Damelin Correspondence College [DCC]
reviews and complaints

Enrolled and completed exams for an import export course in 2018/2019

I received results for all but one exam of which they say they cannot locate the paper - because of this I cannot receive my award.

I have been enquiring and asking for assistance or a way forward from 2018 and have not received any feedback

emailed and called numerous times only to be told it has been sent through to the exam department

it has been 3 years with no resolution or investigation on their side

I had written this exam and the venue should have proof of this

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I am highly disappointed at the level of service the Damelin Correspondence College is providing me as a student customer and am discouraged at ever studying through this institute again or even recommending this institute to anyone else.

As a 44 year old single parent with a Matric as my highest qualification, and my profession for years always being a Receptionist/Administrator, I am trying to advance myself from this low paying, non-respectable, dead end career into something better and more fulfilling.

I completed my PA NQF6 Diploma Course in December 2021 and am still to this day waiting for my final statement of results and letter of course completion from Damelin Correspondence so that I may be able to request for my new qualification to be sent to me.

Damelin Correspondence usually holds their graduations in April each year but that does not seem to be the scenario with me.

Since mid January till now, I have sent countless emails and made countless phone calls to Damelin to follow up on the status of my course completion but to no avail. The only response I have received from them is a case number and being told that there is a huge backlog of enquiries but no estimated date of when I will receive my course results. My emails to Damelin are always read but I receive no reply backs from them which is frustrating.

My course was fully paid up in 2020 and all other study fees were paid in full and on time and there is nothing outstanding. They are so quick to take your money but their customer service is extremely poor and agonizingly slow.

An opportunity of an internal skills learnership program which is an NQF4 Business Administration Diploma, has recently been offered through my company which I have applied for, but as part of their application, they are requiring my NQF credits and a copy of my qualification which I can't even provide to them. This qualification would have been my leverage in impressing the training committee when considering all the applications for this learnership bursary.

I feel as if I am hopeless hitting my head against the wall with Damelin, and I am bereaved that I am forced to put my entire career advancement on the line to wait for an educational institute that I have so loyally paid a lot of money to, and that doesn't provide me with the level of service excellence I so deserve as their customer.

Thanks to Damelin, my excitement at receiving my 1st ever Tertiary Qualification has been completely dampened by their Incompetence.

Student number: 409703

I was doing Higher Diploma in HRM with DCC and my account was overpaid because my company paid for my fees this year and they requested DCC to refund me the amount that I paid. They take time to answer their calls and when they do, they don't help you and when I send emails, no one is responding to my emails. I don't know what to do anymore to get my refund. They own me over R14 000

I finished my course last June 2021 as I was writing my 2 last module and I

received my results at the end on August 2021. I then sent an award request to Damelin Correspondence college on the month end of August 2021 in order to receive my certificate but since I have been following up with them but they're not able to deliver and no explanation or what so ever was given to me

Thank you for helping

Bongane Malaza

[protected]

Student number 438583

[protected]@gmail.com

I am very disappointed with this institution. I wanted to upgrade my matric marks and i was looking for a school to do that. I then decided to go to Damelin in Cape town and the gentleman his name was Hyram assisted me. He explained to me that i will have to attend when its time to write tests and he explained to me that there will be classes like a normal matric school regularly and they will also be recorded uncase i miss a class due to work. I then thought to myself this is the perfectly institution because it will accommodate me with classes and that's what i need. He also explained that the timetable and schedule of when i need to attend or write a test will be sent out a month or more in advance. He encouraged me to register before the deadline and before classes begin. He said classes will begin around 15 feb 2022. On the 02 february after we had our conversation he sent me the forms and the contact and advises me that i need to pay the deposit for my application to be processed. I sent the proof of payment on the 04 feb 2022 along with all my documents and i never heard from him or the institution ever since. I started to get worries because i was afraid that classes have started according to what he told me and i still did not get any feedback. On 21 feb 2022 i decided to send an email to follow up on the application, he did not respond to me then i sent another emai and he told me that i should wait to receive an sms from head office with a student number.

On the 3 march 2022 Hyram send me an email saying once i receive my student number from head office i should log in on the dcc website blah blah blah. I then replied to say i am following up as i still have no student number and i am still not registered.

