i agree that if they cannot tell you their background, experience and curriculum - something is deeply wrong.

but there's a more basic issue here.
progression.
the way things are done.

the way the vast majority of folks do this stuff is as follows. we get training in wilderness skills - like skiing, backpacking, climbing, kayaking, or mountain biking (to name a few). then we start going on out day trips and weekend trips. then we do tons more trips. then maybe we get extra training. then even longer trips. so by the time that we come to do a "Survival Class", we already have a lot of experience. and we also have some practical experience in what it feels like when things go wrong - meaning we got lucky and survived our screw-ups. this experience is what helps us to judge whether the survival course and instructor really meets our needs.

therefore, Bingley, my suggestion is to delay the survival course and choose courses in outdoors skills. some of these courses talk about certain survival issues anyway. after you build your time outdoors, you will be better prepared for the survival class.

Pete2