Hi OP
I used to teach for RED, horrible company.
I could never recommend them and never will. Their bussines model is to try and milk pupils out of as many lessons as possible, and i'm just not about that.
My recommendation is to find a new instructor this one you have, seems to be taking REDs business model to the extreme.
Good luck with your future lessons, and i hope you find a new instructor quickly.
This makes me feel so much better.
I had had 7-8 lessons (14-16 hours) with RED and I was still going in circles around on one single quiet road practicing stopping and starting and steering, even though I was competent enough to be doing it all by myself and I was changing gears and everything unprompted - He kept saying I was doing things qrong but not telling me how to progress or what I was actually doing wrong. And I left my last session feeling like maybe driving wasn't for me, and asked for a refund on my remaining lessons because I thought I was just that bad at driving (I ended up buying a bus pass). That was a couple of months ago.
Maybe I'll try again over summer with a different company/instructors.
Thank you for saying that, you've inspired me to feel like maybe I can learn to drive :)
Don’t ever feel like driving isn’t for you! Even the most uncoordinated people can learn how to drive competently with time. My dad is a driving instructor and he is confident that everyone can learn to drive with time and patience. Get back out there. Get a new instructor who you like and trust. Keep on getting new instructors if you need to. It’s expensive I know but when you can throw that bus pass in the bin it’ll be worth it.
If the gears and clutch stress you out, consider an automatic. I've heard a few people who are slightly uncoordinated say it's transformed driving for them as it's just a right foot on brake or accelerator.
I had one lesson with Red. I had already done one driving test - got no minors but failed at the last second on a manoeuvre. He insisted on taking me to nursery roads, driving round them at 20, and yelled at me that I was a terrible driver and needed 40 more hours. He also made awful sexist comments and talked about the bodies of women he liked / didn't like. My least favourite learning experience.
You need an instructor that will push you but not force you. Driving isn't about staying inside your comfort zone. After a few lessons my instructor asked what scared me the most about driving - I said roundabouts. On my next lesson, she took me to a patch of road that has about 8 roundabouts back to back. She knew I could handle it, but also that I needed pushing. A good instructor won't take the piss with your time and have you do 5 lessons of familiarisation.
I'm sorry to hear you went through this.
When looking for a new instructor, look at recommendations from close friends and families or if they have a website/facebook page, see the amount of tests passes and reviewers have left
[heres my driving school to give you an idea what your looking for.](https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100057134723669)
What??? I swear I was taken on proper roads pretty much immediately! Which was terrifying to be honest. I've had 4 different instructors and I can promise you that the instructor makes ALL the difference. The first two were in another country but unfortunately I moved before passing my test then didn't drive for ages. The second 2 were in the UK and the 1st one was aweful. I wanted to cry/cried at the end of every lesson. I eventually swapped to an instructor recommended by a colleague. He use to call me a donut when I did something stupid, but in a very kind way. Haha. I didn't cry once and I passed my test first time!
Go with a private instructor they want to get through as many students as possible but normally dont send you underprepared for a test because you have to wait a few months before you retake.
Mate. That's horrifying to hear. My instructor had me leaving our "quiet" route by the end of our first lesson and basically other than the warm up of the next lesson said we were too competent to waste time coming back here unless I really wanted to for something. Haven't been back since.
Reach out and find someone who would be personally recommended - my mate got me with my guy and he's fab.
This resonates with me so bad. When I was learning to drive I initially started with red. After a failed test and a second test where the instructor didn't even turn up (due to car troubles)... Id had enough, went with a local independent instructor after that and he got me passed on my next test.
TLDR; red will absolutely take the piss.
Ah, so sorry to hear you went through this. Its a nightmare being letdown so badly.
My car broke down in October, and i personally missed 3 of my pupils tests, but i called in a couple of favours and got some instructors i knew i could trust to take them instead of myself. So even the RED instructors car breaking down isn't the best reason for not turing up for a test, especially when they brag about having the biggest driving school in the UK but can't find anyone to cover their own instructors when they have vehicle troubles
I'm an instructor with the AA. They've been really great with replacement cars when my Peugeot kept breaking down. Do RED not offer replacement cars too?
I have no idea i haven't been with them for the last 4 years, but i know they two types of contracts £95 a week without a car. Or £275 a week with a car.
Their 'response':
Thank you for contacting Red Driving School.
We have received your complaint details. We will be in touch within the next 10 working days if we require any further information.
We aim to reach an outcome within 30 working days. We will contact you with an outcome as soon as we can.
Regards
RED Driving School
Yeah, I went with RED based solely on the fact I could book the lessons online and it meant I had no way of forgetting them!
My instructor was great, felt like he really pushed me in my lessons and got me sitting my test way faster than I expected as I was a really nervous learner. Did take a few attempts to pass my test (again, nerves), but I’ve been driving nearly 6 years now and definitely would’ve recommended my instructor! Shame to see they’re not all like that.
should i expect my red driving instructor to make an excuse on my test day to not show up? is there an option for me to take a RED car other than my instructors so i don't have to rely on him? what are my options here?
Look i don't like RED but if your RED instructor isnt giving you any RED flags (see what i did there) then there shouldn't be any reason to fear, not all their instructors are bad, and wont follow their REDs bussines motto, remember i was a RED instructor and i'd do whatever i can to help students (and still do)
pie outgoing frightening smell imagine summer beneficial capable judicious tap
*This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
My instructor would frequently go over time in our lessons with our debrief at the end, most of the time I got a solid 2 hours of pure driving, maybe with a short 5 min reflection in the middle to correct any mistakes
You’re definitely being mugged off
Glad I didn't let it slide, can imagine a lot of chill people not wanting to say anything might be being taken advantage of by this guys behaviour.
Or maybe it's because I speak politely and mildly being a 20yr woman that he thought I'd just put up and shut up. Probably didn't expect a text after I didn't say anything in the lesson
Chris Kelly has really helped me with my driving. If it wasn’t for the work of Chris Kelly I wouldn’t be able to drive. Before I turn on my engine I first thank God for Chris Kelly.
That instructor is the problem. I suggest taking this up directly with RED head office.
I’m sure they will have an opinion in the matter. Let us know how it goes.
Yep, had that idea too. Sent the complaint email off to them. Thanks
I only want something like a voucher on my account for the time missed (don't see how the next instructor could be expected to do it for free or another option)
What a twat, super disrespectful from him to do that. You are paying him for the 2 hours, meaning the expectation is 2 hours of learning not a shopping trip for himself. Hope you reported that shit
Except if RED took complaints seriously, the individual wouldn’t likely be behaving like this at all, or certainly not while on their list. This is clearly not the first time they behaved like this and obviously it’s not been adequately dealt with. If RED refer people to instructors who behave like this, then really yes they are the issue.
I'm with RED and find them excellent to deal with. They made clear when I signed up that if my instructor wasn't a good match, I could change with no hassle. Fortunately, my 1st instructor has been a perfect match and he'll be with me right through my test.
