Just a waste of money!
This is likely too late for you...
By seven years, it would seem.
---------- Post added February 9th, 2015 at 08:55 AM ----------
This is the total opposite of my experience, the OW elearning was excellent, especially the new version, the site worked fine, payment went through fine, I had a query and got a fast and helpful response from PADI EMEA in London. Any dive shop is fully aware of elearning and should NOT charge you the full price for OW or AOW courses...
There needs to be some clarity around this statement, because whether or not a shop should "charge you the full price" really depends on how their course is priced in the first place.
If a shop's "full price" includes books and materials then they should not include those costs for elearners. However, many shops will price their courses assuming "home learning" whether book or online, and even list the cost of materials separately. If they do this, then the cost for "the course" might not change for e-learners.
Frankly - I'd never advise anyone to go to "elearning" directly to sign up for a course. Go to - or call - the shop and make sure you understand what you're signing up for, what's included, and what's not.