Really sorry to moan on here but I just wondered if anyone has any advice for me.
I enrolled with Kaplan in July for CIMA operational, full level as a distance learner. I was sent text books for 2015 exam sittings. I had the online support. I told the chap enrolling me that I wouldn't be taking the exams until this year.
In January Kaplan removed all the 2015 books from the online system.
I have been advised by them that I need to purchase the 2016 books at £35 each and £20 for each question bank.
Now I am really cheesed off as I feel that I should have been told that the 2015 books will no longer be available online from Jan, and that today they told me I would need to buy the F1 book regardless as it is redundant due to the standards changing.
I feel a bit stuck as the questions in the 2015 books are different to the 2016 books and I am finding it hard enough as it is, now I have no support for my books that are 6 months old!!
If they had told me when I rang to enrol, that in January there would be new updated study texts etc then I would have held off, instead of paying £900 out. (Plus all the cima exemptions ontop!!!)
To be honest its not even the money that's an issue, Its the principal.
I want them to send me the updated books so I can be in tandem with the online books but they are saying I have to buy them again.
My question is - What would you do in this situation?
Again, sorry to moan, but you are all so lovely and helpful and I am interested to see what you will say.
Many thanks
Em
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Em
MAAT, CIMA student, avoider of Tax as much as possible and going greyer by the day.
For starters I always buy the books from Amazon which are cheaper than buying them from the publisher (how does that work then!).
It does not sound as if you have lost the £900, you have only lost out on the cost of replacement texts which will be £32 and £18 respectively so not much of a savig but a little bit (plus free delivery) off the Kaplan cost ).
It is an unfortunate thing about our business that standards do change regularly and the syllabuses of the professional bodies have to change in line with them.
I spend quite a lot each and every year on books that I already have versions of but such is the nature of the business that this yearrs must have text is next years paper pulp (although I never give any of my books up... They sort of exist in a utopia for retired study materiials!).
I agree that the way that this was handled by Kaplan was not (from what you say) good, but, it also sounds as though its not (too) expensive to resolve via the purchase of alternate texts in order to continue your studies.
Personally I would buy the texts and continue learning for future reference not to buy the relevant materials until the period in which you are to take the exam.
£900 seems a lot for a single paper. Can you not simply buy the study materials and then study yourself without a training provider? (Thats what I did with ACCA). Genuinely I don't know whether you can do that or not with CIMA.
HTH,
Shaun.
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Shaun
Responses are not meant as a substitute for professional advice. Answers are intended as outline only the advice of a qualified professional with access to all relevant information should be sought before acting on any response given.
Just to clarify, I signed up for a full level, so I had all study texts for all 4 units for the objective level - that's why it was £900 - It wasn't for one module!!
In hindsight (that wonderful thing) I should have gone for one unit at a time, although its cheaper to buy the whole level in one go.
I do pretty much self study, I don't bother contacting the tutors for any reason. The thing I liked about the online Kaplan content was the study texts are interactive and the knowledge tests are really good. That's why I wanted to stay with them after AAT as you can never have too many questions to practise.
Cheers again
Em
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Em
MAAT, CIMA student, avoider of Tax as much as possible and going greyer by the day.
I'd ask to speak to a centre manager or the like.
Although you did buy the books halfway through the year, and not say, November.
I've never had a problem with kaplan.
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Johnny - Owner of an overly-active keyboard.
A man who can read, yet doesn't, is in no way wiser than a man who can't.
Hi Em
I agree with John, only I would get their name and email address if you can and put it in black and white, citing as much relevant info, names and dates as you can. Make sure you also say exactly what you expect of them to put it right. If you still have no luck I would be buying the hardcopy books so they remain yours. You can still add them to your online account, but at least it they are removed you still have a copy. As Shaun says you can usually buy them cheaper via Amazon - Ive seen them on there in the past.
I thought Kaplan were ok as a training provider although there were quite a few typos and wrong answers in their books - we have talked about it on this forum before - not sure if they are trying to catch you out/really test your knowledge or they just have incompetent proof readers!
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Joanne
Winner of Bookkeeper of the Year 2015, 2016 & 2017
Thoughts are my own/not to be regarded as official advice,which should be sought from a suitably qualified Accountant.
You should check out answers with reference to the legal position
After several days of phone calls and un-answered emails, I refused to get off the phone until I spoke to the manager.
They have admitted they should not have taken the 2015 online books off and as a gesture of goodwill they will send me a F1 - the updated 2016 physical book.
I do actually really like studying with Kaplan and I would recommend them to anyone, but I think they need to have their distance learning enrolment trained a bit more, and actually send out T&C's.
I still stand my ground and say that if you are told you have at least a years use from the text books then you should get a years use, not 6 months.
Whilst I feel quite victorious, I also feel a tad bit bad for the poor soul who answered my call today. Although after putting me on hold numerous times to check things out, telling me I couldn't hold for a manager as its not something they are able to do probably wasn't the wisest thing. I'm so glad I don't work in customer services!!
Em
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Em
MAAT, CIMA student, avoider of Tax as much as possible and going greyer by the day.