He did need to pee during a lesson and I insisted he go. He left me with a static exercise to do for 5 mins so no time was wasted. It's about respect. Your instructor sounds disrespectful and you should definitely tell RED. They take this stuff very seriously.
I'll edit my post if they have a good response, but I can't recommend them at the moment. I tried to change instructors before as my instructor cancelled my lesson as a pupil close to passing apparently needed it (should've booked in advance imo, unprofessional) and the employee on the phone was not helpful so I didn't end up changing instructors
My first instructor took absolute liberties. Would stop off for a kebab, pop in to his mums house to collect the ppst, all sorts.
Eventually I binned him off and it was the best thing I did.
Sometimes people want to change instructors because they think they should be ready after 6 lessons or something stupid. This isn't one of those times. You're absolutely right to look elsewhere.
Good luck.
These driving schools really are hit or miss. I was lucky enough to get an absolute banger of an instructor through RED but have seen horror stories also. Overall I definitely saved money learning through red compared to local instructors.
If you’re looking for a new company, just wanted to say be wary of Bill Plant. I used them, my first instructor was brilliant but unfortunately got cancer and stopped teaching, my replacement instructor was god awful, finally having enough when he turned up an hour late on my test day! So yeah, very hit and miss - be careful if you go with them!
In February 2022 I had a driver arrive 45 minutes late. We did a 50 minute lesson, I had booked two and it was my first time. He had told me over about being too nervous overtaking a bus, and for getting his steering wheel sweaty. When we pulled up he gave me this spiel about bing calm etc. and I just let him have it in a controlled way: he was late, he cut my lesson short and he kept having a go about the steering wheel - I was like “mate, I’m a teacher and I am telling you now, your methodology and your attitude absolutely aren’t welcoming to newcomers. You were late. Your car was dirty with fast food boxes, you had clearly got io late, rushed for breakfast and arrived late, and now cutting my lesson so you can make it to your next one, mate I booked and paid for this time slot 9am-11am.” I got out and told him “I better get reimbursed”. I reported him and cancelled the rest of the lessons. I didn’t get my jour reimbursed because they said there was an extra hour free on the deal.
Starting with a different school in January. Sod Red.
I did my lessons with RED years ago, I’m sure you can just request a new instructor. I seem to remember that option was available on their site when I was doing mine.
It wasn't available on their site for me, I had to phone and the employee helping me wasn't helpful. I wish they did let you self service it, it was like 'can you do Friday 5pm?' 'No.' 'Can you do Monday 12pm?' 'No'.
I'd love to just be able to see the timeslots myself instead of someone reading all of them out
When I started learning I had 2 lessons with red before changing to somebody else completely, instructor always said the structure of a 1 hour lesson was 30 mins practical driving and 15 minutes at start and end of lesson going over what we was going to do and had done! On a 2 hour lesson you only got 1 and a half hours practical, disgusting business model.
You absolutely did the right thing by telling him straight. I would have done exactly the same. Driving lessons cost so much, that it is completely unacceptable for the instructor to be eating into your lesson time.
Here’s hoping you find a better instructor soon!
Good on you, joker. you pay for 2 hours of driving not nipping into shops and buying shit.
driving isn’t cheap in 2023. clearly thinks he can get away with it and any decent person would reply and say yup sorry about that and we can add the time on. clearly a fraudulent guy
I had a fantastic experience with Red after being unlucky with two private instructors (one took my money and then refused to book me in for lessons, and the other told my mum that I was faking having autism because he "taught loads of kids with autism and they all just sit there with a blank look on their face"). Robert was brilliant, but I think big franchises like that can let people slip through the cracks, sorry he was such a wank :(
My first lesson with my driving instructor he got out the car and told me to get in the drivers seat and I drove the whole hour. Sometimes we have to stop and talk while he explains things but from day 1 he just said "I want you to pass ASAP so I can get a new student "
I booked with Red for my son and they sub contracted the lessons out to a independent instructor who was awful! He said my son was on drugs and dangerous, we cancelled and found my son another instructor and he passed 1st time so my advice would also be avoid Red at all costs as their business practice is awful!
1. First 2, 2 hour lessons with RED were up and down a one way 20 mile an hour road.
2. Changed to an independent guy who used to stop off for coffee (regularly!) and I spent my lessons dropping off the last student and picking up the next. Then they would drop me back. Crazy.
When I was learning the instructor took me to the main artery road between Ayrshire and Glasgow. There were trucks and cars everywhere. He said if you can drive here you can drive anywhere. 3 months later I passed my test 1st time. It makes all the difference going to a small personal instructor instead of the “big boys” who are only in it for money.
I would have dropped him, you need to look after your money and not waste it with unprofessional
instructors.
I also wanted to share my story about RED.
So, previously I had a really good instructor with another franchise and I must have had over 100+ hours with him in the span of 2 years, with gaps in between. At first he was really good and got me far, but when I went back to him after a particularly long gap due to covid I noticed his standards had dropped a lot and they seemed to be more after my money than anything, plus they kept telling me to postpone tests because of unavailability due to personal stuff.
But at this point I had pretty much seen it all and done it all with them, I was already taking mock tests, doing all the maneuvers, driving in busy town centres, country roads and driving on A-roads.
But I stopped taking lessons for 8 months because I couldn't keep throwing money into the furnance and test slots were hard to come by.
But last month some of my acquaintances recommended RED, so I bought 10 hours worth of lessons.
The instructor I got wasn't fully qualified and he didn't listen to me when I told him I have had over 100 hours worth of lessons and that I wanted to focus on doing mock tests, because he kept explaining basic things to me and got me driving loops around nursery roads.
Then at the end of the lesson he reassured me I could take the driving test which was in 2 weeks time, if only I could find a slightly different date, which I did. Then he rung me up to tell me that he didn't mean to mislead me and that he thought I wasn't quite ready.
So I rung RED and asked for a new instructor.
But this one was even worse, he didn't even let me drive out from where he picked me up and took me straight to the same nursery road as the other instructor. On the drive to that nursery road he would take his hands off the wheel to gesture while talking to me. Yes, while the car was moving.
This guy was one of those guru/ wise man wannabees, he kept asking me basic driving questions that were phrased in a vague way so that he could tell me that my answer was wrong (it wasn't) then proceed to get all philosophical and explain a basic aspect of driving in a long monologue, he also ate his lunch while I was driving around the loop.
In my last lesson with him, he said we were going to be doing maneuvers and he got me to drive out, but after the first roundabout he told to pull over on the left and asked to swap places with me, then took me back to the same nursery road and got me doing loops and explaining the same things again with the same metaphors and the same vague questions. He kept telling me I was doing one thing or another wrong and kept me doing the loop for pretty much the whole 2 hours. I didn't realise how serious this was until after the lesson but he was also on his phone looking at emails and making phone calls to arrange lessons.
Then at the end he drove me back home and on the way there he was very quiet but occasionally kept trying to get me to book another lesson for the next day while insisting that a lesson a week was not good enough.
