Course completed but no certificate issued :(

[Odin]

My experience with PADI is similar. I did a DM in 1987 in Jeddah. No paperwork forwarded. Mohammed at Red Sea Divers just pocketed the money. Unfortunately during relocation back to UK I lost the "receipt" he gave me.
Red sea divers said Mohammed no longer worked there and besides being saudi wouldn't do such a thing!
So, I paid for a PADI qualification, never received anything, out of pocket by 1000 Riyals. and PADI cannot/will not do anything because the shop wouldn't produce documentation... No wonder I stuck with BS-AC!
Paul

[scubadoguk]

Originally Posted by Odin

My experience with PADI is similar. I did a DM in 1987 in Jeddah. No paperwork forwarded. Mohammed at Red Sea Divers just pocketed the money. Unfortunately during relocation back to UK I lost the "receipt" he gave me.

Red sea divers said Mohammed no longer worked there and besides being saudi wouldn't do such a thing!

So, I paid for a PADI qualification, never received anything, out of pocket by 1000 Riyals. and PADI cannot/will not do anything because the shop wouldn't produce documentation... No wonder I stuck with BS-AC!
Paul

How was PADI to blame ? The guy fooled you into paying for something he had no intention of giving to you, you lost the only bit of proof you had and the centre had no record of the bloke doing it, do you have any other proof that the guy did any training with you such as signed log books or sections of your training records? if not then you got royally ripped off.

If you took that to court what evidence could you produce of someone being dishonest? unfortunately what you describe happens to divers more and more.

Were you the only one to get ripped off by the guy? If you were not then PADI can prove he was being dishonest by sheer numbers and do some thing on to him on the other hand as you pointed out, the locals may not be willing to put one of there own in bother, so proof must come from other ripped off divers like yourself.

If you have proof i.e. log book pages, any schedules written by the guy just as much proof as you can get it together and send it in then PADI have a duty to you to look into it and if past experience is anything to go by PADI will help you find a local instructor who will help you get certified by at minimum supplying your materials for free to your new instructor what have you to lose.

[divebunnie]

did the centre not issue you with all the paperwork at the end of the course? I know I was given my application to fill out and send off to Padi directly. I must admit, to have taken the time and effort to fulfill a course such as the DM, I would have wanted to ensure that I had more than just a receipt of payment from the centre. But I am guessing that is the last thing you feel like hearing at this point.

As they completed the training with you, it would not be in their interest to just keep the payment without having at least sent off the paper work. They would have paid the instructor for his time, so I am sure would like the certification credit. They should also have your details on record, even though that particular instructor has left. But if you have no further proof of completing the course, then it could become your word against theirs.

Hope you manage to sort it out.

[Odin]

We are talking Saudi in 1987... Brits word against Saudi National

Saudi 1 Brits 0

PADI will not look into it - hence my feelings towards them!
paperwork lost along with other personal possesions including a BS-AC blue book! so only record will have been the shops! As a direct entrant into DM no other records...
So I'm 1000 Riyals poorer, but it did not stop my diving career. just feel PADI could have done a bit more than they did. I was the only person on the course.... so no other back up.
One day Mohammed will have to answer to his god...
Paul

[wreckweasel]

So you're the only person on the course and you have NO evidence of any training (logbooks, receipts or otherwise)? I have to say, were I in PADI's position, I'd ask the instructor and thats as far as I'd go. I suspect any agency in the same position would act much the same.

Write it off to experience chap...

Just to cheer you all up, Im in the same boat with PADI over teaching status. I dread to think what their admin overhead is like. Maybe they'll offer some recompense for loss of teaching status/earnings.

/Zak

[scubadoguk]

Originally Posted by Odin

We are talking Saudi in 1987... Brits word against Saudi National

Saudi 1 Brits 0

PADI will not look into it - hence my feelings towards them!
paperwork lost along with other personal possesions including a BS-AC blue book! so only record will have been the shops! As a direct entrant into DM no other records...
So I'm 1000 Riyals poorer, but it did not stop my diving career. just feel PADI could have done a bit more than they did. I was the only person on the course.... so no other back up.
One day Mohammed will have to answer to his god...
Paul

Sad to say it was between you and the guy then! and there was not anything that Padi could do was there? so why blame PADI and what they could do for you.
sorry wreck weasel got there first

[Odin]

PADI did not even contact the shop!
I did and got no where - would have been nice if they had at least offered to contact the shop!

[Mr T.]

Originally Posted by Odin

We are talking Saudi in 1987... Brits word against Saudi National

Saudi 1 Brits 0

Not a lot's changed today mate.