Terms & Conditions

Watermelon Driving School Terms and conditions
We hope that you find the terms and conditions reasonable, clear and fair. If you have any questions, require clarification, or further information, please ask after you have read the terms and conditions.
 

1. These terms apply to you, and the pupil, and the pupil's paying representative.
    
2. By paying the deposit or the lesson(s) in part or in full you have accepted that you have read and agreed to the terms and conditions. Lesson bookings will then be confirmed by your instructor. 
    
3. Once you have agreed to pay for a block booking, lesson package or course of lessons (hereafter defined as a 'course of lessons') payment must be made in full within 7 days. If a deposit is taken the balance must be paid within 30 days. The deposit may be up to 50% of the total value and is non-refundable. Each course of lessons must be completed within 12 weeks of the first booked lesson. If the course of lessons is not completed during this period any outstanding balance is forfeit and will be retained by the allocated instructor. Each lesson must be booked as a 2hr lesson apart from the Driving Test Lesson (3 hrs). An extra hour for the driving test may be needed to be booked at your existing discounted rate.
    
4. Pay-As-You-Go ('PAYG') lessons are paid and booked together. Alternatively a non-refundable lesson deposit equal to the value of 2 hours is required and then lessons can be booked without immediate payment but payment must be paid by the start of the next lesson. A PAYG lesson is non-refundable once the booking has been made. Any further alterations to the booking are at the discretion of the instructor. If payment for the lesson is not received by the start of the lesson the deposit will be retained in lieu of payment for the lesson. If the instructor cancels a PAYG lesson the pupil will be offered an alternative lesson if this can be arranged before the booked driving test, or a full refund if not.
    
5. If the pupil's driving test is sooner than 12 weeks a bespoke service may be offered and a proforma invoice raised for your agreement. Separate lesson rates, a variation of some of our terms and conditions, may apply and will be set out in writing.
    
6. The 'new pupil' block booking offer can only be used once in a lifetime. Following purchase of a course of lessons or the second single lesson (hereafter defined as a 'PAYG lesson') the pupil is no longer considered to be a new pupil and the introductory 'new pupil' block booking offer is no longer available.  Purchase must be made within 24 hours from the end of the preceding lesson, paid in full, and is non-refundable. Lessons must be completed within 30 days of the first booked lesson. Any remaining balance is forfeit after 30 days from the first booked lesson.
    
7. Every reasonable attempt will be made to arrange lessons to suit the pupil's availability within the area and times covered by the driving school. It is the pupil's responsibility to offer a reasonable flexibility of availability for lessons. Lessons arranged outside our core availability may incur an additional rate/surcharge to the normal lesson price.
    
8. If the pupil and instructor are unable to book fewer than 50% of the course of lessons before the first lesson, the course of lessons may be cancelled by the pupil or the instructor and the course shall be refunded in full. It may be necessary to book more than one lesson per day in order to complete the course of lessons. If a pupil cancels the course of lessons at any point after the first lesson has been delivered a refund will be offered for any remaining amount less the deposit.
    
9. Once a lesson has been booked with the instructor it cannot be changed within 48 hours of the lesson. Lessons cancelled by the pupil within 48 hours of the lesson will be charged for as if the instructor delivered the lesson to the pupil in the car. Lessons cancelled by the pupil more than 48 hours before the lesson shall be re-booked as soon as possible and all reasonable attempts will be made to find a replacement lesson at an agreed time. If cancellation by the pupil occurs in the week before the driving test the lesson will be forfeited if it cannot be rebooked before the test.
    
10. If the instructor cancels a lesson the instructor will attempt to find an alternative lesson for the pupil or make the time up by extending existing booked lessons where possible. If cancellation is in the last week of the course of lessons, the lesson may be refunded if the pupil notifies the driving school that they are not continuing lessons. No compensation is available if a lesson is cancelled by an instructor. If two or more consecutive lessons are cancelled by an instructor and it has not been possible to reschedule the lessons may be refunded upon request.
     
