responsible for any postponement or cancellation of a test by the testing authority – at whatever notice.

 

d) Should a vehicle failure be the cause of a cancellation of a driving test, Links Driving School shall not be held responsible to the pupil for the fee of that cancelled test or of the next test if it cannot be cancelled within the required time (see clause 8a), regardless of the Client’s continuation of lessons with the school.

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e) Links Driving School shall be responsible to the pupil for the fee of the next test due to sudden illness of the instructor or a test which is double booked  by the instructor and it cannot be cancelled within the required time (see clause 8a), regardless of the Client’s continuation of lessons with the school.

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9. THE DRIVING TEST

a) Your instructor will advise the appropriate time to make an application for a driving test. The advice will be based on the Client's progress to date. It does NOT imply that the necessary standard has been reached or that it will for certain be reached by the appointed test date.  Links Driving School will not hesitate to advise where necessary, the postponement of the test. Links also reserves the right to move a clients driving test to an alternative date. This condition is intended to save the pupil expense, unnecessary failure and the consequent delay in waiting for another test and obtaining a full licence.

b) Links Driving School reserves the right to withhold the use of the school car for the test, if in the opinion of the instructor the student is:

- Not properly licensed to drive
- Not at a safe standard of driving to undergo a driving test
- Medically unfit (including eyesight)
- Under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- Consistently fails to keep, or is late for appointments

- Falls into arrears over payment
- If for any other reason, the instructor considers the student will be unsafe to handle a motor vehicle.

c) Clients may be accompanied on the test by a senior supervising examiner, whose job is to ensure that official standards of testing are observed by examiners. This is a legal requirement and is in the public interest.

d) Clients are reminded that when you go to take your driving test you must take the required documents. Failure to comply with this regulation will mean the examiner will have to cancel your test; you will forfeit your test fee and have to apply for a new test date. In this case, you will also be expected to pay your lesson fee to Links Driving School.

e) In the event of the test appointment being made by the Client, the Client is required to notify Links Driving School as soon as possible of the date and time of said test and to show/forward the booking confirmation email asap or at their next lesson. It is recommended that clients consult with Links Driving School regarding the test booking to avoid any unnecessary clashes with other Clients driving tests. Links Driving School accepts no responsibility for tests booked by the Client at times when no instructor will be available..

f) Links Driving School cannot accept any responsibility for booking an incorrect time or date of a test in the working diary unless the appointment email is produced/forwarded. If the appointment is made and sent to Links Driving School, then an undertaking is given to show the Client the document at the next lesson or notify them as soon as possible either by letter, email, or telephone text message

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g) Clients with any special needs/medical conditions MUST at the time of booking the driving test declare these on the booking form.

10. INSURANCE

a) Links Driving school car is fully insured for tuition and driving tests. The insurance certificate is available for inspection upon request.

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​b) No liability of any kind can be accepted by Links Driving School for the loss of, or damage to any property belonging to, or in the possession of the Client.

11. LESSONS IN CLIENTS CARS

 

a) Lessons may be given in a student own car if the instructor is willing to do so, and on the following strict conditions and understanding:

- the car is fully insured and a Certificate of Insurance has been seen by Links Driving School
- the instructor is fully covered by such insurance to carry out driving tuition for payment purposes. This may require a higher level of insurance cover.
- Links Driving School can no way be held liable for any damage or collision – every effort will be made to prevent the Client having a collision or damaging the car, but it must be realised that the instructor’s control is very limited.
- a second rear view mirror must be provided and Learner plates clearly displayed to the front and rear of the car

12. LEGAL LIABILITY

a) Clients should be aware that their instructor’s primary objective is to promote road safety and in doing they will have to issue instructions which the Client must be prepared to carry out without undue argument. A continued failure on the Clients part to comply with such reasonable instruction will be deemed as a breach of responsibility of the Client, and the lesson may be immediately terminated. In the interests of safety, future lessons may be cancelled for this same reason.

b) The instructor will make every effort to train you to the highest standard but can in no way be held liable for any errors you commit whilst driving and unaccompanied by your instructor before, during or after a test pass.

c) During the driving test, the Client is in charge of the driving school car and is therefore solely liable for any fines, endorsements or charges levied as a result of any motoring offence(s) committed. Links Driving School may claim any fees back from the Client.

 

d) Links Driving School School reserves the right to publish within its official website, photographic evidence, video recordings and/or testimonials of the Client (over 18 only), on passing his or her driving test. The Client must make it clear to the instructor at the time if consent is not duly given.

 

e) Links Driving School uses in - car video (dash cam). This is primarily used to protect the client/instructor from fraudulent collision claims from third parties, as well as identifying potentially serious/dangerous driving faults during a lesson. At no time will the client be identified by his/her full name whilst the camera is in operation, nor will the camera be facing in the direction of the client.

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f) The law around data protection requires any businesses handling personal data to do so securely and responsibly, and with the ability to remove all personal records upon request (verbally or in writing) by you the Client. Links Driving School is registered with the Information Commissioners Office and will continue to ensure that any private information retained, will be part of normal business operations only and will always remain private and securely stored. 

13. LINKS DRIVING SCHOOL GUARANTEE

a) Only a legally qualified Grade A or Grade B Authorised Driving Instructor will give tuition.

b) ADI official authorising documentation will be displayed on the windscreen of the car and may be inspected freely at any time.

c) The School car will be maintained regularly and will b clean and tidy within (weather conditions can play a big part in this). 

d) Links Driving School promotes Safe Driving for Life and every effort and care will be taken to ensure that this is the primary case.

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e) All Clients will be expected to sign a declaration form on or after the first driving lesson to state that they have read and understood Links Driving School terms and conditions.

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14. COMPLAINTS

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a. If you are unhappy with any aspect of your tuition you should notify Links Driving School without delay and no later than seven days from the date on which the cause of the complaint arose. Every effort will be made by Links Driving School to satisfactorily deal with the complaint; these terms of business for approved driving instructors form the basis for negotiations.

b. Should any dispute be unresolved mutually then the student has the right to refer the matter to the DVSA.

 

instructorconduct@dvsa.gov.uk

 

or in writing to

 

DVSA
PO Box 349
Newcastle-Upon-Tyne
NE12 2GN

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