BSM

...waste of money lessons with BSM are. ~The Simulator~ The package also included 2 hours on a BSM simulator in Aberdeen - about an hour and a half's drive from my hometown, Arbroath. I travelled through, feeling optimistic, but after my two hours, I felt I had learnt nothing and had wasted two hours of my life on a fruitless activity. The simulator began with slowly taking me through the controls of the car. It then made me do activities such as ...
...~The First Lesson~ BSM insisted that I have a two hour lesson to begin with because they would take me through a cock-pit drill etc. I was reluctant as I thought it would be a long and tiring lesson for a first time but agreed since they explained it would be the best way to start. My driving instructor (who I will refer to as John for annonymity) started off making a good impression by arriving five minutes before the start of my lesson. He drove ...

Danielle89 20.10.2006 · Read full review
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Review of BSM

...schools - i came across BSM and can deffinately say i haven't been disappointed yet (even if i have failed twice, grrr! my fault!) On my first lesson, my instructor picked me up from my house - on time (which is more than can be said for my previous instructor). He had been told that i had already had a few hours of driving lessons with a previous instructor. He drove me to a local quiet road, and there he explained all of the different features ...
...plates, the highway code, the BSM theory test book (the complete list of DSA theory questions you need to know written down, plus for visual learners a disk with all the official DSA theory questions) and the BSM practical test book (Useful information, and colourful diagrams on each of the 45 key driving skills. Information on how your instructor and accomponying driver can help you. Also information on what to do after passing the practical test) ...

Claire230590 24.09.2009 · Read full review
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I chose BSM because of their reputation, but having learnt with them for several months I can honestly wonder at their having any decent reputation at all. If I could choose again, I would never choose BSM but would use a small company or an independent instructor reccommended by a friend. The instructors are fine, the problem is with BSM's attitutude towards its paying customers. I needed to cancel an inconvenient lesson in early January, but because ...
...they would call me back. BSM appear to be incapable of phoning people back; it has never once happened in the months I've been dealing with them. Anyway, it took me weeks of calls to the local (Reading) office and to BSM's head office to get them to credit my account with this money. The office blamed the driving instructor, who (rightly) blamed the office and told me that I was one of many people having these kind of arguments with BSM. While I ...

brokenangelkisses 04.03.2005 · Read full review
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...your own progress and with BSM they present you with a booklet that grades your abilities. The instructor ticks the little boxes from one to nine depending on your level of competency (one represents the kind of driving that should only be allowed at the arcades and nine asks the question, why are you still having lessons?), he also explains why you are graded as such. This is very encouraging and following each lesson, I feel a little less like ...
...flying colours. In conclusion, BSM have helped me not only learn a new skill, but also feel in control of something I seem to still have no control of. They are kind and understanding and I believe the price is most definitely a guarantee of quality. Thank you, BSM. ...

stoolie74 20.06.2001 · Read full review
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...Not bad. Still, BSM is a national company and you can be sure that they are at least insured and qualified if nothing else, a guarantee you may not be so comfortable about with some smaller firms. Its a good job too, as that insurance will sure be needed on the car I was driving. I have done my theory test and passed with flying colours (ok I didnt pass with such amazing flying colours but I did pass) and moved onto the road full of hope and promise. ...
...pressure. Thankfully the kind BSM instructor immediately announced that it was ok as the car was covered by insurance. Phew. She did go on to mention that I would be charged the £50 starting amount (to claim insurance you have to pay the first 'x' amount). I was relieved and waited with her while the car was picked up. She didnt once have a go at me although she did ask me to go through what I had done and point out my mistakes. Amazingly she even ...

robsgirl 15.09.2001 · Read full review
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...of staff from my local BSM centre phoned to ask how I got on with my test. Luckily I got 100% right, and this was partially thanks to the excellent BSM books I revised everything from. Courtesy of this company - first class! :) Having just turned 17 and now in a full-time job, I am desperate to be able to drive. I hate having one of those dads who ends up working for "Dad's Taxis" at all hours of the day and night! I only knew a few people who ...
...did pick up was that BSM have an excellent reputation, so I chose to have my lessons with them. On the BSM website, there is a facility where you can e-mail them direct to ask any questions (mine was just general costs for lessons) and then an adviser will call you back at a time which is convenient to you. I did this, and was pleased with the response. My adviser was very knowledgable and gave me all the answers I needed. Lessons are £18.50 an ...

joannetillin 25.02.2001 (03.03.2001) · Read full review
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I got £175 worth of BSM vouchers for my 17th birthday last year in November. With it being the middle of June now, I should be driving really. But after loads and I mean LOADS of hassle with the DVLA over the provisional driving licence, I have only just started. So here it is. My experience so far with BSM.... ~~~WHY DID I USE BSM?~~~ I know at least 5 people who went with BSM, and passed first time. I know they are expensive, but they are also ...
...all the people learning with BSM use is a Vauxhall Corsa, and mine is silver. It is alot lighter than my dads car and is always clean and looking like new. Well it is. Brand spankin' new! ~~~EARLY OR LATE?/LESSON LENGTHS~~~ My instructor is never late and has been on a few occasions, slightly early. I am allowed to stop the two hour lesson when I have had enough and cant take in any more information, and the un-used time goes on at the end of ...

micjb 15.06.2003 · Read full review
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...FIRST TIME. Something which the BSM is well known for. On occasions I have heard from people saying that BSM often encourages their students to take more lessons than are necessary and to teach you stuff slowly in order to cheat your fees. However, I really do not think this to be the case. Although I may have taken a couple more lessons to what people consider as an average, I managed to pass first time round. So what if the instructor taught you ...
...the wrong way. With BSM I was taught progressively, and the instructor made sure I knew how to perform each skill before going onto the next. To say the truth, taking a few extra lessons and passing first time is cheaper than making do with some 20 lessons and having to retake the test 3/4 times before passing since it's just so expensive to take the test itself (a couple of lessons right before the test, renting the car itself for the test and the ...