11. We aim to deliver driving lessons in accordance with the DVSA Instructor Code of Practice. We also follow DVSA 'Safe Driving for Life' and 'Ready to Pass' campaigns.
     
12. Lesson Promise. In any lesson one or more of the following should occur: the pupil makes progress in an area of driving related to preparation towards the driving test (or road safety), or the pupil increases their experience of driving in preparation for the driving test (or road safety), or the pupil improves their knowledge and understanding of an area of driving relevant to the driving test (or road safety). If the pupil believes the instructor has not delivered a lesson to the requirements set out above they can request that the lesson time is repeated (providing the pupil did not obstruct or interfere with the instructor delivering a compliant lesson). The lesson will be repeated if the lesson does not match the lesson promise. If the pupil has given positive feedback to the instructor approximately half way through the lesson then the lesson meets the lesson promise standards as set out above and a repeat lesson cannot usually be requested.
     
13. Pupils must inform their instructor of their practical driving test booking details, any changes, and send a copy of the booking upon request. Any change to the DVSA practical test booking must be communicated at the earliest opportunity to the instructor. Failure to do so may be considered a breach of contract and result in the forfeit of lessons and withdrawal of services.
     
14. Every reasonable effort will be made to prepare the car for test, however if the car is un-roadworthy before the start of the driving test or the test lesson the hours for that lesson will be rebooked as a single 2 hr lesson within 3 weeks of the booked driving test. The hour allocated for the driving test will be retained as long as the pupil remains a current pupil, and refunded within 3 weeks if the pupil leaves Watermelon Driving School (hereafter known as 'Watermelon'). If the car becomes un-roadworthy during the driving test no refund or compensation will be given. If the instructor car becomes un-roadworthy during a lesson, the lesson will be rebooked if the problem is not resolved within the lesson. No compensation will be given towards costs incurred, for instance if the pupil is required to pay for travel costs to their drop-off address.  If the instructor cancels the Test Lesson, for instance due to illness, the lesson will be refunded in full or in part if it is not possible to arrange (in full or in part) cover for the lesson or driving test.
     
15. The pupil is considered to be ready for their driving test if and only if, they pass a mock test with one of our instructors. The instructor may use their discretion to offer the instructor car for test. Watermelon holds no responsibility for a pupil not being ready for their test or failing their test. There is no compensation for loss of the DVSA test booking fee due to circumstances arising that lead to loss of the test.
     
16. Every attempt will be made to start lessons promptly. Lessons starting late cannot be cancelled by a pupil unless the lesson starts more than 30 minutes after the agreed start time. If a lesson starts later than scheduled the instructor may arrange to extend the lesson or another lesson, or retrospectively appropriate a previous lesson over-run. If the accumulation of time owed is equal or greater than 60 minutes the instructor will refund one hour, upon request, to reset the balance of time owed.
     
17. Pupils' and clients' use of social media should refrain from making comments that are harmful, hurtful, or harass the instructor and Watermelon Driving School or other iterations. Any comments that are considered to potentially damage the reputation of the instructor or the driving school will be acted upon. Pupils must refrain from comments that are potentially libellous or defamatory when referencing their instructor, driving lessons with 'Watermelon', Watermelon Driving School, or Watermelon Driving Solutions.
     
18. Pupils must send details of their driving licence, check code and driving test (where booked) before the first lesson and at regular intervals, and upon request. Watermelon Driving Solutions and Watermelon Driving School is not held responsible for any licence derivations that prevent the lessons from being delivered. Pupils must inform the instructor of any changes to their licence, points and fines, impending motor traffic offences and any changes to their practical driving test booking. Where these changes are not reported promptly, and at least by the next lesson, this may result in a breach of contract and forfeit of the remaining lessons with no refund.
     
