ECDL certificates

[bibblebub]

Back in March I took the ECDL in Office software and passed the exams. But I am still waiting to receive the certificate. I've just been back to the training establishment where I took the course and yet again their response is that they haven't received them yet and they [the certificates] are just starting to filter through. Incidentally the fees were all paid back in January so there are no factors on my side that add to the wait.

Is this delay in receiving ECDL certificates a national problem i.e. has anyone taken an ECDL this year and received their certificate? Or is this just a problem with the local school?

[Count-A-Strong]

From their own website:

Q.How soon after completing the last ECDL exam will I receive my ECDL certificate?

A.You should receive your ECDL certificate within eight weeks of completion. There may be a delay for candidates who do not have a MOD logbook Number (MOD numbers always start with UK 0000 4XXXXX), or who have only taken some of the seven module exams with MEMC.

Q. I have been waiting for longer than eight weeks for my certificate why have I not received it yet?

A.Your certificate will have been sent to the address on the Test System when you took the last test. It will have gone by recorded or registered post. If you think you should have received it then please contact the DELC Service Desk. We will then check our records and will report back as to whether your certificate has been received by MEMC and when it was sent to you. If it has already been sent and should have been delivered we can track and trace your certificate.

Q. Why haven't I received my ECDL Essentials and/or ECDL Extra certificate?

A. These certificates will be sent out within six to eight weeks of completion of the appropriate modules. Please contact us if you have not received your certificate after 9 weeks.

[bibblebub]

Which website did you get that from?

If I go on to the ECDL foundation site then it says the ECDL in the UK is operated by the British Computer Society, and the only people who would have had any direct contact with either of those organisations would the place where I took the ECDL.

[Count-A-Strong]

I googled 'ECDL certificates delays'

[bibblebub]

Thanks but that is specifically for the MOD who probably have more clout than a local centre.

[saxy_jag]

GCSE and A level results come in faster. Five months is well out of order.

If it's a private training establishment, tell them - in writing, preferably - that you will sue them in a small claims court if they do not provide you with the product you have paid for. In the same letter, tell them you will also write a formal letter of complaint to the BCS.

If it's a local college, go direct to the board of trustees/governors. Believe me, this will get things done!

[bibblebub]

It's been 3 months since the exams and if other people haven't had such a long time to wait then I might follow it up. But that's why I wanted to hear from anyone who's actually taken the ECDL this year to be sure that it's a problem with this particular centre and not something that's been happening nationally

[saxy_jag]

I have recently been offered an ITQ qualification, also accredited by BCS and apparently set to take over from it as a standard qualification, so I don't know whether they perhaps have their priorities a little askew.

[bibblebub]

Just a footnote to say that I received the certificate today, that's 13 weeks and 2 days after sitting the last exam.