DAMELIN College has been accused of infringing the rights of students, misleading them and also of disregarding the National Credit Act.

Five students accused Damelin of degenerating into a fly-by-night educational institution.

Gugu Mazibuko, who had registered for an introduction management project in February, said she had only received only one textbook for the R8,000 she paid.

She said she had not received confirmation of registration or a student number and only a letter and an SMS that she was in arrears, although she does not owe Damelin anything.

Last Monday, Mazibuko threatened in an e-mail to report Damelin to the Department of Higher Education.

She also said that her company had paid her fees and would not do so next year if she did not pass. She did not receive her study materials and could not write her June exams.

The Ntombela sisters are in the same boat. Hlengiwe enrolled for a diploma in public relations and Lungile for a diploma in human resources in January . They paid R2,972 and R5,080, respectively.

"We were told to wait for two to three months for our study material. That did not happen," Hlengiwe said.

"Louisa Mandlazi told me my study material had been posted, but there was nothing for me at the post office when I enquired."

She said that after many attempts, she turned to the principal. Then she received an e-mail confirming her exam dates.

"But how can I sit for exams when I have no study material?" she asked.

Posting her complaint on Hello Peter.com prompted them to call her, with more empty promises, she said.

Nomkhitha Sabula said Damelin was disregarding the provisions of the National Credit Act. She said her husband Stanley went to Damelin to get a quotation for a course she wanted to study.

The person who served Stanley Sabula said they did not issue quotations, but told him to complete an application form for a quotation.

"My husband did so and the agent processed the form and debited our account without authorisation," she said.

The NCA provides that a credit provider cannot enter into a contract with a consumer unless given a pre-agreement statement and a quotation setting out the principal debt.

The quotation remains binding for five days.

The Sabulas complained and Damelin acknowledged the error and promised to refund them within two months, but never did.

Last week, another R2600 was debited from their account and on enquiry she discovered that her complaint and cancellation was never logged, she said.

"I had to start the cancellation process all over again.

"Why should I suffer because of their untrained and misleading agents?" Sabula asked.

Glenda Makgeledisa shares a similar complaint.

She received one textbook out of seven, a notification to register for exams and a reminder that her account was in arrears, she said.

"But there is money in my account," she said.

She too does not have a student number.

Pensioner John Setsiba from Polokwane is battling to recover the R20000 he paid for fees for his son for the 2010 academic year. In March last year, he paid R40000 for 2009 and 2010.

His son's first year of study was not successful and he failed, said Setsiba.

"Due to my ailing health I advised my son to cancel with Damelin and register at a technikon near home."

He asked to be refunded R20000 for the 2010 fees and sent all the required documents to Damelin's Durban head office.

"I have left umpteen messages for Fatima to call me back," said Setsiba.

Dale Chaplin of Damelin said he would investigate each complaint personally and give Consumer Line and the students feedback.

"If Damelin or Damelin Correspondence College has not delivered on the service that was agreed on, then we will honour a refund, but if a student has defaulted on the agreement contract, then obviously we cannot be held liable for anycancellation/refund claim by the student," Chaplin said.