Eventually he sends me a student number and when i log into DCC portal there is nothing about matric on there no material nothing. And i have been enqiring about this being told that it will be escalated.

Around 15march 2022 i see that my matric subjects are appearing and there are assignments due in April. And i saw no classes or recordings whatsaoever. It was all a lie. On the 24 March I then discovered that when i logged in there is a section that was labeled matric learning hub i clicked and i saw that there are ongoing classes and the classes have been going on since 14 february. When i tried to access the classes and the recordings i got an error to say that I'm not registered to perform this action i coldnt access any classes.

I saw there was a livechat feature and i chatted with someone called Vashist and advised that i cannot access any recordings of the classes and that i am missing out and when i gave him my student number he told me that he cannot assist me because i am not registered for Damelin Matric school and i need to contact whoever and i did exactly what he told me, i never ever received a response from that email address. I also sent an email to Hyram to explain what happed and enqired about it, he told me to send an email to support which i did with no response. After 7 days of sending these emails with no response i decided to visit Hyram in the office on the 31 March. I asked him why am i not granted access to classes yet he told me i will receive classes and that recordings will be available. He told me he also does not understand and that he has inquired this with head office they are refusing to give me access to classes. He also told me that he was under the impression that i will get classes that's why he mentioned it to me. I complained and said i have no support and no one to consult if I'm stuck. Exams were going to be a week alway and i still am clueless.

I then told him that it is pointless if they are not willing to give me classes yet they are expecting me to pay 17 000 in fees for the year for what exactly. I might as well just study on my own, i advised him that i would like to deregister. He told me to send him an email and he will send the deregistration form. I did that and sent the forms back on the 1st of April 2022 and i still have no confirmation about what is going on, and today Damelin decides to take the debit order now i am super concerned. I hope you will acknowledge my complaint and assist me to deregister as i don't want to be owing Damelin at the end of the year.

I have been speaking to different people from this institution to pay my refunds after i cancelled my subscription in Feb 2020. I spoke to the following people but realised they are taking me for granted.

Phillip Slatter | Operations Manager

Graig Aziz

Johan Koekemoer

Shakier Achmat

Emails sent everyone these guys but no repsonse, proof attached and i thought i will register in future with Damelin but no way.

Emails:

Good evening Aziz and Phillip,

Kindly advice on the date of the refund as it has been 3 years already.

Regards

Ntopi

From: Mothadi, Ntopi NA (Branch)

Sent: Friday, 04 February 2022 09:52

To: Craig Aziz ; Phillip Slatter

Cc: Leah Makwela ; Johan Koekemoer ; Shakier Achmat

Subject: RE: Cancellation and refund request- Student no.442586

Good morning,

Kindly clarify on what “critical list” mean?

Ntopi Mothadi

From: Craig Aziz

Sent: Friday, 04 February 2022 09:09

To: Phillip Slatter ; Mothadi, Ntopi NA (Branch)

Cc: Leah Makwela ; Johan Koekemoer ; Shakier Achmat

Subject: RE: Cancellation and refund request- Student no.442586

Good day all

Please note that Mr Ntopi’s refund is with our finance department and on the critical list.

Kind regards

Craig Aziz | Student Services Team Leader

Tel: [protected]

E-mail: [protected]@icg.edu.za | www.dcc.edu.za

From: Phillip Slatter

Sent: Tuesday, 01 February 2022 11:57

To: Craig Aziz

Cc: Leah Makwela ; Johan Koekemoer ; Shakier Achmat ; Mothadi, Ntopi NA (Branch)

Subject: RE: Cancellation and refund request- Student no.442586

Hi Craig,

Please can you urgently investigate and advise on the students refund status. Thank you.

Kind Regards,

Phillip Slatter | Operations Manager

Call: [protected]

E-mail: [protected]@icg.edu.za| www.dcc.edu.za

From: Mothadi, Ntopi NA **********

Sent: Tuesday, 01 February 2022 11:51

To: Phillip Slatter

Cc: [protected]@icg.edua.za; Leah Makwela ; Johan Koekemoer ; Shakier Achmat

Subject: FW: Cancellation and refund request- Student no.442586

Good day Phillip,

Kindly assist with regard to a long standing refunds request, I have been referred by Vanessa to you for assistance and please below and attached all emails sent but no answer to feedback was ever provided.

