Speaking of fraud...

In early November 2021 I took the CFSC/CRFSC courses facilitated by Target Sports, with Leslie Swan instructing. As far as I was aware at the time, everything was as expected during the three days, I completed the required four exams with results ranging from 94%-100%, I sent off my application to the CFP/RCMP and my RPAL was issued in early March.

Last week I called the CFO-ON to check on the status of a restricted transfer and was advised that there was an issue with my safety training instructor and as a result, both my training and subsequently my license were invalid and was directed to contact the Firearms Safety Education Service of Ontario - the body that trains and accredits firearms safety course instructors in Ontario.

The FSESO informed me that Swan's designation and his license to teach the courses had been revoked - in August of 2021 - yet he had continued to teach the courses through December of 2021. Target Sports continued to book students for Swan's classes during that time, taking deposits from them and slotting them into a scheduled class.

The net result of this is all students, which could possibly number in the hundreds, who took their safety training with Swan after August 2021 have nothing to show for it & will be required to retake the training at their own expense, having wasted their original course fees paid to Target Sports for the deposit and Swan for the balance.

PLEASE SEE THE LAST POST IN THIS THREAD BY JR: ANYONE AFFECTED BY THIS PLEASE REACH OUT AND YOU WILL RECIEVE A FULL REFUND!

What a Cluster F*c. There's ways to get your $ back. I hope you & everyone does, & maybe more! This 'instructor' guy needs to get sued.

Small claims court possible in Ontario?

Target Sports should reimburse and go after SWAN themselves, they hired him.

Helka said:

Target Sports should reimburse and go after SWAN themselves, they hired him.

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totally!

Also, since you can just 'Challenge the Test', w/o taking any cless, & since you send them in yourself..so in a way, it shouldnt really matter about the "Instructor", per say, as long as you passed, it's a Standard Gov test...hmmm..I dunno.

wow talking about being scammed

Johnyy said:

Also, since you can just 'Challenge the Test', w/o taking any cless, & since you send them in yourself..so in a way, it shouldnt really matter about the "Instructor", per say, as long as you passed, it's a Standard Gov test...hmmm..I dunno.

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Test challenges were ended a number of years ago.

I feel your pain. Years ago when I decided to upgrade to an RPAL I got in touch with a certified instructor who did the exams out of his converted house. I couldn't meet any of his scheduled test dates due to work and him being out of town so he graciously accommodated my schedule and I did the exam. I was actually surprised how tough he was on the practical stuff but I passed with a 96. He warned me about the wording of some questions and I walked right into a couple! Anyway, all good and fast forward a year later AFTER I've purchased a couple handguns and I go to by a Mosin M44. The vendor says my PAL has been flagged! Within a week of that notification while I'm trying to figure out what's going on I get a letter from the CFO at the time Chris (kiss my ass I'm glad you're gone) Wyatt. Apparently my instructor was under investigation for letting students call out answers on the exam to let everyone then write them down and due to this investigation my licence was on "administrative hold". I called someone at the CFO office and told them what had happened. I was then informed that my licence was valid but could not be used to acquire anything at all until I retook the exam for free. I explained that there was no impropriety during my exam as I was the only student and it was one on one. NOPE! Had to rewrite it or my licence would remain unusable indefinitely. After some nasty letters were sent to Wyatt's office I resat the exam with a sanctioned examiner and left with a perfect score. That experience left a bitter taste for the whole damn firearms bureaucracy in this country.

Helka said:

Target Sports should reimburse and go after SWAN themselves, they hired him.

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+1. You took the course in good faith that the instructor's credentials and / or registration was current and valid. It is interesting as any course I have taken in the past - I never once thought "hmmm...is this guy or gal qualified, licensed and vetted to teach this?", especially if it is through a larger facility that employed him or her.

The onus is on the facility to ensure that their instructors' credentials are valid. Definitely Target owes their students a full refund.

Funny how a date on some piece of paper can somehow invalidate the class and what was taught But ya Target should be rebooking people with a new instructor to get the proper date on the piece of paper

Effective 2015 taking the safety course(s) has been required with no option to challenge the tests.

Johnyy said:

Also, since you can just 'Challenge the Test', w/o taking any cless, & since you send them in yourself..so in a way, it shouldnt really matter about the "Instructor", per say, as long as you passed, it's a Standard Gov test...hmmm..I dunno.

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I hope Target Sports does the right thing keep us posted

They have been entirely unresponsive to two emails sent regarding this. It's as though they think if they don't acknowledge it, it'll all go away.

Helka said:

Target Sports should reimburse and go after SWAN themselves, they hired him.

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I will not even consider dealing with that business

Is it an option to reach the instructor ? He is the one that started that mess by not renewing his credentials.
But..first..was he aware of his loss of status ? Did Target knew ?

Leave the fuxxin emails and take the phone.

It was not a matter of the instructor not renewing his credentials. His license was revoked by the organization that trains and designates all firearms instructors in Ontario. He knew.

Janeau said:

Is it an option to reach the instructor ? He is the one that started that mess by not renewing his credentials.
But..first..was he aware of his loss of status ? Did Target knew ?

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handofzeus said:

I feel your pain. Years ago when I decided to upgrade to an RPAL ....... I was then informed that my licence was valid but could not be used to acquire anything at all until I retook the exam for free. I explained that there was no impropriety during my exam as I was the only student and it was one on one. NOPE! Had to rewrite it or my licence would remain unusable indefinitely. After some nasty letters were sent to Wyatt's office I resat the exam with a sanctioned examiner and left with a perfect score. That experience left a bitter taste for the whole damn firearms bureaucracy in this country.

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That sounds like a bully street cop's tactic to me. It is a failure in the Firearms Act that named the CFOs but no one to supervise them.

Johnyy said:

Also, since you can just 'Challenge the Test', w/o taking any cless, & since you send them in yourself..so in a way, it shouldnt really matter about the "Instructor", per say, as long as you passed, it's a Standard Gov test...hmmm..I dunno.

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If the instructor was known to help people pass the exam then it would invalidate all the licenses he gave out...

Wow.. this is crazy. I took my course with Leslie Swan in 2021 as well (luckily a few months before this) and he was an excellent instructor. A bit old school but thorough nonetheless. Hope you come to a good resolve on this one.