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The 1st Class Driving has been providing quality driving lessons since the early 1980’s with Driving Instructors covering an area from Colchester in the North East through London and the surrounding to Bournemouth in the South West.
Reviews 13
Bethany Gray
Jul 03,2023Do not use this driving school. I booked a bulk of 10 lessons - I received only half of them. After the Easter holidays I attempted to contact them to arrange the remaining lessons. Despite numerous calls, emails and in-person visits to the office I have had no response whatsoever. A neighbouring shop owner said they had not seen anyone in the driving school office since Easter and they believed it had “gone”. They have been active on their Facebook business account yet refuse to respond to all my refund requests.
Rachel
Apr 04,2023DO NOT PART WITH YOUR MONEY! My son booked 10 lessons back in February and was subsequently told the instructor was not available at the times he required. After being instructed to put a refund request in writing, we still haven’t had any refund and no communication from the owner. It’s is now April and we are continuing down a legal route to get our money back. Please read other reviews, I wish I had - this is not an uncommon story.
Medical Related
Mar 22,2023Went through very bad experience with this driving school, they take your money and send you very inappropriate instructors. When I tried calling them to discuss Changing instructors but unfortunately they wouldn't respond and they engaged the phone. The instructor (ghulam) is very rude and moody, he would shout at me for no reason as he is very moody and behaviour is like a child. He wouldn't act in a professional manner towards his students. I want to get a refund for the lesson that I didn't do because I couldn't continue with him and he refused to refund me. I've emailed this agency and now they are also not responding. I would not advise anyone to choose them as a driving school. I strongly advise you to go for a proper school that can help you to pass your exam. Plus not to ask about your personal life which made me feel very uncomfortable. The instructor asked me for a date out and I've refused as I see him as an instructor not as a dating person. Very disappointed with this unprofessionally behaviour.
Patrick Noonan
Mar 22,2023I booked a lesson at the start of January 2023 with 1st Class Driving to receive lessons with a specific instructor in my area using a special deal that would give me a 3 hour lesson for £90 for my first lesson. 1st Class got in touch to organise the lesson for mid-February 2023 as the instructor was unavailable until then but noted that the lesson would only be locked in once I had paid the £90 by bank transfer, which I did so immediately. On the Friday before the lesson, 1st Class called me to let me know that the lesson needed to be rescheduled. I tried to return their call but was never able to get through. Eventually, they emailed to let me know that there would be a 2 hour lesson in late February. I responded, querying that it should be a 3 hour lesson but confirming the date would be fine. They never replied. After trying for weeks to contact 1st Class through email and phone calls (never receiving a response or having the phone picked up), I eventually re-submitted a query via their website and was booked in for a 2 hour lesson in late March. I have now found out that to access the third hour of my lesson I will need to pay an additional £37 for another 2 hour lesson. This company is misleading and unprofessional in how they deal with their clients and at several points I was convinced I was dealing with a scam. Avoid at all costs.
Nika
Feb 18,2022I have used 1st class driving for years on and off. My first time using it was when I was 17/18 before I went off to uni, I had a good experience with my instructor but unfortunately I was unable to continue because I had left London. After graduating and coming home, I’ve had 2 poor experiences with 2 different instructors. Being a female, receiving inappropriate comments from male instructors, out of the 2 instructors the first one made me feel very uncomfortable so I didn’t continue my lessons with them and due to covid there was a long break as we were unable to do lessons. Now.. I’ve being using Roy as my instructor since May 21, driving/learning wise its been ok but his professionalism is very off and conversations are very uncomfortable as he likes questioning my personal life (boyfriends etc) and there was a time where he had messaged me around midnight basically asking if I’d spend some time with him outside my lessons, which I felt was very disturbing and unprofessional as he’s old enough to be my father. I ignored the gesture and continued my lessons as I was booking my test soon and driving instructors are limited atm. Also I was very eager to complete my driving lessons. I’ve now booked my test which is coming up in just over a month, and he has stopped responding to my texts/calls to book lessons, so I reached out to 1st class driving to possibly find another instructor and to see if something had happened. When they contacted him and got back to me, he has decided that he no longer wanted to continue my lessons. Which I just find very unprofessional because it’s obviously stems from him feeling rejected because I wasn’t interested in anything personal with him. I will be using female instructors from now on as clearly these men don’t know how to act
customer
Aug 12,2021I really enjoyed learning how to drive with my instructor. He taught me well and I passed my exam the first time! I am very grateful and recommend the 1st Class Driving to everyone.