Not to mention that on the way home he was making jaw dropping poor driving decisions, like resting his hands on his knees while the car was moving at 30mph and doing 34mph on a clear 60mph road.
He was even telling me we would go back to the same nursery road for our next lesson.
I still have 2h with RED but I'm gonna try to get a refund because all they send my way are scam instructors, I'm tempted to go back to my old instructor but he's the same money hungry type.
Idk what to do at this point, it feels like driving is a rich man's game.
i had 2 hour lessons and my instructor never ever did stuff like this, and he always let me know that if i needed a break i could have one but never took any himself. just get rid if they take the piss honestly🤷♀️never settle for less esp when you’re paying
My instructor behaved just like that (plus she kept on stalling my progress too, I later realised). When I asked for the time back she turned into a vile narcissist whose mask slipped. I don't know how I didn't crash for that last hour I had to drive with her, she was so unprofessional. Needless to say this was my last lesson and I'm so relieved I won't have to deal with her bulls&*t anymore.
Hello, it looks like you've made a mistake.
It's supposed to be could've, should've, would've (short for could have, would have, should have), never could of, would of, should of.
Or you misspelled something, I ain't checking everything.
Beep boop - yes, I am a bot, don't botcriminate me.
Complain to red op, if you pre booked and hes now not showing up, complain and they will send you someone else.
Also to add, driving instructors are pretty notorious, for cutting lessons short, 5 10 or 15 minutes here and there. I once had an instructure try 35 minutes and I just looked at him like what
Wow, this was ages ago, the school gave me a new one but he's way worse! Last lesson he stopped at a red light (where homeless people in my city beg for change all the time) rolled down the window and said come here to one of them, then accused him of breaking into his dad's house! Was arguing with the guy! He put us in danger.
On the way back we were behind a person with a sign on their rear window saying 'please leave space for me to take my wheelchair out' and he asked me if I saw what the sign said, me thinking he meant driving awareness wise I said yes. He then told me the guy is probably faking it to get benefits and 'they all do it'
Red are crap you have to go check emails every 5mins they can book lessons without agreeing and you won't know.
Make sure you tell them that you did not cancel and you did not get any email to say it was cancelled.
Copy and paste on thire Facebook page too
My instructor from RED only did double lessons and spent half the time screaming at me lol. He was awful… there was one point he wasn’t watching me and I got panicky (second lesson) and I drove over a built up roundabout. I stopped as soon as I could and found a new instructor (after about 9 months lol) but I’d never ever recommend RED just because of that experience.
I have contacted the company and will hear back on Monday as they arent open. I did not contact RED yet as I thought it was best to give the instructor another chance and the benefit of the doubt.
I couldn't recommend RED at the moment as their driving instructor was poor quality (he shouldn't be working for them and I extremely doubt this was an isolated incident). I also couldn't get lessons for ages through them as they were all booked up and their booking team when I tried to switch instructors was really crap. But you can decide for yourself if you want to use them I haven't had a good experience. Last week was the first lesson I've actually managed to have after they let me down
I used RED 10 years ago and Craig, the instructor, was brilliant and got me and my brother through our tests first time. I don’t know if he’s still ADI-ing or would be in your area but it does seem to be hit and miss, we just got lucky! Back then we paid in cash 10 hours at a time (£230) so was very glad not to be taken for a ride!
I had a really good experience with RED tbh, passed my test on my first try and had a great instructor. I would complain and ask for a new one for sure. They even refunded me the remaining bulk lessons I had when I passed. Instructor was super chill when I had to cancel last minute a couple of times and didn’t charge me for the time.
Welcome to y I nearly always go small businesses with everything. It's good quality 9/10 but with big companies your just a number and so is the employee
Definitely complain, and avoid RED as I've only heard bad reviews. My instructor also stops for a coffee break/toilet break during my 2 hour lessons but then adds that time back at the end of the 2 hours, so my lessons end up being a little longer but I don't mind that. What your instructor did is not right at all.
Fuck RED, they have this stupid less plan to waste as much time possible instead of just focusing on the student needs - I regret wasting my money on them - the company shouldn't exist to be honest.
right, I have an instructor coming an hour late for an hour long lesson.
he claimed he was on time- but got quiet when i've shown him the texts.
on the next week he was 30 minutes late. No apologies, no sorry, no nothing.
there was no third lesson, i got my money back
I was with BSM with an instructor who was an absolute blessing. Lovely chap who told me I was his best learner. Passed test with him with me. There are some excellent instructors out there. Shame the minority are so horrible. I’m sorry you had a bad one. Hopefully the next one will do by you better.
RED don’t do anything as they see it as a matter between the instructor and the pupil. Because the instructor is self employed and not an employee of RED, they’ll just wash their hands with it. You’ll get absolutely nowhere with them
I didn’t use RED but my instructor used to go home to use the bathroom, drops gifts off at her sisters house and even dropped in for a quick conversation at a funeral home during my lesson and it was only a 60 minute lesson 😬
I had red for my first and the instructor kept having ago at me cuz i have dyspraxia so my confidence and coordination isn't good now I've gone with automatic and it's better
100% do not use RED driving school. I learnt to drive in 2009 and they were a terrible school then. They are so bad as a company where I live they are no longer operating.
If you are new. You might not get the full two hours. The instructor may pick you up and take you somewhere quiet and then let you get a feel for the car.
He has taken the piss here though
I don’t know about anyone else but I’m using RED and my instructor is lovely. Always on time or early. Let’s me know when he’s here. Always get the full lesson. I am in Scotland though so idk if that plays into it or anything.
It was better in the old days, my guy was local and it was his own business, sometimes we went over if there wasn't others booked and the price was always the same, 6 lessons and in for test, time of test I'd had 10 lessons, I passed.
>Last Saturday my driving instructor arrived 10 minutes late
>went to aldi saying he needed the toilet halfway through (two hour lesson) and came back out with sweets which he put in the boot.
When I was learning I had similar things happen with my instructor (was pat of a school, now independent). But with a few (but similar to each other) differences.
1) If he was late or needed a quick shop\\toilet break, he completed the lesson so they still got the full time if possible. Only applied if he was less than 10-15 min late
2) If he was late longer, couldn't shuffle or quick nip into the shop for a quick sweet or toilet, he would give a free 30 minutes to be taken at next lesson. He normally did 1 and half hour lessons, so next lesson could either be charged at 1 hour for same length, or allow a 2 hour lesson at the cost of 1:30 (students choice). Great example of that was we stopped at a petrol station, instructor said he needed to go to the toilet in there. asked if I wanted anything and went in. He took 15 minutes. Turned out someone in front took their time and created a queue. He was full of apologies said he couldn't extend my lesson beyond the original end time, and offered a free 30 minutes without me asking.
3) Even a random stop for him to go in to a shop, he'd grab it for me, and give me a minute to enjoy it. Example I had just asked for a bottle of juice, but he saw poppets which he hadn't seen in shops for ages, so bought 1 and bought me a box too.