Ruby 22.06.2001 · Read full review
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...i decided to change to bsm who i knew at the time charged £22 per lesson but they gave me a discount as i was a student so i only paid £18 per lesson. On my first lesson with them steve my driving instructor asked me if i could drive a car and i said yes, he left me to it and less than 10 minutes into the lesson he asked me to pull over. He had been evaluating my driving and asked me if i had been taught by my previous instructor to drive like this, ...
...hour before my test with bsm and flew through my test. My instructer at bsm was very strict and told me off every time i got something wrong which i hated at the time but when i walked out of that test center with a pass and not just scraping through a pass i didnt even have any minors i loved him for it. My driving instructor was steve mason from the westbromwich branch which is close to where i used to live then and i couldnt recomend him highly ...

danniell 23.01.2009 · Read full review
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...convinced me to book with BSM for my first ever lessons last year. I wish I hadn't have bothered. There are so many organisations out there that it is surprising that BSM have such a large share of the market - they rely on their reputation and do not offer the individual service that we crave. PRICE I was charged £19.50 per hour by BSM - easily the highest that any other company quoted me but I thought if you want the best, you pay for the best. ...
...FLEXIBILITY During times of illness BSM were not flexible at all. If a lesson is not cancelled at least 24 hours before it is due, you are subject to pay the full amount. When the instructor, however, is ill, he can just cancel any time on the day of the lesson, leaving you to twiddle your thumbs for the evening. ALTERNATIVES Having become frustrated with all the above, I changed to Drivers UK who charge £15.50 per lesson. I took to my instructor ...

Okocha 19.03.2001 · Read full review
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Review of BSM

I studied with BSM mainly due to a deal they had going with the Sun newspaper at the time I was looking around for a driving school. A few friends had studied under ex-BSM instructors who had set up independents, and all said they were good teachers. The entire approach seemed professional. A nice office, with helpful staff who took the nerves out of it completely. And unlike most firms they didn't just see me as a number once my cheque had cleared. ...
...only negative point of the BSM experience was that my first lesson took place at 4pm on Friday, I was dropped into rush hour traffic with only one hour behind the wheel. Still nothing like a baptism of fire, huh? It was kind of my fault I guess, when they offered the time slot I accepted it, eager to feel the scincillating power of the 1.0 12v Corsa! All thoughts of rush hour retreated! My instructor was supremely helpful, and eager to teach, yet ...

AndyConnolly 23.03.2001 · Read full review
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Who are they? =========== BSM began in 1910 and has grown to be a nationally recognised driving school. They claim to teach over 170,000 new learners to drive every year. There are over 100 BSM Centres and over 3000 instructors located all around the country. They use modern cars - Vauxhall Astras and Corsas - to teach learners. Booking lessons ============= This is pretty straightforward. You can use the online booking form if you wish, whereby ...
...BSM Centre nearest you will call you back to arrange the specific times and dates of as many lessons as you desire. You can just phone them yourself, this would be much quicker. I used the online form though, and asked to be called back in the next 24 hours. This didn't happen, and I recieved a phone call after about 3 days, but I put that down to excessive internet use that week by me and my family (we don't have broadband), so I can't criticise ...

pragmatik 29.07.2005 · Read full review
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...about £2500 to train with BSM as a driving instructor. Initially I was impressed with the course, I received a lot of software, books and manuals, and passed my Theory exam in March without too much trouble. However, despite emailing them to inform them of my success, I received no correspondence from them for two months. After much chasing up through the local shop, I finally received dates for my formal advanced driver training from the training ...
...training I have recieved from BSM over the last 8 or so months, it amounts to less than about 4 and a half working days. Shocking. You are of course expected to go away with your partner and train in your spare time. I, and my partner, have done this digently, and I have been doing on average, 6-8 hours practice a week, alone and with colleague. It came to our final assessment, which was with the senior regional coach, whom I had barely met before ...

Cerberus23 12.09.2006 · Read full review
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...there for me then) with BSM I think my parents would have had a coronary if I’d so much as thought of going with anyone else. My boyfriend passed first time with BSM and I was always attracted by their professional advertising and the fact that the company spread nationwide. The cars always looked new and kept with their good old trusty Vauxhall Corsa. Who else could offer this kind of tuition, certainly not my dodgy looking local driving schools ...
...my first lesson. BSM operate on one national number and by simply quoting where you live you are put through to the relevant operator in your area. It was simple to book my first lesson, I was asked when I would be available and they assigned me my instructor, she was called Dawn, and I was told that my first lesson must last for 2 hours in order for it to be worthwhile. Now then, for the prices, they wanted to encourage me to buy a block of lessons, ...

nictastic 18.02.2003 · Read full review
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...on my pitiful experiences with BSM last January, there has been an upsurge in the number of people contributing to the subject. It seems to me that people have rather mixed feelings about this company, but I think it is fair to say that there are not enough positive reviews of BSM instructors to inspire upcoming pupils. It's good to hear that certain individuals have not experienced any difficulties with the company, however, I cannot fail to notice ...
...'cockpit drill' - but generally, BSM extend the hours of tuition required twofold. These are the subjects outlined in the 'progress pack' each pupil is presented with: Key Stage 1: ~~~~~~~~~~~~ Carry out cockpit drill Move off safely Stop normally Change gear Use clutch control Approach and turn left Approach and emerge left Approach and turn right Approach and emerge right Move off at an angle Move off on a hill Stop in an emergency ...

Eudora 27.01.2001 (05.04.2001) · Read full review
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Review of BSM