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Fees and Payments

A place on a course is not booked until the fee has been paid. If you book over the phone and wish to pay by cheque we will reserve your place for seven days to allow time for your cheque to arrive.

You can also pay by:

• Debit card or Maestro (Switch) cards
• Mastercard/Visa (a 1.8% charge will be made for credit card transactions)

In some cases courses can be paid for in instalments. Please contact your local office for details.

The costs of books and other materials are not included in course fees unless otherwise stated.

Help with Course Fees

Minimum Fees

To maintain fee eligibility you must attend the start and end dates of the course and complete 50% attendance or a charge will be applied.

You may be entitled to pay the minimum fee if one of the following applies:

• 16-18 years old and not in full-time education
• Unemployed and receiving Job Seekers’ Allowance
• Receiving income-based benefits including Income Support, Council Tax Benefit and Housing Benefit.
• Receiving, or the partner of someone receiving Working Tax Credit with a household income of less than £15,276
• Receiving Pension Credit (Guaranteed Credit only)
• Receiving Employment & Support Allowance (ESA) – income related only.

Or

• if you are an unwaged dependant (as defined by Jobcentre Plus) of those listed above.

For non accredited courses

• You will only be entitled to one minimum fee per term
• You will be responsible for all associated costs

 Please contact your local office for further details.

Learner Support Fund

If you enrol on an accredited course and would like support with fees and additional costs associated with the course please contact your local office for further details.

Reduced Fees

You may be entitled to a reduced fee (80% of full fee) if the following applies:

• You are over 60 and do not work for more than 16 hours per week and do not qualify to pay the minimum fee.

If you are entitled to pay the reduced fee you will still be responsible for supplying the books and materials needed for your course and for the registration, assessment and examination fees.

Refund Policy

Once a course place has been booked a refund is only available if you inform us, in writing, of your decision to withdraw from a course seven working days before it begins. Your refund will be subject to an administration charge, currently£12.00.

We may cancel courses if insufficient enrolments have been received or if other circumstances beyond our control arise. In these circumstances we will give you a full refund as quicklyas possible. 

For further information: email: sparkacl.response@centralbedfordshire.gov.ukor call: 0808 100 3140.