Instructor not sending in for C-cards!?

[ZenSquirrel]

Several months ago my friend and I took some courses at our LDS. At the completion of the course, the instructor indicated that we had successfully completed the course and had us fill out info for C-cards and told us that he was sending off for them and that we should get them in a couple of weeks. No problem, sounds just like what happened with my OW card.

A couple months after completing the course my friend and I started to wonder where our cards were. I inquired with my dive instructor and he said that PADI must have lost the paper work. Maybe. But I don't think that it is likely that PADI would have lost 2 drysuit cards, an AOW card, and TDI lost the paper work for two Nitrox cards all at the same time. He said that he would resend the paper work. Wait a couple more weeks, still no cards. I gave the instructor two more photos of my self with a list of all the C-cards he owed my friend and me. He said he would do it right away. I asked again 3 weeks ago and he said, "Yes, yes, I processed those."
It has been about 7 weeks since he "sent off" the last time.

I just contacted PADI and they had no paper work for my Drysuit or AOW. They have no paperwork for my friends Drysuit.

TDI has no paperwork for either of our Nitrox cards.

My instructor has mistaken my easy going attitude and patience for being a push over. Now I'm going to have to
tell him to send in for my C-cards again and I'm not going to be nice about it. Do any of the instructors out there know what my recourses with PADI and TDI are for this situation?

Lastly, for those of you that read this board and know who I am and who the instructor is: This is between me and him. I suggest that you mind your own business and not talk to anybody about this.

 

[Warren_L]

The instructor has no right to withhold certification cards (i.e. by not filing the paperwork for you). I would contact PADI directly and discuss the situation with them.

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

Sadly, it's not an uncommon problem. The agency charges your instructor for C-cards ... and sometimes instructors don't file for them because they don't want to pay the money (even though it's supposed to be factored into the cost of the course).

A similar thing happens when they misspell your name (typically when filing for cards on-line) ... they won't replace them because it costs money to do so.

I agree with Warren ... the best approach (after what you've already been through) is to deal directly with PADI.

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[Drew Sailbum]

When you've filled out the paperwork, did you fill out the blue PIC envelopes for the PADI certs? There is a place for you to sign and a place for the instructor to sign. Should be one PIC envelope for each PADI card.

If you've been filling out the blue PIC envelopes, then PADI should process them when they receive them. The cards would not be isued if, for some reason, the instructor was not in current teaching status.

Instructors are only allowed to withhold cert cards for non-payment of course fees which were agreed prior to the course. If this does not apply, then you should contact PADI directly to express your concerns.

If possible, request that the certifications be processed online. You'll need a digital photo of yourself for the instructor to complete this process. This has the advantage of no "lost in the mail" problems. At this time, only some dive centers are set up to run PIC online - independent instructors cannot process certs this way.

 

[Warren_L]

Good point Drew, forgot to mention that as long as you've paid the agreed upon fees, and you've met all the requirements for certification, the instructor cannot withhold it.

 

[diver567]

I have a lot of experience with PIC card problems. Working as an instructor in a remote location we have many issues making sure that PIC cards get through and get processed. However, we manage to get these problems sorted out with a minimum of hassle.

First, with PADI, it is the instructors responsibility to send the PIC card within 7 days. To overcome local postage problems we started fedexing the cards. Then PIC online came along and made the world much easier. As Drew said this is only relevant for the dive store as individuals cannot yet use this service.

If I were you Zen squirrel I would contact the certification department at PADI email research@padi.com.

As an instructor can I also add that it really riles me that there are still instructors out there giving all of us a bad name purely on the basis of laziness.

I hope you get your certs soon.

 

[OWSI176288]

Several months ago my friend and I took some courses at our LDS. At the completion of the course, the instructor indicated that we had successfully completed the course and had us fill out info for C-cards and told us that he was sending off for them and that we should get them in a couple of weeks. No problem, sounds just like what happened with my OW card.....QUOTE]


Best bet would be to fill out a Quality Assurance Report (attached) and send it directly to PADI Headquarters.