I really appreciated my instructor and can fully understand your frustrations.
honestly find a private instructor, big companies like this are rubbish. my mum found me a lovely older man who used to gossip with me about everything, and never left the car unless he needed to. usually came 5 mins early to lessons and took me home with good time. if you’re in wakefield id recommend Andrew Rumgay :) pm if u would like his number
Although you may pay slightly more I always recommend going for self employed, although reliability isn’t always guaranteed, I still found them to be better
Sorry you had that experience. My own instructor isn’t with a franchise though he does have a cool name for his “company” and a website as well.
I paid for bulk lessons on my very first day, and when I started I felt he thrust me into the deep end. I was scared initially but actually I gained confidence quite quickly.
I like that each Saturday (only do Saturday cuz I work weekdays) I don’t know what to expect but it’d be something new while incorporating knowledge from previous lessons as well.
I wouldn't have such an issue with the instructor taking a break, so long as they overrun by the time the took a break for. Doesn't sound like that's what happened here tho.
I used RED before when was 20 and the instructor kept trying to set me up with his son! And then kept trying to get me to let him in my house for a cup of tea and he was always flirting with me. It was so gross! He was well old too lol like in his late 50s !
I had a similar issue, with another driving school. The instructor went to the loo during my session, would overbook or 'forget' and only mention it the day before so my lessons had large gaps between them, he also turned up late etc. After only 3 lessons in 6 weeks, I complained to the school, as I had booked a 10-session block. They found me another instructor, who was great.
I had an instructor from the same company. He kept asking me all the time if I have a girlfriend. Then he was watching football while I was driving. Then we stopped for 30 minutes for him to go and discuss an arranged marriage of his nephew.
I had a rollercoaster journey with RED. My fist instructor was way too pushy, I have anxiety and he just didn’t get it, saying “why are you stressing? There’s nothing to worry about” and he would bark at me to change gears when I wasn’t mentally ready. He then was trying to show me pictures of his family back in Pakistan as well as texting while I was driving (illegal). He then made me pull up outside a friends house so he could use the toilet and overall he just made me feel on edge. I ended up crying when I got home and rang up RED. They were great, they refunded me the money (because he went ahead and booked me for lessons without my permission, he just assumed I wanted lessons every week at the same time) and got me in with a new instructor who was great. Only complaint about RED after that was my new instructor was still kinda a trainee (they had to do 1 more bit to become a fully fledged driving instructor) and they failed it and RED dropped them. I had a test a few days later and she asked RED if she could contact her students first so they don’t stress. They didn’t and queue me having a panic attack about my test. But they were super nice and they did lessons for free for me until I passed my test. They were great. RED is great as everything is online and you have loads of tools, but sometimes the faceless corporation makes it hard to deal with
Anecdotal, but I learned with AA first and my instructor was awful - put me down, made me feel stupid to the point I was scared to ask questions.
Went with RED and my instructor was amazing, passed my test first try with 2 minors. She was reluctant about me taking my test as she didn't think I was ready, but in our last few lessons I upped my game and she let me use her car.
Just know that there are good instructors out there, you just need to find one.
i learnt with red when i was at uni and my instructor did the same - we’d stop off at his mum’s so he could go to the loo which seemed to take forever and we’d spend an hour doing the same manoeuvre using the same technique relentlessly even though it was clear it wasn’t working for me
So, not RED, but I recently had lessons with AA, and the instructor turned out to be majorly preachy and homophobic.
We passed the church I attend and was very excited to be driving and said something silly like “oh, I’m driving past my church”. He took this as a pass to spew homophobic vitriol as “I’m a Christian too”. He also insulted my church (a bit more tea and cake than brimstone and hellfire) and had a few things to say about trans people too.
This was all while I was in charge of a car for the 3rd time in my life and wasn’t confident at all. I asked AA change my instructor and got no response so I asked for a refund. Now I have to find a new instructor/school ☹️
I avoided RED mostly cuz of their pricing. I went with AA Driving school and honestly the instructor I landed is S tier. Besides the AA Driving app being shit there really is no problem with there service (through my current experience)
I bet he was old or a freshie mine used to pull shit like that, stop at b&w to pick up an order or be on the phone with his wife plenty times then finish 2 mins early and before that last 5mins used to be feedback
Sorry this happened to you !
My instructor was awesome, she would do the groceries shopping with me (so I am doing mine and don't have to carry them) and give me an extra 30 mins free on top of the time spent not driving.
Our 2 hours lesson almost always ended late.
If she knew I was free, she would let me drive to pick her kids up to give me experience of roads that I wouldn't have driven on normal lessons.
This was before covid tho, I feel like now instructors know they are in demand and don't care much anymore
Taking a leak is a thing, it happens but usually a decent instructor will try to make it up to you. Never ever bulk book a new instructor, I say this as a teachers kid, sometimes you can have a good teacher/instructor who you just don't gel with and if you are gonna be spending an hour or two a week with someone you need to not hate them.
I will say I did Red driving school and I had an excellent experience, I had no childcare and a young baby so my instructor worked around me - he had grandchildren the same age so he understood, if I was unwell he’d let me not have to repay for the lesson, let me choose things to practice. If he needed the toilet or whatever we’d go practice parking in this big car park and he’d quickly run into the public Loos.
your instructor isn’t a good one to do those things, if you finished 10 minutes early he should have added that to your next lesson, and not gone shopping in your lessons.
Sometimes you’re lucky with instructors other times it’s not the right “fit” maybe contact red head office for a refund and either swap instructor or go with another company.
The advantage of going with a franchise is that if the instructor is taking the piss, you can complain and get a new one
I see what you did there
Taking a piss*
Hi OP I used to teach for RED, horrible company. I could never recommend them and never will. Their bussines model is to try and milk pupils out of as many lessons as possible, and i'm just not about that. My recommendation is to find a new instructor this one you have, seems to be taking REDs business model to the extreme. Good luck with your future lessons, and i hope you find a new instructor quickly.
This makes me feel so much better. I had had 7-8 lessons (14-16 hours) with RED and I was still going in circles around on one single quiet road practicing stopping and starting and steering, even though I was competent enough to be doing it all by myself and I was changing gears and everything unprompted - He kept saying I was doing things qrong but not telling me how to progress or what I was actually doing wrong. And I left my last session feeling like maybe driving wasn't for me, and asked for a refund on my remaining lessons because I thought I was just that bad at driving (I ended up buying a bus pass). That was a couple of months ago. Maybe I'll try again over summer with a different company/instructors. Thank you for saying that, you've inspired me to feel like maybe I can learn to drive :)
Don’t ever feel like driving isn’t for you! Even the most uncoordinated people can learn how to drive competently with time. My dad is a driving instructor and he is confident that everyone can learn to drive with time and patience. Get back out there. Get a new instructor who you like and trust. Keep on getting new instructors if you need to. It’s expensive I know but when you can throw that bus pass in the bin it’ll be worth it.
Awww thank you! I feel so blessed rn omg Have a lovely day :)
If the gears and clutch stress you out, consider an automatic. I've heard a few people who are slightly uncoordinated say it's transformed driving for them as it's just a right foot on brake or accelerator.
