Beware of Brokers

[Rooothy]

Beware the Brokers

Who, and what, are the Brokers ?

The Brokers are companies like EasyAsHGV, The LGV Training Company, Direct LGV, Network HGV and Advantage LGV.

These companies are NOT actual training companies despite their claims of having numerous locations throughout the country.

They MIGHT have connections WITH training companies, but they don't OWN them.

We would also like to welcome "The British School of Trucking" and "FreshLogic" to the industry.

They are not completely Brokers, but LGV Training Companies with one or two locations that have decided to branch out and attract customers (like you), take a commission (your money) and then send you back to your local LGV Training Company.

Ask yourself ONE question.

Why do they say "With over 30 training centres ..."

If they OWNED the training centres, wouldn't they know how many they had ??

Another Broker claims to be ".. working with over 400 HGV training companies in the UK"

Amazing.

There are only about 200 LGV training companies in the UK !! Maybe they used each one twice.


What these Brokerages do is SELL training courses at as high a price as they can get (from you) and then BUY the courses from a real LGV Training Company at as low a price as they can.

The difference (your money) is then their commission and their profit !!

So you pay THEM for what YOU can do for NOTHING !

Source : http://hgvtraining-factfile.co.uk/Beware_of_Brokers.php

This also applies to PCV training, good tip: ask them if you can go and inspect their vehicles first before you pay any money.

If they are a broker, then obviously they will say no.

[alan mcculloch]

This situation comes up often on TRUCKNETUK .A potential trainee has no need of a broker and there are no nationwide training organisations.

[Duke South]

This also applies to PCV training, good tip: ask them if you can go and inspect their vehicles first before you pay any money.

If they are a broker, then obviously they will say no.

Also these brokers don't offer an initial assessment drive free of charge to ascertain your needs, because the company they eventually get the best deal from might not offer this themselves.

As well as seeing vehicles, ask to meet one or more of the instructor team.

[hume]

the only thing i would say in defence of brokers is that if you're looking for a genuine lgv\pcv company, you'll more than likely find it with them. you can also air grieavances about training and instructors to them and they'll chase up the individuals involved.

i went with a cowboy firm who got £600 out of me and never took me on my test and then the company folded.

I'm currently going for my automatic pcv license. i've had 2 assessments with 2 different companies. st christophers and wallace. wallace are charging £1200, while st christopher wants to be paid either on a cheque guarantee basis or cash. they don't have facilities for credit cards. this sounds very fishy, though the price is £875.

going for the cheap option isn't always best. p.s. does anyone have any experience with st christopher :sad_1:

[alan mcculloch]

I have heard good things about Wallace never heard of St. Chistopher. ,they may not include your driving test,always worth checking this out.

[hgvlgvtraining]

Sure you can go to the brokers if you want. However going direct ensures you choose where you complete your training. Just make sure you do your reserach 1st. The internet is awash with brokers and middlemen. I work in the training industry and things have changed in recent years witht the emergance of the internet.

[Stchristophers]

while st christopher wants to be paid either on a cheque guarantee basis or cash. they don't have facilities for credit cards. this sounds very fishy, though the price is £875.

going for the cheap option isn't always best. p.s. does anyone have any experience with st christopher :sad_1:

Hi Hume,

I think I remember you coming for an assessment, the information you provided to me was that you was training with a bus company that had recommended me to you. Based on the information you provided about the training you had with the bus company and the assessment looking at your ability, I assessed that you needed at least 14-16 hours of training to bring you up to the DSA test standard.

The price quoted was inclusive of DSA test fees and two hours use of the bus on the test.

I advised you that we do two hourly lessons over a period of 6 days and every time you finish your lesson you pay for the two hours of training. Never at any stage do I ask for payment up front like other companies as I choose not to operate in this manner.

Each trainee of mine is treated as a friend and not as a punter or a cash generator. Big companies have big overheads therefore higher cost, I operate two vehicles for training which is why my costs are lower. Nothing fishy about my company.



I have been training LGV/PCV drivers for the past twenty years, when you phone me, your speaking directly to the organ grinder and not a monkey.

Thanks

Kesh

(Edited to fix link)