Regards

Ntopi

From: Mothadi, Ntopi NA (Branch)

Sent: Tuesday, 01 February 2022 10:22

To: Shakir.[protected]@icg.edu.za

Cc: 'leah.[protected]@dcc.edu.za' ; Johan Koekemoer ; Lesego Mojadibe ; Johanna Pillay

Subject: RE: Cancellation and refund request- Student no.442586

Good day Shakir,

Kindly noter that I was referred to you for assist with refund due since February 2020 and till date and no one is willing to help.

Please help with my refund.

From: Leah Makwela

Sent: Wednesday, 27 January 2021 11:55

To: Johan Koekemoer

Cc: mathadi, ananias am************ananias.[protected]@gmail.com

Subject: FW: Cancellation and refund request- Student no.442586

Good day Johan,

Please assist my previous student herein with the query below.

Regards,

Leah

From: mathadi, ananias am***********

Sent: Wednesday, 27 January 2021 11:45

To: Leah Makwela

Subject: FW: Cancellation and refund request- Student no.442586

Kind regards

Ntopi Mothadi



From: mathadi, ananias am***********

Sent: Tuesday, 17 March 2020 10:43

To: Lesego Mojadibe

Cc: Leah Makwela ; Johanna Pillay ; [protected]@icg.edu.za

Subject: RE: Cancellation and refund request- Student no.442586

Good day,

Kindly advise on how long I should wait for the response because I still need to give my bursary a letter confirming the cancellation of studies. I am losing so much faith in you institution due to lack of communication and it’s irritating.

Regards

From: Lesego Mojadibe

Sent: Thursday, 12 March 2020 09:18

To: mathadi, ananias am

Cc: Leah Makwela ; Johanna Pillay

Subject: RE: Cancellation and refund request- Student no.442586

Good day

Please note that I have sent through the cancellation documents and they will revert back to you once they have an answer for you

Kind Regards,

Lesego Mojadibe | Student Advisor PTA

Tel: [protected] | Fax : [protected]

E-mail: lesego.[protected]@intec.edu.za | www.intec.edu.za

Disclaimer: This correspondence together with any and all appendices are proprietary, private and confidential and for the attention of the addressee only. If you receive this correspondence in error, kindly contact and advise the author, and

delete all copies of this correspondence from your system as well as any hard copies which may have been printed. If you are not the intended recipient, any act of dissemination, distribution copying, reproduction or placing of reliance on the

contents herein contained is strictly prohibited. We accept no responsibility for any infections or damages that you may suffer as a result of receiving this or any data messages or transmissions. This does not constitute an electronic signature,

to vary any contract.

From: mathadi, ananias am (Branch)

Sent: Wednesday, 11 March 2020 15:44

To: Leah Makwela ; Lesego Mojadibe

Subject: RE: Cancellation and refund request- Student no.442586

Afternoon Ladies,

Any feedback or advice on the progress on the matter.

Regards



From: Leah Makwela

Sent: Wednesday, 11 March 2020 08:13

To: Lesego Mojadibe

Cc: mathadi, ananias am ************

Subject: FW: Cancellation and refund request- Student no.442586

Good day Sego,

Please assist the student herein.

Kind Regards

Leah Makwela | Student Consultant

Tel: +[protected] | Cell: +[protected]| Fax: [protected]

E-mail: Leah.[protected]@dcc.edu.za | www.dcc.edu.za

Disclaimer: This correspondence together with any and all appendices are proprietary, private and confidential and for the attention of the addressee only. If you receive this correspondence in error, kindly contact and advise the author, and delete all copies of this correspondence from your system as well as any hard copies which may have been printed. If you are not the intended recipient, any act of dissemination, distribution copying, reproduction or placing of reliance on the contents herein contained is strictly prohibited. We accept no responsibility for any infections or damages that you may suffer as a result of receiving this or any data messages or transmissions. This does not constitute an electronic signature, to vary any contract.