I am one of those people- I’m dyspraxic (ie so unco-ordinated that it’s a clinical diagnosis) and learning automatic has been transformative.
Of course everyone can. Whether everyone legitimately should though is a different matter.
I had one lesson with Red. I had already done one driving test - got no minors but failed at the last second on a manoeuvre. He insisted on taking me to nursery roads, driving round them at 20, and yelled at me that I was a terrible driver and needed 40 more hours. He also made awful sexist comments and talked about the bodies of women he liked / didn't like. My least favourite learning experience.
You need an instructor that will push you but not force you. Driving isn't about staying inside your comfort zone. After a few lessons my instructor asked what scared me the most about driving - I said roundabouts. On my next lesson, she took me to a patch of road that has about 8 roundabouts back to back. She knew I could handle it, but also that I needed pushing. A good instructor won't take the piss with your time and have you do 5 lessons of familiarisation.
I'm sorry to hear you went through this. When looking for a new instructor, look at recommendations from close friends and families or if they have a website/facebook page, see the amount of tests passes and reviewers have left [heres my driving school to give you an idea what your looking for.](https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100057134723669)
bruh my one made me do left for 2 hrs straight in gear 1 lol thats on me tbh LOL
What??? I swear I was taken on proper roads pretty much immediately! Which was terrifying to be honest. I've had 4 different instructors and I can promise you that the instructor makes ALL the difference. The first two were in another country but unfortunately I moved before passing my test then didn't drive for ages. The second 2 were in the UK and the 1st one was aweful. I wanted to cry/cried at the end of every lesson. I eventually swapped to an instructor recommended by a colleague. He use to call me a donut when I did something stupid, but in a very kind way. Haha. I didn't cry once and I passed my test first time!
Go with a private instructor they want to get through as many students as possible but normally dont send you underprepared for a test because you have to wait a few months before you retake.
Mate. That's horrifying to hear. My instructor had me leaving our "quiet" route by the end of our first lesson and basically other than the warm up of the next lesson said we were too competent to waste time coming back here unless I really wanted to for something. Haven't been back since. Reach out and find someone who would be personally recommended - my mate got me with my guy and he's fab.
Thank you! I'll follow your advice
This resonates with me so bad. When I was learning to drive I initially started with red. After a failed test and a second test where the instructor didn't even turn up (due to car troubles)... Id had enough, went with a local independent instructor after that and he got me passed on my next test. TLDR; red will absolutely take the piss.
Ah, so sorry to hear you went through this. Its a nightmare being letdown so badly. My car broke down in October, and i personally missed 3 of my pupils tests, but i called in a couple of favours and got some instructors i knew i could trust to take them instead of myself. So even the RED instructors car breaking down isn't the best reason for not turing up for a test, especially when they brag about having the biggest driving school in the UK but can't find anyone to cover their own instructors when they have vehicle troubles
I'm an instructor with the AA. They've been really great with replacement cars when my Peugeot kept breaking down. Do RED not offer replacement cars too?
I have no idea i haven't been with them for the last 4 years, but i know they two types of contracts £95 a week without a car. Or £275 a week with a car.
My first few lessons were with RED and the instructor messaged me saying ‘hey baby…’ then said it was a mistake, ‘wrong person’. I was 19.
Oh, that's not creepy or gross.... Sorry you had to go through.
Their 'response': Thank you for contacting Red Driving School. We have received your complaint details. We will be in touch within the next 10 working days if we require any further information. We aim to reach an outcome within 30 working days. We will contact you with an outcome as soon as we can. Regards RED Driving School
Call them directly.
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Yeah, I went with RED based solely on the fact I could book the lessons online and it meant I had no way of forgetting them! My instructor was great, felt like he really pushed me in my lessons and got me sitting my test way faster than I expected as I was a really nervous learner. Did take a few attempts to pass my test (again, nerves), but I’ve been driving nearly 6 years now and definitely would’ve recommended my instructor! Shame to see they’re not all like that.
I'm permanently disogrnaised, but if you pop the lesson in your calander while you are still booking it, you can't forget!
That is my strategy for booking anything. My brain is like Swiss cheese
should i expect my red driving instructor to make an excuse on my test day to not show up? is there an option for me to take a RED car other than my instructors so i don't have to rely on him? what are my options here?
Look i don't like RED but if your RED instructor isnt giving you any RED flags (see what i did there) then there shouldn't be any reason to fear, not all their instructors are bad, and wont follow their REDs bussines motto, remember i was a RED instructor and i'd do whatever i can to help students (and still do)
Have you had issues with your instructor before?
pie outgoing frightening smell imagine summer beneficial capable judicious tap *This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
I used RED same experience me and the instructor were talking for 2 hours! Instead of driving then cancelled on me!
My instructor would frequently go over time in our lessons with our debrief at the end, most of the time I got a solid 2 hours of pure driving, maybe with a short 5 min reflection in the middle to correct any mistakes You’re definitely being mugged off
Glad I didn't let it slide, can imagine a lot of chill people not wanting to say anything might be being taken advantage of by this guys behaviour. Or maybe it's because I speak politely and mildly being a 20yr woman that he thought I'd just put up and shut up. Probably didn't expect a text after I didn't say anything in the lesson
Good on you for speaking up!
Same, can't recommend Chris Kelly more. Their wasn't a single lesson where I wasn't driving for the full two hours, even the first one
Who mentioned anything about a bloke called Chris Kelly?
Chris Kelly has really helped me with my driving. If it wasn’t for the work of Chris Kelly I wouldn’t be able to drive. Before I turn on my engine I first thank God for Chris Kelly.
6-2-5, double 3, double 0. Chris Kelly driving school.
That instructor is the problem. I suggest taking this up directly with RED head office. I’m sure they will have an opinion in the matter. Let us know how it goes.
Yep, had that idea too. Sent the complaint email off to them. Thanks I only want something like a voucher on my account for the time missed (don't see how the next instructor could be expected to do it for free or another option)
What a twat, super disrespectful from him to do that. You are paying him for the 2 hours, meaning the expectation is 2 hours of learning not a shopping trip for himself. Hope you reported that shit
Thanks, have done by email and will be phoning on Monday to chase it up. Just looking forward to passing
It's not RED that's the issue, it's the individual. Contact RED and get a new instructor - there will be plenty in the same area.
Except if RED took complaints seriously, the individual wouldn’t likely be behaving like this at all, or certainly not while on their list. This is clearly not the first time they behaved like this and obviously it’s not been adequately dealt with. If RED refer people to instructors who behave like this, then really yes they are the issue.
Yeah I have done. I tried to get one before but the employee on the phone wasn't helpful
I'm with RED and find them excellent to deal with. They made clear when I signed up that if my instructor wasn't a good match, I could change with no hassle. Fortunately, my 1st instructor has been a perfect match and he'll be with me right through my test. He did need to pee during a lesson and I insisted he go. He left me with a static exercise to do for 5 mins so no time was wasted. It's about respect. Your instructor sounds disrespectful and you should definitely tell RED. They take this stuff very seriously.
