OLCI courses -

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Join Date: Apr 2009

Posts: 12

Hi Gazham,

If that thread was for me, I am still struggling, I had one offer of getting boiler installs from someone on here, but heard no more, I have tried hundreds of companies in kent and now london, started looking at MLP's where a training company has their own engineers or uses a parent or sister companies engineers.

A company in westgate called cts wanted £500 per day - total rip off, I am on jobseekers allowance of £64.30 per week another in bromley want £3450 and I might have to take the two week gas course again and take the ACS with them even though I have paid olci for it, I have already forked out £9385 for the 6129-22 & 6129-33, ACS, 6089 level 2 & 3, unvented, water regs & part p.

Olci have said I have to complete all appliances in my portfolio (cen,ckr,htr & wtr) total of 25 I am being turned down for employment because I live too far (30 minutes) away from British gas (2 jobs) Swale heating (3 times no vacancies) and a company in london again too far away.

My advice to anyone wanting to take gas is, if you don't know someone that will help before you take your course go to a trainer that has their own engineers don't use any training company that does not, that will teach all the companies that give us all the spin and lies. I have written to summitskills telling them that the industry needs changing, total amatures taking large sums of our money leaving many no better off.

Did you say you had finished your on-site experience?

 

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Join Date: Jan 2009

Posts: 8

Vman - I‘ve posted on here a few times about OLCI. I know there are a few on here who didn’t have the best of times with em but not got a bad word to say on them. As I’ve said before, I did an 8 week intensive course to get my 6129 in Manchester a while back now. Was really happy with the centre, sound facilities, good equipment and great guys on the course, tutors and trainees included. The tutors could never do enough to help and would always answer your questions. Seen a few moans about there sales but I found them pretty helpful, knew what I needed to do to get where I wanted and got no gripes about how they sold it to me, never felt pressured or anything and knew what was included and what wasnt. Never had any issues with the admin side either. Did my NVQ as part of the package so had to arrange the onsite assessments through them and had no problems. Didn’t need to get a placement or anything with them (had something lined up) so can’t say much on that but I’ve heard from a few of the other guys I was with that theyd managed to get them something so maybe they’ve sorted that side of it out. You’re right that you do need experience after youve done the course, you learn a lot once you get out there and start doing it for real but when your starting from scratch a course like this will get you all the basics you need, and I think you could do a lot worse than OLCI to be honest, heard a lot of horror stories about some of the other outfits around!

 

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Join Date: Jul 2009

Posts: 6

ENT GIVEN UP YET ! its cost far too much to give up im just contacting every local plumber an offering my services free of charge just to get it finish but no ad any luck yet .......

 

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Join Date: Nov 2009

Location: Essex

Posts: 1

I did the 6129 and 6089 Level 2 a couple of years ago with OLCI. At the time i was skint, in a job i hated and was just getting depressed with life. Had to beg steal and borow to get the deposit for the course. Best thing i ever did.

It takes time but im starting to build a business of my own and its working well. Keep plugging away (pardon the pun), never give up, you'll get there.

Cant knock OLCI at all, i'd recommend them any day.

Best of luck to all

 

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Join Date: Sep 2009

Posts: 7

Hi Shrek
read you post about OLCI Courses. How did you get your paractical bits signed off. The course people suggested i do a hot and cold feed. e.g plumb 2 bathrooms in. I am trying to improve my life but am getting no where any suggestion will be very grateful Gary Essex

Hi shrek posted a reply to you on the general page, them remember how to post in private! How did you get your practical bits signed off any suggestion would be grateful Gary Essex

 

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Join Date: Jan 2010

Posts: 16

OLCI, where do I start, courses ok, tutors good, office staff worse than useless, complaints proceedure waste of time, nothing ever happens.
Yes I am running my own Plumbing & Heating business, but no thanks to OLCI, I was lucky in finding someone for the ACS portfolio, for the C & G side I had experience, I see alot of guy's struggle to get through it.
Wouldn't recommend them to my worst enemy, well actually I might if the hastle I went through is anything to go by. They lost my C&G folder for 6 months, but that was my fault, even though I hand delivered it and got a receipt. Sold me the ACS course as a no portfolio required one, paid up front, when I got to London was informed I needed 36 jobs to complete a portfolio, asked for the money back, response, basically, get lost, we've got your money, what ya gonna do about it !
I wasn't the only one to have problems, even some of the tutors left because they'd had enough.
OLCI, unless they've improved in the last 3 years, beware
P.s you will need to buy some books, the course material isn't enough for the exams or the real world.

 

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Join Date: Nov 2009

Posts: 11

I’m training with olci now, got another workshop this weekend and most of that sounds way wide of the mark Rusty. As you say, the tutors are good and my training going really well if im honest, good facilities at the centre and no complaints with the admin either - did my level 2 and always got my assignments back fine, no problems with booking or getting results. never needed any extra books during the course, so not sure what you mean. Signed up to do acs further down the line as well and they were very clear about the portfolio. Thing is, wherever you do our acs you’ve gotta have it and you must have known that?! Anyway, if what your sayings true, it definitely isnt like that now, I can tell you that much.

 

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Join Date: Jan 2010

Posts: 16

I hope it continues that way for you, I just spoke as I found it. If they have improved its about time and at least then we didn't suffer and prod them into action for nothing.
On the ACS front, I did know there was a portfolio on other courses, that's why I asked them about it before signing to the OLCI course, the sales guy assured me there wasn't one on their course, I therefore paid the money. I wasn't the only one caught on this.

 

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Join Date: May 2009

Posts: 12

Hi mate,

How did you find assessment 1, what did it entail?