Dean
Aug 11,2021I just passed my driving test first time this afternoon! I'd like to say a massive thank you to my driving instructor Nataliya. She is very professional, polite & makes you feel at ease. Excellent driving instructor. A1
John
May 18,2021Very misleading website, prices not at all correct, female instructors not available at all so if this is hat you need don't waste your time
Nicole
Apr 12,2021If I could give minus stars I would. This place is diabolical. My lesson was cancelled due to COVID, to find that out I had to make several phone calls (none of them answered), leave a message (that wasn’t returned) and send an email to which I finally received a response saying my lesson would no longer go ahead and has been rescheduled to the 12th of April following COVID rules. I asked for the number of my instructor so I could contact him directly to which they refused. It’s now 1pm on the day of my lesson and of course the instructor didn’t turn up, no one is answering the phone or returning my emails. Honestly, disgraceful service and I will be requesting a full refund. Funny how they were so lovely up until I parted with my money and now it’s like they don’t even exist. Stay away from this place!!!
Hank Moody
Jul 09,2020I booked a cluster of lessons for my daughter at 9:15am on thurs-Fri-Sat, on Thursday morning no one showed up or called and by 9:45 she called to see what was happening only to be told that he won’t be able to make it, and he also wants to cancel the lesson the following day? The lesson was structured to start in feltham and end in Hampton so she could be dropped at work. So now today she is late for work as to get there via bus takes longer then a car and that has got her in trouble as it has a knock on effect with the clients (she’s a hairdresser) The instructor didn’t even have the decency to call he and let her know he was either late or couldn’t make it or to “Ask” her if he could cancel the lesson for Friday that has already been paid for. When I called and questioned what was happening I was offered a double lesson on Saturday that is not suitable for my daughter as she has work. It was then suggested that she rescheduled the lessons for next week to a time that was convenient for “the instructor” is this the service I am paying for? I I have now cancelled and requested a full refund the whole experience was a waste of my time and money and has taken all the excitement away from my daughters journey of leaning to drive. 1st class? That’s a Joke...
Vahid Nemonekhah
Sep 10,2019I had lessons with Steve B , he was sick, he was swearing everyone from public members, he was giving huge amounts of stress to me.
Shabneez Ulyjan
Aug 19,2019Paid around £1075, had 43 hours lesson and only did manoeuvres 4 times. I live in a area where there is parking bay and I find it strange that I was not taught how to park while I was being dropped off. After calling the office to tell them how I feel the person who took my call said that he did not find it strange, it was completely normal not to know how to park until after you have completed your test. He also said I am not the instructor so I would know and if I wasn’t happy go elsewhere! I feel like this driving school is just trying to take your money and take advantage of learners.
22-23 The Parade, Beynon Road, SM5 3RL, Carshalton , GB
http://1stclassdriving.co.uk
Sharon Walker
Oct 31,2024From day one, the staff was friendly and attentive. My instructor, Lisa, was amazing—she was not only knowledgeable but also had a great sense of humor, which made every lesson enjoyable. I felt at ease behind the wheel, even as a beginner. The school's facilities were clean and organized, and the scheduling was very flexible, allowing me to book lessons around my other commitments. They also offered mock driving tests, which were incredibly helpful in building my confidence before the actual test. Highly recommend!