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Complaints Policy

Version: 1.0
Updated:
18th April, 2023

At Shift Driving School, we strive to provide the highest quality of service to our customers. However, we understand that there may be occasions when a customer may wish to make a complaint. We take all complaints seriously and aim to resolve them promptly and fairly. This policy outlines the process for making a complaint and our commitment to resolving complaints.

Making a Complaint
If you have a complaint about any aspect of our service, you can raise it with us by:

  • Speaking to your driving instructor or a member of our office team in person or over the phone
  • Emailing us at complaints@shiftdrivingschool.co.uk
  • Writing to us at Shift Driving School, 15 The Workspace, The Fed, Lancaster Road, Gateshead NE11 9JR

When making a complaint, please provide as much detail as possible, including the date and time of the incident, the name of the instructor or staff member involved, and any other relevant information.

Complaints Procedure
Once we receive a complaint, we will acknowledge it within 48 hours and provide you with an estimated time frame for resolving the issue. We will then investigate the matter thoroughly and provide you with a written response within 10 working days. In some cases, we may need to take longer to fully investigate the issue, in which case we will provide you with regular updates on the progress of the investigation.

If you are not satisfied with our response, you have the option to appeal the decision within 7 working days. To do so, please provide us with a letter outlining the details of your appeal. This can be sent via any of the methods listed above. Your appeal will be reviewed by a member of staff who was not involved in the original investigation. They will provide you with a final response within 10 working days.

We hope that we can resolve any complaints or issues you have with our service through our internal complaints procedure. However, if you are still not satisfied with the outcome after following our complaints procedure and receiving a final response from a senior member of staff, you have the right to escalate your complaint to the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) by clicking here.

Please be advised that you are at liberty to contact the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) directly at any stage during the investigation, and are not obliged to engage our services as an intermediary. However, we earnestly implore you to grant us the chance to resolve any concerns internally before escalating the matter, as we are dedicated to providing our customers with the utmost standard of service.

We take confidentiality seriously and will only share information about your complaint with those who need to know in order to investigate and resolve the issue. We will keep a record of your complaint and our response in accordance with our data protection policy.

We value all feedback, including complaints, as an opportunity to improve our service. We will review all complaints and use them to identify areas where we can improve. We will also share feedback with our team to ensure that we are constantly striving to provide the highest quality of service to our customers.

Zachary H.
2 weeks ago
I passed my test yesterday and Simon my instructor was a huge part of that. He was extremely helpful and supportive, very approachable and always had time for my questions and queries. I’d absolutely recommend Shift and Simon to anyone who wants to pass their test and enjoy the process along the way!
Jack M.
2 weeks ago
I passed my driving test over a week ago through Shift and my instructor, Ciaran, was extremely helpful throughout the entire process. Would recommend for any learners who'd like to learn thoroughly and succeed in their driving test!
Dominic P.
3 weeks ago
Amazing service and Phil was a first rate instructor. I rang and had lessons later that week. I've had several instructors over the year but Phil made me feel at ease and taught me so many things of thers didn't. Passed my test after a few weeks of teaching. Can't recommend this school high enough. Thanks again Phil!
henx
1 month ago
Thank you shift and thank you Majid, Majid was a brilliant instructor, helped me every step of the way so i could pass me test with great lessons and support.
Theodora C.
1 month ago
Had a great experience with Shift, got assigned an instructor quickly and Ciaran has been absolutely brilliant. He always stayed calm, explained things really clearly and was incredibly patient with me, especially when I was anxious about something. It made the learning process fun and I passed first time thanks to his efforts!
NE Driving S.
2 months ago
Ismail A.
2 months ago
Amazing experience with Majid. Couldn’t recommend more, passed with ease and would come back if I could.
Aidan S.
2 months ago
I'd definitely recommend shift to anyone in Gateshead/Newcastle. My instructor was Paul Malone, and he done a brilliant job getting me ready for my test. Paul was always good at fitting in lessons around my schedule. Also enjoyed the friendly banter and easy-going attitude during lessons.

Cheers Paul and shift driving school for getting me on the road 👍🏽
Fauhan L.
2 months ago
Lewis was a great instructor and very patient. He helped build my confidence and I passed first time. Highly recommend!
Sam C.
2 months ago
Highly recommend, Lewis is a lovely guy and very patient instructor. Just passed test today