Terms and Conditions

Registration Procedure

Complete the registration form and return to BLS English by email, fax or post.
Arrange a nonrefundable deposit of £150 for Preliminary Confirmation, or full payment by bank transfer or credit card for Final Confirmation of course.
Please note a deposit will not be enough for us to issue a visa letter - only full fees.
Full fees must always be paid at least 6 weeks before starting your course, unless booking late. Late bookings may be charged a late fee for summer courses.
If a visa is refused, you will receive a refund minus the £150 nonrefundable deposit. However, we must see the visa refusal letter first.
Email or fax us the bank draft details (if appropriate).
Once we have received full fees, we will issue a Final Letter of Confirmation including course details and dates, receipt and homestay name, address and telephone number.
Accommodation special requests are only noted once full fees are received.
If you require our airport transfer service on arrival, please let us know the full flight details as soon as possible.

Payment

All fees are made payable in pounds sterling and all bank charges must be paid by the student.

Bank transfer directly to:

Barclays Bank plc,
P 0 Box 34,
15 Colmore Row,
Birmingham,
B3 2BH
England

Account Name: The Bury Language School Ltd.
Account Number: 20321249
Sort code: 20-07-71
Swift Code: BARCGB22
IBAN: GB19 BARC 20-07-71 20321249

Please note that all bank charges must be paid by you. The school requires a copy of the bank transfer details together with the name of the student. Please fax us a copy of this as soon as payment is made. We accept cheques in sterling drawn on a UK bank. We accept most major Credit Cards - please give the cardholders, full name, address where the card is registered, card number, expiry date and security code (send separately). American Express is accepted with a 2% surcharge.

Terms and Conditions

1. Registration

Registration with a nonrefundable deposit of £150 will receive Preliminary Course Confirmation stating the balance of the fees and the course details. The deposit will be deducted from the course fees.

The balance of the fees is payable no later than 6 weeks before arrival. Students reserving courses less than 6 weeks before arrival should send the full payment with their registration. Once your full fees have been paid, you will receive a Final Letter of Confirmation stating all course details and confirming host family address and telephone number. The student is liable for all bank charges.

Visa letters will not be issued without full fees being paid in advance. Please allow yourself enough time to receive the visa letter. The course fees and deposit are valid only for the person, course[s] and dates specified on the application form.

2. Visa Refusal

If you cancel your course before arrival due to visa refusal or you are refused entry to the UK, we shall refund your course fees in full minus the nonrefundable deposit. We need to see the original refusal letter in order to give you a refund. You must apply for the refund within six months of refusal date.

3. Cancellation before arrival

You must return the Confirmation of Registration and inform the School in writing at least 3 weeks before the start of the course and then BLS English will refund the fees in full less the nonrefundable deposit. If you cancel less than 3 weeks before the start of your course, you will be charged for 3 weeks' tuition and 3 weeks' accommodation (if we have arranged this for you).

4. Changing Course Dates / Postponement of Course

You must tell BLS English at least 1 week before arriving of any change in course dates. Course dates can be changed by up to 2 weeks with a £30 administration charge. Each separate change in dates will receive a £30 administration charge.

If you inform BLS English with less than 7 days before the start dates on your registration form and confirmation letter, you will be charged the first week's tuition and accommodation fees but without administration charge.

Students wishing to start more than 2 weeks later than original course dates must tell BLS English at least 3 weeks in advance and will only be charged a £30 administration fee. If you tell BLS English with less than 3 weeks notice, we are entitled to charge you the full course fees and accommodation fees.

5. Cancelling or postponing Taxi Transfer

BLS English must be informed in writing at least 3 days in advance of original arrival date of any change to the taxi transfer. There will be a £30 administration charge but you will not lose your transfer fee. With less than 3 days' notice, you will lose the taxi transfer fee and need to pay for another.

6. Cancellation or change of the course after arrival

If you need to leave the School after commencing the course, you will be required to give the School 3 weeks' notice in writing. You will be given a credit for the tuition fees for any time remaining after the 3-week period. This credit will be valid for 12 months after the date of issue and is not transferable. There is an administrative charge in line with school rates for any change. Less than 3 weeks' notice will mean the course fee is lost for that time.