From: mathadi, ananias am (Branch)

Sent: Tuesday, 10 March 2020 09:36

To: Dcccancellations ; Leah Makwela

Subject: FW: Cancellation and refund request- Student no.442586

Dear DCC,

Kindly be advised that this is a re-sent following a no-reply or an acknowledgement to the below email sent on the 28th February 2020. To make matters worse I have contacted your institution 3 times already, begging a for an acknowledgement but all they can say is “we don’t what happened, please re-sent again”.

I am disappointed at this service received so far

Hope you finds this well and respond timeously.

Regards



From: mathadi, ananias ********

Sent: Friday, 28 February 2020 10:33

To: '[protected]@dcc.edu.za'

Cc: 'ananias mathadi'

Subject: Cancellation and refund request

Dear Sir/Madam

Kindly receive my cancellation and refunds request attached.

Regards

I have registered with Damelin and paid deposit for my books. I never received my books and requested a redund within thr given timeframe. My refund was approvedaccording to them but they never paid me my refund. This has been going on now for 2 years. Nobody assists me. They transfer me from thr one department to the other. I have emailed more than 5 different people. Nobody replies. I need my refund back ASAP

I haven't received any assignments or have received any examination notifications

I have raised this matter to the Damelin Team but even now I haven't got any correspondence after I gave them my issues

My issue now is I need to pay the fees since I didn't attend and its a lot

Good Evening,

Please find attached all emails to DCC, 172 in total I could only attach 62 emails will send the rest this afternoon.

I have also lost a good job opportunity because of Dameline, I this is the right time to get legal guidance.

Below is just a handful Of people I have begs to help me at DCC but thy chose to ignore me.

Craig Aziz Educor

Raquel Lawrence

Nelly Msiza

Nomsa Mafafo

valencia. [protected]@educor.co.za Valencia Antonette Arthur | Customer Care Consultant

Valencia Muthukisten

Jacky Malibo | Programme Specialist Nadia Visser

Gavin Pitt | Student Services Supervisor

Charne Swartz | Client Liaison Officer

Nadia Visser| Student Consultant (Student Support)

JAYSON NAIDOO

DASSIE MOODLEY

I have canceled my DCC subscription due to bad service from DCC mixing me and 3 other Riaan’s up, I received the incorrect books, logons and details with 3 different student numbers.

I did not pay the last premium due to DCC confirmed that thy will refund me instead thy had their laywers haunting me for the 12th payment.

My single point of contact is Charne who is not answering my emails hence me being in this predicament.

3 student numbers received

Since initiation everything has been mixed up incl study material and payments with 2 other students. I am also able to logon on behalf of the other studens which is a breach of the privacy act.

I have also suffered severe loss of income because of this mistake and I would like to find out how you are going to compensate me.

I hereby request a refund in full including interest over the period plus compensation.

I am willing to negotiate the refund/compensation with you.

409828

433458

433320

433458 – Limited study material

409828 – Not my account, I was sent this guys details (POPI breach) How will you pass your IT audit next year if someone else’s information leaked…..

Please see all correcspndance attached.

From: Collections1

Sent: Friday, 05 March 2021 14:37

To: [protected]@outlook.com

Subject: RE: YOUR REF RIAAN VAN DER MERWE DAMELIN-OUR REF EDU00436

Good day Van der Merwe

I refer to our telephonic discussion even date.

Kindly forward your correspondence made between yourself and Damelin College in order to forward same to our client to resolve your matter.

Thank you.

Kind regards,

Nataley Naidoo

Debt Collector

From: Collections1

Sent: Thursday, 04 February 2021 3:33 PM

To: [protected]@outlook.com

Subject: YOUR REF RIAAN VAN DER MERWE DAMELIN-OUR REF EDU00436

Dear Sir / Madam,

Kindly note that your Damelin Correspondence College account has been handed over to CDS Attorneys to collect on outstanding student fees.

Kindly note that the current outstanding balance is in the amount of R756

In order to bring your account up to date, our client requires the full outstanding balance to be settled in full.

Please may you kindly confirm when can the account be settled.

Your urgent response is awaited herein.

Kind regards,

Nataley Naidoo

Debt Collector

It is now 12+ months after the refund was agreed to between DCC and I, yet no refund has been received, nor is the end to this issue in sight.

I am continuously following-up just to hear I am on a critical list for the past 12+ months, yet no refund has been made. It takes more than 3 e-mails to get a generic "your on a critical list" or "its with the refunds department" reply. I am no closer to resolving this than what I was 12 months ago

I have the e-mail proof of the finalization in March 2021 and subsequent e-mails thereafter.

