Top Choice Computer Careers

Complaints upheld
In January, the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) upheld complaints about a Top Choice Computer Careers regional press advert (http://snipurl.com/4rfx). The advert stated: "We are undertaking a major re-skilling exercise to help the Government reduce the 100,000 IT vacancies that exist today in the UK."

The ASA ruled that Top Choice "had not substantiated the claim that there were 100,000 IT vacancies in the UK."

It also upheld complaints that the advert implied that Top Choice was acting on behalf of the Government, and that Top Choice offered employment, not training courses.

Closure of Birmingham centre
Top Choice originally operated from two centres, in Croydon and Birmingham. According to the Birmingham Evening Mail (http://snipurl.com/4re2 - a shortened link to the icbirmingham.co.uk website) the company closed its Birmingham office some days before the ruling.

The Mail reported that: "Students who'd paid up to £2,000 each for courses in the hope of finding new jobs arrived for lessons in Birmingham to find its office in New Street shut and no sign of tutors."

When contacted by the Evening Mail, Top Choice managing director Andy Baldwin is reported to have said the premises were closed "for cost reasons" and to have denied that the company had done a "moonlight flit."

Closure of Head Office?
We cannot verify the quality or status of this organisation, because it has not chosen to undergo the ODL QC accreditation process.

However, in the last two days, ODL QC has been contacted by two learners enrolled with Top Choice Computer Careers, concerned because the company are not answering calls to the published telephone numbers.

These learners fear that the company has ceased trading, and closed its Croydon head office, but we have been unable to confirm this.

One way to establish whether an organisation continues to operate from an address is to send a registered letter. If this is signed for, it proves that staff continue to work there.

Caution about Career Development Loans
The learners who contacted ODL QC paid for their Top Choice courses with Career Development Loans. Under this scheme, individuals borrow money from a bank, and the Department for Education & Skills (DfES) pay the interest during the duration of the course.

Learners should be aware that just because a provider can accept Career Development Loans does not mean that either the banks involved, or the DfES have verified that a provider is reputable or financially stable. You should make sure you are totally confident before you enrol, because if problems occur that prevent you from completing the course, you may still be forced to repay a large debt.