Utter disrespect for customers - avoid at all cost!

I’ve received the worst possible customer service from Gerald. Once he has received your money, and if there is any disagreement, he exhibits very immature behaviour and throws personal insults to his paying customers. This happened to me and can be seen in his replies to complaints on his Facebook page. My advice for those considering Gerald’s Pass and Go for EC and Motorcycle licenses is to stay away! What he doesn’t disclose is that he will outsource these lessons to other driving schools and then charge you a premium. Background: I prepaid Gerald R 9 150 for an EC and Motorcycle license package. My most pressing need was an EB license, and I saw his adverti*****t at Lynnwood Trailers & Leisureworld. Whilst going through the trouble of the licensing process, I figured I might just as well do an EC and Motorcycle and get it over with. Gerald assured me that he offers both EC (code 14 truck) and Motorcycle training. First mistake: there’s no contract/document that clearly states what is included in the package (how many lessons by who, where the tests will be, etc.)  I can’t complain about his service for the learners. He provided the K53 material, sample tests and provided clarity when I had questions. Problems started when it was time for doing the practical lessons. Both the motorcycle and truck lessons were outsourced to other driving schools. This should have been disclosed to me before signing up, but instead Gerald created the impression that his driving school did offer these services. After the first EC driving session (in an open veld next to Stormvoël with an instructor more on his phone than giving training) I complained to Gerald that I’m not happy with the level of EC instruction. Also, the lesson has not been paid for when I arrived and I had to wait for Gerald to be contacted to request payment (this happened for most of the subsequent lessons). He assured me he will personally provide the last three lessons, but he was rather irritated that I dare complain. As the time to my test approached Gerald kept on not pitching for booked lessons so I received training from Matlala’s instructor every time. By the time there were only 5 days before my test, I had done only one public road exercise and received no K53 training. So I insisted that Gerald still owes me his promised three lessons. Eventually he did two lessons with me, and to be honest he too was quite disengaged and showed no real interest in assisting me to the standards required to pass the test. He would often allude the only way to pass at Temba (Hammanskraal where my test was booked) is with a bribe, which explains why he showed no real interest in my progress.

The day before my test he suddenly informed me that I should bring R1050 cash with me to the test the next day. When I enquired, he informed me it is for the additional three lessons! Naturally I was not too impressed because again this should have been disclosed before the said lessons, and Gerald did not actually do the three lessons he promised. Nevertheless, I agreed to pay the amount by EFT the next month. This caused Gerald to become aggressive, and he threatened me (together with personal insults and name calling that he that he will not allow me to do the test if I do not settle the amount by the next day. So I decided I will not stand for this horrendous treatment or be blackmailed, and forfeited both my EC and Motorcycle test. If only I had done a bit more research on Driving School reviews beforehand, I would have seen that Geralds’ Pass and Go has one of the lowest customer review scores, and he personally insults customers that give negative reviews. I have learned an expensive lesson (at a cost of R 9 150!), and have subsequently signed up for an EC license at a driving school that treats their customers with respect.