Regards,

JP

I need assistance, Damelin College in Mowbray asked me to do work at their premises on December 21.

It is now over 2 months that I am waiting for them to pay for my services, first I battled to get in touch with the GM who was the one that asked me to do the work.

When I did get hold of him he told me it is their HO that is holding up the payment, emails and calls do not get answered.

Is there someone out there that can assist me with this dilemma?

Thank you and have a lovely day

Damelin Centurion overcharged by adding a module 2 times in my account. After paying the full settlement and reviewing my account as I did not understand why my fees were higher than my classmates I enquired and was told they removed it but they didn't, I filed a refund request of around R10 000 and never received it or any communication about it. I have called several times and emailed yet found no help.

Contact me on [protected]

Or email: [protected]@gmail.com

Good day,

Dealing with Damelin has been a nightmare from day one. From registering for exams to getting results for exams and assignments is extremely frustrating! I submitted assignments in 2018 that I still have not received results for.

Unfortunately due to personal circumstances, I had to ask for extension a couple of times. Due to the fact that I am not receiving feedback and constantly have to follow up, I eventually just gave up and requested a refund. The person assisting me with the refund is Natasha Martin and the service I received from her was great, she tried to assist me to get results and also tried to assist with an extension. Unfortunately her collogues also let her down with lack of feedback and I once again just decided to cut my losses and just salvage what little money I have left and requested for the refund to be processed.

The refund application and supporting documents was sent on 12/11/2021, on 22/02/2022, Natasha confirmed that the refund has been processed and it was sent to finance for payment. On 01/03/2022 I enquired because I haver not received my refund and Natasha replied saying she will follow up. It is now 2 weeks later and still no reply or refund. Several emails was sent to Natasha for feedback with no reply, I also phoned a couple of times with no success. Please let me know what is going on, I just want to get this nightmare over and done with. I will never in my life recommend DCC to anyone!

Long distance studying is hard enough and dealing with an institute that does not care for their students just makes it worse. Please contact me on email or on my cell if you need my student number but I am sure Natasha will also be able to give it to you.

Thanks,

Susan Louw

I have applied for a course a year and a half back. Paid them R22 900. Afterwards I wanted to switch my course. Since then I have called them numerous times and sending email on email. I even been to Damelin in my area. They said They can't help me. They called about the course I applied for but every time I explained to them I want to switch and they said They will get someone in touch with me. Since then no call!

My name is JOHN F MITCHELL student number [protected]

My journey started with Damelin in July 2017 very excited to be here and to experience the student life. In 2019 things started to change where there were no lectures available which my whole grouped left for other universities I stayed behind why I don’t know.

In 2020 thing where upside down all the subjects for 1A and 1B where done instead of getting 2A and 2B, I got 3A and 3B instead , which I complained but got no response from anybody ,told Elisabeth about it on several occasions but nothing was done. One of the Subjects was financial Management which you had to do Financial Accounting 2b first before you can attempt to do financial management which I failed, I told the lecture about this but there was nothing he can do about that. December of 2020 one of my subjects was project management the day I went to write the exam on the notice board was the class number as many other exam before, sat down to write the exam at the last two questions I was tape on my back told me I was in the wrong class, hand in my paper move to the other class where I had to start from the beginning, finally finish my paper.

On the day of collecting my marks for my results everything ells was there but Project management paper was missing, nobody could give me a response on where it is. I had to go back and forth for 3 week to sit on them to find my document.

After 3 week finely got my results which I missed the supplementary test date and this was on Friday afternoon which I was requested to write the exam on Monday which I was not ready, spoke to Manager where he promise me past exam paper just to help me, which never happed which he came up with all the excuses.

The story with business management 3B on the result shows that I got a 53% which is a pass according to them it was signed by the manager and academic manager, Maggie made and error was supposed to be 41%, my question to them was how could this happen and what other mistakes did you not do that the student did not pick up. My classes is clashing told the Manager about it according to him there is nothing he can do about it and this is Financial Management again still did not do Financial Accounting 2B. They want me to pay for a class I cannot attend and which I’m going to fail again.