 

[Kestrell]

Several months ago my friend and I took some courses at our LDS. At the completion of the course, the instructor indicated that we had successfully completed the course and had us fill out info for C-cards and told us that he was sending off for them and that we should get them in a couple of weeks. No problem, sounds just like what happened with my OW card.

A couple months after completing the course my friend and I started to wonder where our cards were. I inquired with my dive instructor and he said that PADI must have lost the paper work. Maybe. But I don't think that it is likely that PADI would have lost 2 drysuit cards, an AOW card, and TDI lost the paper work for two Nitrox cards all at the same time. He said that he would resend the paper work. Wait a couple more weeks, still no cards. I gave the instructor two more photos of my self with a list of all the C-cards he owed my friend and me. He said he would do it right away. I asked again 3 weeks ago and he said, "Yes, yes, I processed those."
It has been about 7 weeks since he "sent off" the last time.

I just contacted PADI and they had no paper work for my Drysuit or AOW. They have no paperwork for my friends Drysuit.

TDI has no paperwork for either of our Nitrox cards.

My instructor has mistaken my easy going attitude and patience for being a push over. Now I'm going to have to
tell him to send in for my C-cards again and I'm not going to be nice about it. Do any of the instructors out there know what my recourses with PADI and TDI are for this situation?

Good luck getting your cards. Sounds like nothing was sent in; ever.

Lastly, for those of you that read this board and know who I am and who the instructor is: This is between me and him. I suggest that you mind your own business and not talk to anybody about this.[/QUOTE]

Sounds a bit like a threat.

If you were worried this would get back to your instructor, you probably shouldn't have posted it here; unless you wanted it...

Oh, nevermind.

 

[Kestrell]

Several months ago my friend and I took some courses at our LDS. At the completion of the course, the instructor indicated that we had successfully completed the course and had us fill out info for C-cards and told us that he was sending off for them and that we should get them in a couple of weeks. No problem, sounds just like what happened with my OW card.

A couple months after completing the course my friend and I started to wonder where our cards were. I inquired with my dive instructor and he said that PADI must have lost the paper work. Maybe. But I don't think that it is likely that PADI would have lost 2 drysuit cards, an AOW card, and TDI lost the paper work for two Nitrox cards all at the same time. He said that he would resend the paper work. Wait a couple more weeks, still no cards. I gave the instructor two more photos of my self with a list of all the C-cards he owed my friend and me. He said he would do it right away. I asked again 3 weeks ago and he said, "Yes, yes, I processed those."
It has been about 7 weeks since he "sent off" the last time.

I just contacted PADI and they had no paper work for my Drysuit or AOW. They have no paperwork for my friends Drysuit.

TDI has no paperwork for either of our Nitrox cards.

My instructor has mistaken my easy going attitude and patience for being a push over. Now I'm going to have to
tell him to send in for my C-cards again and I'm not going to be nice about it. Do any of the instructors out there know what my recourses with PADI and TDI are for this situation?

Good luck getting your cards. Sounds like nothing was sent in; ever.

Lastly, for those of you that read this board and know who I am and who the instructor is: This is between me and him. I suggest that you mind your own business and not talk to anybody about this.

Sounds a bit like a threat.

If you were worried this would get back to your instructor, you probably shouldn't have posted it here; unless you wanted it...

Oh, nevermind.

 

[ZenSquirrel]

Good luck getting your cards. Sounds like nothing was sent in; ever.

I've had that feeling since 8 weeks after completing my
drysuit class... :-(

Sounds a bit like a threat.

If you were worried this would get back to your instructor, you probably shouldn't have posted it here; unless you wanted it...

Oh, nevermind.

I'd prefer to think of it as a serious reminder. I just happen to know that there are people that like to make everything their business when it is not. The instructor is going to find out about this one way or the other, I just want to be the person that he hears about it from first.