I wanted to find out from other people who have taken the above qualification as to how much you have paid in course fees.
I have a sales person from HomeLearning College telling me that the course cost £50 deposit + (£42*24months) installments = £1058 for the above qualification.
I've shopped around and this is almost £600-700 above what most other course providers are quoting for the same qualification. His argument is that HomeLearning give more in-depth training and have 20years experience in providing ICB training. On top of that, he claims this is all interest fee. Still has not convinced me, to be honest.
I feel it is over-priced but want to find out from other people if this is what theypaid for a Level 2 ICB qualification in Manual Bookkeeping. Are the course material different based on which course provider you go with or are they all standard material from the ICB?
I did Level 1 manual and level 2 computerised and paid around £1000 through TDLC, for this i got a coursebook, all materials including Sage instant accounts. The coursework was branded TDLC, not ICB so seemed to be from TDLC.
It did seem rather expensive to me however i have got full support from Tutors, mock exams, good feedback and felt ready for the exams.
Not sure about the less expensive courses but i think i got good value for this.
I paid £125 for the ICB Level I course from www.distancelearningpartnership.co.uk last year. Passed the exam with a distinction, 100%! I got excellent tutor support, feedback and mock exams too! I feel that some of these providers charge big bucks in order to pay for their mailshots etc and their salespersons wages...or am I sounding a bit cynical there?
Thank you to those who responded. I have decided not to go with HomeLearning College as I was not impressed with the sales pitch that I got over the phone. Also, they were trying to push me to commit to both Lvl 1 & 2 man bookkeeping when I told them I wanted to try out Lvl 1 first to see if Bookkeeping is for me. And the fees put me off.
I spoke to ICB and their advice was all course providers provide the same syllabus so basically course material are very similar. It is the tutor support that accounts for the extra fees so really is an extra £600-£700 worth the 'in-depth' tutoring that they advertise. My opinion is no! Not for a Lvl 2 qualification.
So I'm going ahead with Ideal schools and like robbiew will only pay about £125 and this is also no interest through installments plus personal tutor support.
Personally I think you did the right thing by NOT going to Home Learning College. I wish I hadn't having seen I could have got this course (and in some cases, level 3 as well) much much cheaper.
Also HLC do not have a consistent fee structure. One girl I spoke to on their forum has paid around £950. I am paying £890 including the deposit. I have actually just finished this course now, but am still paying for this course, which means I do not have the funds available to me to take it further. I reckon my course materials cost £100 at the most (if you incorporate printing etc). I don't use the tutors that often, as I look through the forum first to see if the answers I need are there. Membership to the ICB as a student is £50 (I think), exams are Level 1=£18, Level 2=£24 etc. So if you break it down... much cheaper!!! Even buying a book on it and teaching yourself can be much cheaper, though it is nice to have someone for advice on certain items that you are unsure of.
I really wish I had shopped around! More fool me eh!
Even now, I have one of their sales people contacting me re AAT. I'll be shopping around first mate. Even if I can get my company to pay for it this time!
Another course you might be interested in is the AAT's ABC Bookkeeping Certificate.. 
I reckon my course materials cost £100 at the most (if you incorporate printing etc). I don't use the tutors that often, as I look through the forum first to see if the answers I need are there. Membership to the ICB as a student is £50 (I think), exams are Level 1=£18, Level 2=£24 etc. So if you break it down... much cheaper!!! Even buying a book on it and teaching yourself can be much cheaper, though it is nice to have someone for advice on certain items that you are unsure of.
