BEWARE OF ICS

[Valentine]

they happily took £300 form me, and what i recieved was a file of paper and instructions to buy 2 £16 each text books... i have done this and the text books are more or less exactly as the file of paper. I have been totally left alone to organize my exams which will cos me £175 for the first set and £175 for the second set and they are all miles away across 2 different centres. ICS have been no help what so ever and i feel like such a fool. im furious and upset and i want to warn all you that would ever think of doing a course with them to steer clear. :doh: :no:

[ms sweetcheeks]

I have no idea who they are or what they do?

[Valentine]

its distance learning course, i am doing an a level via them

[Puffy]

Are you still within your 14 day send back period?? they did this to me- sent me a load of useless guff as a course and told me I needed a specific text book that was out of print and therefore IMPOSSIBLE to get hold of
I sent back the course and got a refund no probs. Hope it works out xx

[Valentine]

no im well out of the 14 days... going to complain anyway

[DillyDally]

Definitely complain, that's awful.

Can you try with your local college for an A level? And I think there are some internet 'schools' that do A levels now (my youngest attends an internet high school for GCSEs :nod:).

Have you got a particular reason for needing an A level? Because if you want to, say, apply to university, recent learning is ok, doesn't have to be A level - you could try an Open University course?

[donna-j]

Crikey they have been going for a long time. I went for a job with them years ago and I was to be managing the production process. I am very surprised that they are no use.

[Valentine]

DillyDally, the A level is in biology and i need it along with my access (that im currently studying) to apply for midwifery at one of the unis that i want to go to. its such a annoyance at the mo as im out of work and up the duff so ding a cvourse at a college that starts in sept would be too much along with all i have on the go at the mo. Most colleges here dont do A levels anymore anyhoo. GGGRRRRRR

[spandangley]

Oh god how awful for you. I did a diploma with them once and they were fine

[DillyDally]

DillyDally, the A level is in biology and i need it along with my access (that im currently studying) to apply for midwifery at one of the unis that i want to go to. its such a annoyance at the mo as im out of work and up the duff so ding a cvourse at a college that starts in sept would be too much along with all i have on the go at the mo. Most colleges here dont do A levels anymore anyhoo. GGGRRRRRR

That's annoying :sigh: Would any of the OU science courses be any good - they are undergraduate, rather than A level, so a 'higher' level?

I will lurk about on the Yahoo group for home educators about GCSEs and A levels, to see if I can find anything out.

[Valentine]

aww thank you!

[DillyDally]

I'm still lurking (I am a member, I hasten to add, they have quite a strict membership policy!), but most discussion is about GCSEs. I'll have another look ...

[DillyDally]

Have looked - mostly it seems that HE teenagers doing A levels do it themselves by buying the textbooks, and making arrangements with local colleges or private schools for the practical work and exams :meh:

[Valentine]

Have looked - mostly it seems that HE teenagers doing A levels do it themselves by buying the textbooks, and making arrangements with local colleges or private schools for the practical work and exams :meh:

Thank you! i DID buy the textbooks and have to arrange the exams and practicals ... cept i also paid ICS £300 :no::oops::brainache:

[Cindy]

I used ICS a few years ago to study for my CIPD and they were abysmal :nod: