A driving instructor has been taken off a website after accusations of keeping hundreds of pounds from a student.
The Courier revealed last week that The Passing Place, operated by Ken Melville was threatened with legal action over claims he refused to refund customers after cancelling lessons.
Now the website used by learner drivers to find the company, GoRoadie.com, has removed Mr Melville from the site – which works similar to TripAdvisor but for driving instructors.
A spokesman for the site had previously threatened The Passing Place with expulsion and action was finally taken after fresh allegations were made by a student who says Mr Melville still owes her £400.
Chloe Douglas said she paid the cash up front for 20 lessons last November but claimed that she has only had one 75 minute lesson with Mr Melville since handing over the money.
She said: “This was all happening around my university exams and looking for another flat so stressed wasn’t even the word. I’d saved up for my lessons. It was so disheartening.”
Ms Douglas said she is now considering taking Mr Melville to the small claims courts.
Earlier this month, we told how Ninewells nurse Ms Scott, 25, paid Mr Meville £100 upfront for five lessons, only for him to cancel the second session, blaming faults with his car.
The instructor finally put money through her letterbox after she had complained to GoRoadie.com and contacted The Courier.
GoRoadie co-founder Michael Carr said: “We have been focusing on protecting students for a long time. Our ultimate goal is to connect driving instructors and students to give learners the best opportunities.
“We want students to pass faster and be amazing drivers – to do this they need to feel secure so we are making this our top priority.
“This has never happened with any other driving instructor on GoRaodie. We regularly request students to review their instructors and to let us know if there are any issues.
“We are committed to helping students feel safe. In light of recent events, we have already started exploring more ways we can add security to protect students.”
Mr Carr added that instructors are contacting them to sign up and the new online business is approaching its 500th booking. They have started roll-out their service to Glasgow.
Mr Melville was approached for comment.
