LOST R18 000

Good Day To whoever can help me, I will be much appreciative. In 2020 I app**** to enroll with Damelin to study an NQF 6 in HR. Since I am full time employed, I obviously went for distance learning through DCC. I emailed and got in touch with a young lady by the name of Katlego, she was extremely helpful throughout the registration process, even when I had a few hiccups she added me onto her personal WhatsApp to communicate with her. I did a deposit of approximately R8 500 to reduce installments for my studying. I gave it a few days but did not hear of any confirmation or a student number. I phoned Katlego to follow up on my enrollment but was only met with rude and vague responses. I eventually asked to speak to a supervisor/ team leader and was told there was no one at the office at that current moment. Things turned into a heated argument and Katlego blocked me from “irritating her “, I eventually got an email with a confirmation of a student number. You would think I’d be happy for getting this, but this fueled my anger as the letter had someone else’s details and student number. I emailed her AGAIN, she sent the correct details. Again, you would think I am happy, but no. Although I had a student number, I could not log into the student portal, tried to phone the offices, and was referred to student support. I had spoken to at least five different people in connection with the issue and all could not assist and just kept forwarding the call to another colleague. I was told by a few that when they searched my student number, I was not listed on the data base. So, what did that mean? Was I not enrolled as I was promised? Eventually after all the poor service I had received, I decided to cancel and go ahead with Milpark (great recommendation just by the way). I phoned the KZN offices (as this is where it all happened), KZN staff kept redirecting me to JHB offices and vice versa. Between JHB and KZN, no one could assist me. This carried on for a few months, on one day, I had spoken to thirteen different people in one hour between KZN and JHB and waiting to get through to someone. Explaining my situations thirteen times on this day. Eventually I was left helpless, until I came across another man who previously worked for the Damelin accounts department. I asked him what I could do and explained my situation, he himself told me that I need to cancel with the accounts department and their accounts department was a **** show (his words not mine). I then tried to get in touch with someone from the accounts department. I received a response and was so happy that someone would help me, however they needed my student number which I did give in. BUT I NEVER HEARD FROM THEM AGAIN. So, I decided to go through the process again, I even lost hope of getting any of my deposit money back and just wanted to stop dealing with Damelin. At this point this was my second appeal to cancel, what could go wrong? Of course, the worst happened, COVID had hit South Africa. I never heard back from anyone, I tried to phone the offices, but no one was in due to COVID. Surely you would think they would work from home. But no, no assistance again. By this time, I had relocated to Cape Town, we were hit hard with level five so obviously I would not be going to any offices to deal with someone. After some time, as restrictions eased, I was ready to take this on again. My father had even phoned to arrange for us to go to the campus and find out if there is anyone we could speak to. But we were denied from coming through as it was covid and only students were allowed on the premises. After this, all hope was lost. I could not even manage to go anywhere during the weekday as I am a frontline worker. Getting a day off was difficult, I had not even taken any leave the previous year. 2021 was the first time I had leave, but I eventually got COVID and was very ill for about a month before returning to work. Afterwards I had two weeks of leave which again, I used to recover from covid. I was shocked to have now been informed that I owe R10 400 and had to pay it within five days or I would be handed over to legal and would be blacklisted with all credit bureaus. I PAYED THE MONEY, to protect myself and credit score. Even though I had been poorly serviced and did not gain an ounce of knowledge from Damelin. I don’t even know what their student portal looks like. In total I have now lost a little over R18 000 from this. I am a young person who just wants to study and make a good future for herself. Yet I feel like I have been ******. Hard earned money that will not be given back. All because no one could help me.