Told Henk about this, his attitude was it’s a mistake so what. I’m at this point in my life so disappointed and demotivated with Damelin staff that don’t give a dam, People that started with my are starting with their Hones degree at other institutions and I’m stuck with this, do you know how demotivated I am and frustrated, sick because people that don’t give a dam by Damelin.

Spoke to Maggie about my transcripts so that I can move to another institution, this is the second week I’m still waiting.

My Name is John F Mitchell student number [protected].

Last year I was block from writing any test and exams, this was my second year first semester which I ( finish 1st year and third year )I did receive an email from you that you send to Tunga last year ,where you wanted me to finish last year ,but your staff is making it so difficult for me to progress. I am so tired of fighting with Damelin ,I was support to finish last year, I don’t understand I’m bringing my part with full payment and doing my studies ,but Damelin is messing me around and messing with my future, I have lost career growth at my company, I have lost future positions because my company have paid for my studies in full for my premotion but Damelin have blocked me all the way because of my studies.

I have finished second semester second year but I’m still waiting on my results. The confusing part is that on my Damelin app Shows I failed my second semester first year witch I did not even had the opportunity to write the test and exams because I was blocked. On the app it is Information systems 2B I pass, there was business management 3b that I pass to but now its missing ,I wrote Financial accounting 1B that its not even showing that I ever wrote the exam witch I got 83% online, business management 2B showing failed that showed last year and this beginning of this year but I did not even write the exam till January the sub was 18th because exams clash again ,but for the assignment 1 (73%), melty choice 87% , Test /Assignment 78% , I have ask the part time coordinator of Damelin, why did I not receive my results because my work need it for their records ,the response was she will email it to me but to date nothing and today she is not in. I am beyond frustrated, I feel like a total looser from 2017 to date 2022 still issues still problems and I’m still here.

1) Overdue return of three Assignments submitted for marking. viz:-

Educare Didactics N4 D1006159B mailed 5 May [protected] days overdue

Education N4 D10061520A mailed 14 February [protected] days overdue

Child Health N4 D10061521A maoled31 March2021 198 days overdue

2) Many emails to the Assignment Dept. remain unanswered.

3) Very anxious to have these assignments returned as I have applied to write exams and need to know the results of my Assignments.

4) Mail to the Student Services Team Leader remain unanswered

5) I am using the following email address :- [protected]@gmail.com.

Good day

I am so desperate for help and please see transcript that’s added from one of the consultants.

I joined damelin in January 2020 and I enrolled the HR diploma N5 course.

Since then I have had no communication from damelin.

• I have no idea who to speak to

• I don’t know where I need to go to write my exams

• I don’t know where to view my marks obtained

• I cant get through to anyone to explain this to me and my course has been paid already.

I was doing 2 subjects with damelin, after I did my assessments or assignments I was supposed to go and write my exams, however that’s when covid pandemic started and I didn’t have funding for it.

I have since paid my course in full- please see paid up letters.

So I would like to write my exams to continue with my qualification.

Can I please ask that you send me the results for my assignments I have done in 2020 and then tell me what I need to do, if I would like to finish my qualification.

Regards

Denielle

From Mr R. Leballo 7607015609081on behalf of my daughter D Leballo no [protected]

Afternoon Im so dissatisfied regarding how the consultant handled my payments. I registered with Damelin Bloemfontein and paid full amount without discount according to policy.

After settling full payment I was informed a week later that I overpaid fees.

I contacted the accounting section and was informed I will receive my refund after 90 days which it's unfair for me and not my fault but theirs.

These is unprofessional for someone dealing with funds.

These is unacceptable and not my fault

I received a call today from this number [protected],I forgot her name from the Head Office.

She called me telling me to pay the balance of my daughter's fees of which I have signed up for monthly debit order. My balance is R18000...

Alternatively she told me to pay R1009...in order for Bontle to receive her results, otherwise the results won't be released.

I am failing to understand that because my debit order is running every month and I am not in arreas.

Why was I not advised about the SPECIFIC conditions of releasing the results? Where is stipulated?

No one told me about it like they told me about R450 that I had to pay before writing the examination.

I am not happy about that. Student number is 444663.

Hope you find this in order.

Sharol Ramatsetse

[protected]