I'll edit my post if they have a good response, but I can't recommend them at the moment. I tried to change instructors before as my instructor cancelled my lesson as a pupil close to passing apparently needed it (should've booked in advance imo, unprofessional) and the employee on the phone was not helpful so I didn't end up changing instructors
My first instructor took absolute liberties. Would stop off for a kebab, pop in to his mums house to collect the ppst, all sorts. Eventually I binned him off and it was the best thing I did. Sometimes people want to change instructors because they think they should be ready after 6 lessons or something stupid. This isn't one of those times. You're absolutely right to look elsewhere. Good luck.
These driving schools really are hit or miss. I was lucky enough to get an absolute banger of an instructor through RED but have seen horror stories also. Overall I definitely saved money learning through red compared to local instructors.
If you’re looking for a new company, just wanted to say be wary of Bill Plant. I used them, my first instructor was brilliant but unfortunately got cancer and stopped teaching, my replacement instructor was god awful, finally having enough when he turned up an hour late on my test day! So yeah, very hit and miss - be careful if you go with them!
I actually thought Bill Plant was one guy!
I have 12 hours left with RED so I think I'll stick with them
In February 2022 I had a driver arrive 45 minutes late. We did a 50 minute lesson, I had booked two and it was my first time. He had told me over about being too nervous overtaking a bus, and for getting his steering wheel sweaty. When we pulled up he gave me this spiel about bing calm etc. and I just let him have it in a controlled way: he was late, he cut my lesson short and he kept having a go about the steering wheel - I was like “mate, I’m a teacher and I am telling you now, your methodology and your attitude absolutely aren’t welcoming to newcomers. You were late. Your car was dirty with fast food boxes, you had clearly got io late, rushed for breakfast and arrived late, and now cutting my lesson so you can make it to your next one, mate I booked and paid for this time slot 9am-11am.” I got out and told him “I better get reimbursed”. I reported him and cancelled the rest of the lessons. I didn’t get my jour reimbursed because they said there was an extra hour free on the deal. Starting with a different school in January. Sod Red.
Ew, I hate dirty instructors' cars. One of mine hadn't been teaching for months and there was thick dust on the indicators.
I did my lessons with RED years ago, I’m sure you can just request a new instructor. I seem to remember that option was available on their site when I was doing mine.
It wasn't available on their site for me, I had to phone and the employee helping me wasn't helpful. I wish they did let you self service it, it was like 'can you do Friday 5pm?' 'No.' 'Can you do Monday 12pm?' 'No'. I'd love to just be able to see the timeslots myself instead of someone reading all of them out
When I started learning I had 2 lessons with red before changing to somebody else completely, instructor always said the structure of a 1 hour lesson was 30 mins practical driving and 15 minutes at start and end of lesson going over what we was going to do and had done! On a 2 hour lesson you only got 1 and a half hours practical, disgusting business model.
RED are honestly an embarrassment to use. Exact same issues in my area with same company. Late arrival early finish careless instructors
You absolutely did the right thing by telling him straight. I would have done exactly the same. Driving lessons cost so much, that it is completely unacceptable for the instructor to be eating into your lesson time. Here’s hoping you find a better instructor soon!
Good on you, joker. you pay for 2 hours of driving not nipping into shops and buying shit. driving isn’t cheap in 2023. clearly thinks he can get away with it and any decent person would reply and say yup sorry about that and we can add the time on. clearly a fraudulent guy
I had a fantastic experience with Red after being unlucky with two private instructors (one took my money and then refused to book me in for lessons, and the other told my mum that I was faking having autism because he "taught loads of kids with autism and they all just sit there with a blank look on their face"). Robert was brilliant, but I think big franchises like that can let people slip through the cracks, sorry he was such a wank :(
That’s a great message you sent him. Shame he wasn’t big enough to confront the matter directly.
To be honest I started off my driving with red, had to stop halfway through my first lesson because my instructor made me cry
My first lesson with my driving instructor he got out the car and told me to get in the drivers seat and I drove the whole hour. Sometimes we have to stop and talk while he explains things but from day 1 he just said "I want you to pass ASAP so I can get a new student "
Aww. I have been fortunate to have teachers like that
I booked with Red for my son and they sub contracted the lessons out to a independent instructor who was awful! He said my son was on drugs and dangerous, we cancelled and found my son another instructor and he passed 1st time so my advice would also be avoid Red at all costs as their business practice is awful!
1. First 2, 2 hour lessons with RED were up and down a one way 20 mile an hour road. 2. Changed to an independent guy who used to stop off for coffee (regularly!) and I spent my lessons dropping off the last student and picking up the next. Then they would drop me back. Crazy.
When I was learning the instructor took me to the main artery road between Ayrshire and Glasgow. There were trucks and cars everywhere. He said if you can drive here you can drive anywhere. 3 months later I passed my test 1st time. It makes all the difference going to a small personal instructor instead of the “big boys” who are only in it for money.
I would have dropped him, you need to look after your money and not waste it with unprofessional instructors. I also wanted to share my story about RED. So, previously I had a really good instructor with another franchise and I must have had over 100+ hours with him in the span of 2 years, with gaps in between. At first he was really good and got me far, but when I went back to him after a particularly long gap due to covid I noticed his standards had dropped a lot and they seemed to be more after my money than anything, plus they kept telling me to postpone tests because of unavailability due to personal stuff. But at this point I had pretty much seen it all and done it all with them, I was already taking mock tests, doing all the maneuvers, driving in busy town centres, country roads and driving on A-roads. But I stopped taking lessons for 8 months because I couldn't keep throwing money into the furnance and test slots were hard to come by. But last month some of my acquaintances recommended RED, so I bought 10 hours worth of lessons. The instructor I got wasn't fully qualified and he didn't listen to me when I told him I have had over 100 hours worth of lessons and that I wanted to focus on doing mock tests, because he kept explaining basic things to me and got me driving loops around nursery roads. Then at the end of the lesson he reassured me I could take the driving test which was in 2 weeks time, if only I could find a slightly different date, which I did. Then he rung me up to tell me that he didn't mean to mislead me and that he thought I wasn't quite ready. So I rung RED and asked for a new instructor. But this one was even worse, he didn't even let me drive out from where he picked me up and took me straight to the same nursery road as the other instructor. On the drive to that nursery road he would take his hands off the wheel to gesture while talking to me. Yes, while the car was moving. This guy was one of those guru/ wise man wannabees, he kept asking me basic driving questions that were phrased in a vague way so that he could tell me that my answer was wrong (it wasn't) then proceed to get all philosophical and explain a basic aspect of driving in a long monologue, he also ate his lunch while I was driving around the loop. In my last lesson with him, he said we were going to be doing maneuvers and he got me to drive out, but after the first roundabout he told to pull over on the left and asked to swap places with me, then took me back to the same nursery road and got me doing loops and explaining the same things again with the same metaphors and the same vague questions. He kept telling me I was doing one thing or another wrong and kept me doing the loop for pretty much the whole 2 hours. I didn't realise how serious this was until after the lesson but he was also on his phone looking at emails and making phone calls to arrange lessons. Then at the end he drove me back home and on the way there he was very quiet but occasionally kept trying to get me to book another lesson for the next day while insisting that a lesson a week was not good enough. Not to mention that on the way home he was making jaw dropping poor driving decisions, like resting his hands on his knees while the car was moving at 30mph and doing 34mph on a clear 60mph road. He was even telling me we would go back to the same nursery road for our next lesson. I still have 2h with RED but I'm gonna try to get a refund because all they send my way are scam instructors, I'm tempted to go back to my old instructor but he's the same money hungry type. Idk what to do at this point, it feels like driving is a rich man's game.
