I enroled at Open Colleges for a course that has a total of 13 units to be completed over a maximum of two years. I was paying on a weekly basis. They sent me materials for two units.
Later on, I decided to withdraw from the course but they asked me to pay the whole course fees referring to a 7 days cooling off period in the contract that they made me sign. I thought cooling off period should apply on the two units for which the college has incurred costs as many higher education institutions also apply census dates on semesters/trimesters rather than on the whole course. I have expressed my concern and asked them for withdrawal without paying full course fees. My request was unsuccessful and I stopped the payment.
Subsequently, debt collectors have been handling the case and recently a solicitor sent me a letter as a final reminder before a possible legal action.
Is the way Open Colleges enforces its cooling off period fair under Australian consumer law? What would be the efficient way for me to proceed?
Later on, I decided to withdraw from the course but they asked me to pay the whole course fees referring to a 7 days cooling off period in the contract that they made me sign. I thought cooling off period should apply on the two units for which the college has incurred costs as many higher education institutions also apply census dates on semesters/trimesters rather than on the whole course. I have expressed my concern and asked them for withdrawal without paying full course fees. My request was unsuccessful and I stopped the payment.
Subsequently, debt collectors have been handling the case and recently a solicitor sent me a letter as a final reminder before a possible legal action.
Is the way Open Colleges enforces its cooling off period fair under Australian consumer law? What would be the efficient way for me to proceed?