19. A lesson is considered to have been 'delivered' once the instructor has given the pupil driving tuition services during the scheduled lesson, or after 15 minutes have elapsed from the scheduled lesson start time and a pupil is absent. At least one form of communication will be made to contact the pupil to inform them that the lesson has started. A photo will be provided to show that the instructor was at the agreed place at the scheduled time with a copy of the communication kept for records.
     
20. A lesson start time is calculated from the time the instructor has safely parked the car and informed the pupil that they are ready. A lesson finishes when the pupil steps out and leaves the instructor car or the lesson duration has elapsed. Any variation on lesson timings, drop-off or pick-up places must be made by agreement between the pupil and the instructor and may fall outside the contract made herewith if, as a consequence, delivering the lesson is affected by any measure.
     
21. The pupil must make a reasonable attempt to follow the instructor's directions and instruction at all times. If the pupil restricts the effectiveness of the instructor's intervention (verbal, or physical) resulting, for instance, in damage to the car or danger to the public, lessons may be terminated. Any outstanding lessons may be forfeit to recover costs or refunded as if the pupil had cancelled the course of lessons. The instructor will explain in person and in writing with a clear and reasonable explanation.
     
22. Watermelon Driving Solutions will keep your personal data safe and secure and follow regulations and guidelines in how we use this data in the operation of our business. You may request your 'right to be forgotten' in compliance with GDPR principles. For the purposes of safety and best practice we may record video and sound in the car whilst the lesson is taking place. This may be stored in the event of a lesson dispute, road traffic collision, or any other reason, to protect the instructor or business operation. We will seek your written permission beforehand if we intend to record your lesson for any other purpose.
     
23. If you post on social media about your instructor, the driving school or any service you have received we reserve the right to reply and will follow-up on misleading, inaccurate and harmful content. You must obtain permission from your instructor and Watermelon Driving School to post video or sound content about any matter in relation to your driving lesson. We may determine that your comments constitute a complaint and treat it as a complaint.
     
24. Your instructor is not an employee of Watermelon yet is bound by terms and conditions that we require them to follow to deliver services to the standard we have set out from Watermelon Driving School. Your instructor will be a DVSA registered Approved Driving Instructor (ADI) unless we offer you a DVSA registered Potential Driving Instructor (PDI) at a discounted rate. All our instructors are DBS checked at regular intervals in accordance with government guidelines. All our instructors undertake regular biannual CPD.
     
25. We will investigate any complaint. We may need to ask you for more information to assist our enquiries. It may be necessary to suspend lessons until the complaint is resolved. We will let you know of the action that has been taken to address the matter (and any further action relevant to your complaint). You may be entitled to break your contract without penalty. We will communicate with you verbally and in writing to reach a resolution. You may complain to the DVSA about your instructor, or the driving school; we will co-operate fully with any DVSA investigation.
     
26. At various times we may offer discounts and offers which are separate to the main offer and scope of these terms as listed above. Any discounts and offers that you are eligible for will apply after your existing package has finished. Lesson prices are reviewed every quarter and will reflect inflation and current demand for lessons.
     
27. In the event of a road traffic collision the instructor will report the collision. It may be necessary to pass to the insurer, and other parties if necessary, information about you, as the driver involved. Any breach of the Road Traffic Act(s) and any other regulations (in compliance with the law of England and Wales, and the UK) apply to the driver involved at the time.
     
28. To be a current pupil, you must maintain regular lessons without a break of more than 3 weeks. If you return to us following such a break you may be required to undergo a routine eyesight and licence check. Any arrangement outwith these terms and conditions that is agreed between the instructor and pupil may nullify your contract with us and we cannot be held responsible for consequences arising from any such arrangement.
     
29. The wording of the terms and conditions may vary or change from time to time to provide greater clarity. Pupils will be notified of any significant changes and if these represent a substantive change to their contract a range of options will be offered.
     
30. These terms and conditions supersede all previous versions.
     

Watermelon Driving School
WDS24/1804