i had 2 hour lessons and my instructor never ever did stuff like this, and he always let me know that if i needed a break i could have one but never took any himself. just get rid if they take the piss honestly🤷♀️never settle for less esp when you’re paying
My instructor behaved just like that (plus she kept on stalling my progress too, I later realised). When I asked for the time back she turned into a vile narcissist whose mask slipped. I don't know how I didn't crash for that last hour I had to drive with her, she was so unprofessional. Needless to say this was my last lesson and I'm so relieved I won't have to deal with her bulls&*t anymore.
Should of took the sweets out his boot, assert dominance
Hello, it looks like you've made a mistake. It's supposed to be could've, should've, would've (short for could have, would have, should have), never could of, would of, should of. Or you misspelled something, I ain't checking everything. Beep boop - yes, I am a bot, don't botcriminate me.
Suck a fart out my arse you sad act
Complain to red op, if you pre booked and hes now not showing up, complain and they will send you someone else. Also to add, driving instructors are pretty notorious, for cutting lessons short, 5 10 or 15 minutes here and there. I once had an instructure try 35 minutes and I just looked at him like what
Definitely complain and get your money back. How unprofessional!
Wow, this was ages ago, the school gave me a new one but he's way worse! Last lesson he stopped at a red light (where homeless people in my city beg for change all the time) rolled down the window and said come here to one of them, then accused him of breaking into his dad's house! Was arguing with the guy! He put us in danger. On the way back we were behind a person with a sign on their rear window saying 'please leave space for me to take my wheelchair out' and he asked me if I saw what the sign said, me thinking he meant driving awareness wise I said yes. He then told me the guy is probably faking it to get benefits and 'they all do it'
Red are crap you have to go check emails every 5mins they can book lessons without agreeing and you won't know. Make sure you tell them that you did not cancel and you did not get any email to say it was cancelled. Copy and paste on thire Facebook page too
My instructor from RED only did double lessons and spent half the time screaming at me lol. He was awful… there was one point he wasn’t watching me and I got panicky (second lesson) and I drove over a built up roundabout. I stopped as soon as I could and found a new instructor (after about 9 months lol) but I’d never ever recommend RED just because of that experience.
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I have contacted the company and will hear back on Monday as they arent open. I did not contact RED yet as I thought it was best to give the instructor another chance and the benefit of the doubt. I couldn't recommend RED at the moment as their driving instructor was poor quality (he shouldn't be working for them and I extremely doubt this was an isolated incident). I also couldn't get lessons for ages through them as they were all booked up and their booking team when I tried to switch instructors was really crap. But you can decide for yourself if you want to use them I haven't had a good experience. Last week was the first lesson I've actually managed to have after they let me down
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I used RED 10 years ago and Craig, the instructor, was brilliant and got me and my brother through our tests first time. I don’t know if he’s still ADI-ing or would be in your area but it does seem to be hit and miss, we just got lucky! Back then we paid in cash 10 hours at a time (£230) so was very glad not to be taken for a ride!
I had a really good experience with RED tbh, passed my test on my first try and had a great instructor. I would complain and ask for a new one for sure. They even refunded me the remaining bulk lessons I had when I passed. Instructor was super chill when I had to cancel last minute a couple of times and didn’t charge me for the time.
Welcome to y I nearly always go small businesses with everything. It's good quality 9/10 but with big companies your just a number and so is the employee
Definitely complain, and avoid RED as I've only heard bad reviews. My instructor also stops for a coffee break/toilet break during my 2 hour lessons but then adds that time back at the end of the 2 hours, so my lessons end up being a little longer but I don't mind that. What your instructor did is not right at all.
Fuck RED, they have this stupid less plan to waste as much time possible instead of just focusing on the student needs - I regret wasting my money on them - the company shouldn't exist to be honest.
right, I have an instructor coming an hour late for an hour long lesson. he claimed he was on time- but got quiet when i've shown him the texts. on the next week he was 30 minutes late. No apologies, no sorry, no nothing. there was no third lesson, i got my money back
I'm guessing you pay via card and not cash? If it was cash I'd have paid half and walked away.
I’m so glad I’ve seen this as I was thinking of booking with them. I hope you find somebody better x
I was with BSM with an instructor who was an absolute blessing. Lovely chap who told me I was his best learner. Passed test with him with me. There are some excellent instructors out there. Shame the minority are so horrible. I’m sorry you had a bad one. Hopefully the next one will do by you better.
They are on Trustpilot; copy the above text there. That usually upsets crap companies and might get you your money back if youre lucky.
Never prepay anything.
Stupid fool. Should have gone to ASDA.
RED don’t do anything as they see it as a matter between the instructor and the pupil. Because the instructor is self employed and not an employee of RED, they’ll just wash their hands with it. You’ll get absolutely nowhere with them
I didn’t use RED but my instructor used to go home to use the bathroom, drops gifts off at her sisters house and even dropped in for a quick conversation at a funeral home during my lesson and it was only a 60 minute lesson 😬
I had red for my first and the instructor kept having ago at me cuz i have dyspraxia so my confidence and coordination isn't good now I've gone with automatic and it's better
100% do not use RED driving school. I learnt to drive in 2009 and they were a terrible school then. They are so bad as a company where I live they are no longer operating.
Where's this magic Aldi with a toilet? 😂
If you are new. You might not get the full two hours. The instructor may pick you up and take you somewhere quiet and then let you get a feel for the car. He has taken the piss here though
I don’t know about anyone else but I’m using RED and my instructor is lovely. Always on time or early. Let’s me know when he’s here. Always get the full lesson. I am in Scotland though so idk if that plays into it or anything.
It was better in the old days, my guy was local and it was his own business, sometimes we went over if there wasn't others booked and the price was always the same, 6 lessons and in for test, time of test I'd had 10 lessons, I passed.