7. Cancellation or Postponement of accommodation after arrival

If you need to leave the accommodation after arriving, you will be required to give the School 3 weeks' notice in writing. The balance of accommodation fees will be refunded less the £30 administrative charge. If you give less than 3 weeks' notice, you will be refunded minus this time.

8. Postponement/Holiday after starting your Course

You must give the School 3 weeks' notice in writing of any intended postponement or change to your booked course. Fees can be used as a credit only to pay for a course with a later start date and a £30 administrative charge will be charged. You will be given a credit for the tuition fees for any time remaining after the 3-week notice period. This credit will be valid for 12 months after the date of issue and is not transferable. There is a £30 administrative charge for any change.

Accommodation must be paid for even when students are on holiday. However, if a holiday is prearranged, i.e. discussed at least 3 weeks before arrival, no payment will be necessary as long as all belongings are removed for the duration of the agreed holiday.

9. Changing timetable / class

You cannot reduce your weekly study hours or change from a full time course to a part-time course or One to One class. When necessary, the School reserves the right to alter the timetable and/or transfer students from one class to another, from one time of study to another, and to merge small classes or cancel classes and courses.

Fees may also be subject to change. During busy periods, The Bury Language School may use additional classrooms at separate locations all within Bury St Edmunds.

10. Beginners

If you are a complete beginner we may not have a suitable class. Please inform the School.

11. Accommodation

The accommodation finding fee is not refundable. The accommodation rent is valid only for the person and dates specified. BLS English will only provide accommodation for student registered with BLS English.

All requests to change accommodation dates or location will be charged an additional accommodation administration fee in line with school rates. Any changes of dates must be notified to us in writing at least 3 weeks before the arrival date. Monthly payment in advance of accommodation is accepted with an additional administrative charge payable - in line with current school rates.

We reserve the right to allocate alternative accommodation without prior notification. During busy periods a short bus journey could be necessary. You are expected to pay for this. You will be informed before you arrive. Changing accommodation is only possible at the discretion of the school and is subject to availability. Special requests for accommodation cannot be guaranteed, though BLS English will do its best to make suitable arrangements.

12. Transport

Whilst every precaution is taken to check the quality of service, journeys arranged in hired transport or public transport, although booked by the School, are made entirely at the student's own risk and the School can accept no liability for such journeys.

13. Absenteeism/Tardiness

Students arriving more than fifteen minutes late will not be allowed to join the class, unless the School is informed in advance.

All students are expected to inform the School when unable to attend classes. Missed classes are only rearranged at the School's discretion, and where offered, must be taken within an agreed time scale (the original course duration). Persistent absenteeism will result in a verbal warning followed by a written warning and subsequently dismissal from the course without refund.

14. Age

The minimum age limit is 16. There is no upper age limit. The minimum age limit for Intensive English & Activities Course is 14, max. 18. In special circumstances younger students may be accepted on consultation with other class members.

15. Public and School Holidays

There is no reduction in the tuition fees for the courses which include Public Holidays.

16. Insurance

Students are advised to arrange full insurance cover for health, belongings and cancellation of their course. The School cannot accept responsibility for loss of or damage to student's property.

17. Queries and Complaints

Students must bring to the attention of the relevant staff and queries or complaints immediately for BLS English to be able to deal with them and to help. BLS English will not accept retrospective queries or complaints.

18. Conduct and Behaviour

Students that break the code of conduct or students displaying any unacceptable behaviour will have their course cancelled without refund. The manager's decision is final.

19. Force Majeure

Also known as Acts of God, certain events and occurences are outside of The School's control and so Bury Language School will not be held liable for such events that may disrupt your course, exam, transfer or accommodation. Please check you have adequate personal insurance to cover yourself in such eventualities including but not limited to: war, terrorism, disease, extreme weather, fire, floods, explosions, strikes and acts of state and government prohibiting The School in carrying out its obligations for any booking.