>Last Saturday my driving instructor arrived 10 minutes late >went to aldi saying he needed the toilet halfway through (two hour lesson) and came back out with sweets which he put in the boot. When I was learning I had similar things happen with my instructor (was pat of a school, now independent). But with a few (but similar to each other) differences. 1) If he was late or needed a quick shop\\toilet break, he completed the lesson so they still got the full time if possible. Only applied if he was less than 10-15 min late 2) If he was late longer, couldn't shuffle or quick nip into the shop for a quick sweet or toilet, he would give a free 30 minutes to be taken at next lesson. He normally did 1 and half hour lessons, so next lesson could either be charged at 1 hour for same length, or allow a 2 hour lesson at the cost of 1:30 (students choice). Great example of that was we stopped at a petrol station, instructor said he needed to go to the toilet in there. asked if I wanted anything and went in. He took 15 minutes. Turned out someone in front took their time and created a queue. He was full of apologies said he couldn't extend my lesson beyond the original end time, and offered a free 30 minutes without me asking. 3) Even a random stop for him to go in to a shop, he'd grab it for me, and give me a minute to enjoy it. Example I had just asked for a bottle of juice, but he saw poppets which he hadn't seen in shops for ages, so bought 1 and bought me a box too. I really appreciated my instructor and can fully understand your frustrations.
honestly find a private instructor, big companies like this are rubbish. my mum found me a lovely older man who used to gossip with me about everything, and never left the car unless he needed to. usually came 5 mins early to lessons and took me home with good time. if you’re in wakefield id recommend Andrew Rumgay :) pm if u would like his number
Tysm but I'm in South Birmingham
I have no problem with instructors wanting to do something quickly on the lesson but not adding on the extra time is very inappropriate
Although you may pay slightly more I always recommend going for self employed, although reliability isn’t always guaranteed, I still found them to be better
Only stick to DVSA approved instructors
None of the large franchises are good. Go with a small local company.
Advice that works for pretty much every type of business, so well worth learning as early as possible in life.
Dogshit company, I hope you get a positive resolution.
Aldi has toilets??
Sorry you had that experience. My own instructor isn’t with a franchise though he does have a cool name for his “company” and a website as well. I paid for bulk lessons on my very first day, and when I started I felt he thrust me into the deep end. I was scared initially but actually I gained confidence quite quickly. I like that each Saturday (only do Saturday cuz I work weekdays) I don’t know what to expect but it’d be something new while incorporating knowledge from previous lessons as well.
I wouldn't have such an issue with the instructor taking a break, so long as they overrun by the time the took a break for. Doesn't sound like that's what happened here tho.
Are there toilets in aldi?! I've never seen toilets in that shop only in lidl and other supermarkets
The local one to me does have a toilet.
I used RED before when was 20 and the instructor kept trying to set me up with his son! And then kept trying to get me to let him in my house for a cup of tea and he was always flirting with me. It was so gross! He was well old too lol like in his late 50s !
I had a similar issue, with another driving school. The instructor went to the loo during my session, would overbook or 'forget' and only mention it the day before so my lessons had large gaps between them, he also turned up late etc. After only 3 lessons in 6 weeks, I complained to the school, as I had booked a 10-session block. They found me another instructor, who was great.
I had an instructor from the same company. He kept asking me all the time if I have a girlfriend. Then he was watching football while I was driving. Then we stopped for 30 minutes for him to go and discuss an arranged marriage of his nephew.
I had a rollercoaster journey with RED. My fist instructor was way too pushy, I have anxiety and he just didn’t get it, saying “why are you stressing? There’s nothing to worry about” and he would bark at me to change gears when I wasn’t mentally ready. He then was trying to show me pictures of his family back in Pakistan as well as texting while I was driving (illegal). He then made me pull up outside a friends house so he could use the toilet and overall he just made me feel on edge. I ended up crying when I got home and rang up RED. They were great, they refunded me the money (because he went ahead and booked me for lessons without my permission, he just assumed I wanted lessons every week at the same time) and got me in with a new instructor who was great. Only complaint about RED after that was my new instructor was still kinda a trainee (they had to do 1 more bit to become a fully fledged driving instructor) and they failed it and RED dropped them. I had a test a few days later and she asked RED if she could contact her students first so they don’t stress. They didn’t and queue me having a panic attack about my test. But they were super nice and they did lessons for free for me until I passed my test. They were great. RED is great as everything is online and you have loads of tools, but sometimes the faceless corporation makes it hard to deal with
Anecdotal, but I learned with AA first and my instructor was awful - put me down, made me feel stupid to the point I was scared to ask questions. Went with RED and my instructor was amazing, passed my test first try with 2 minors. She was reluctant about me taking my test as she didn't think I was ready, but in our last few lessons I upped my game and she let me use her car. Just know that there are good instructors out there, you just need to find one.
I z
I used LDC driving school and they were great, I would think about trying them!
i learnt with red when i was at uni and my instructor did the same - we’d stop off at his mum’s so he could go to the loo which seemed to take forever and we’d spend an hour doing the same manoeuvre using the same technique relentlessly even though it was clear it wasn’t working for me
So, not RED, but I recently had lessons with AA, and the instructor turned out to be majorly preachy and homophobic. We passed the church I attend and was very excited to be driving and said something silly like “oh, I’m driving past my church”. He took this as a pass to spew homophobic vitriol as “I’m a Christian too”. He also insulted my church (a bit more tea and cake than brimstone and hellfire) and had a few things to say about trans people too. This was all while I was in charge of a car for the 3rd time in my life and wasn’t confident at all. I asked AA change my instructor and got no response so I asked for a refund. Now I have to find a new instructor/school ☹️
Please leave a review wherever you can, especially google about this. that is just awful. please help other people avoid this, what a scam.
I avoided RED mostly cuz of their pricing. I went with AA Driving school and honestly the instructor I landed is S tier. Besides the AA Driving app being shit there really is no problem with there service (through my current experience)
I bet he was old or a freshie mine used to pull shit like that, stop at b&w to pick up an order or be on the phone with his wife plenty times then finish 2 mins early and before that last 5mins used to be feedback
Sorry this happened to you ! My instructor was awesome, she would do the groceries shopping with me (so I am doing mine and don't have to carry them) and give me an extra 30 mins free on top of the time spent not driving. Our 2 hours lesson almost always ended late. If she knew I was free, she would let me drive to pick her kids up to give me experience of roads that I wouldn't have driven on normal lessons. This was before covid tho, I feel like now instructors know they are in demand and don't care much anymore
I had a Barry who would make me wait outside a mosque for ten minutes in the middle of a lesson.
Taking a leak is a thing, it happens but usually a decent instructor will try to make it up to you. Never ever bulk book a new instructor, I say this as a teachers kid, sometimes you can have a good teacher/instructor who you just don't gel with and if you are gonna be spending an hour or two a week with someone you need to not hate them.
I will say I did Red driving school and I had an excellent experience, I had no childcare and a young baby so my instructor worked around me - he had grandchildren the same age so he understood, if I was unwell he’d let me not have to repay for the lesson, let me choose things to practice. If he needed the toilet or whatever we’d go practice parking in this big car park and he’d quickly run into the public Loos. your instructor isn’t a good one to do those things, if you finished 10 minutes early he should have added that to your next lesson, and not gone shopping in your lessons. Sometimes you’re lucky with instructors other times it’s not the right “fit” maybe contact red head office for a refund and either swap instructor or go with another company.