1 month ago
Mother Wins Rs 1.2 Lakh Refund After School Denies Fee Return
A mother paid Rs 90,000 for her two children's admission to a school in Gurugram.
The next day, she asked for a refund because her family's relocation plan changed due to financial problems caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The school refused, saying its fees were non-refundable.
The mother took the school to the District Consumer Commission, which ruled in her favor.
The commission said the school had not started any educational services, so it had to refund the fees plus compensation and litigation costs.
This decision shows that schools can't keep fees if they haven't provided any services, even if their policy says fees are non-refundable.
A mother paid Rs 90,000 for her two children's admission to GD Goenka Signature School, Gurugram.
She requested a refund the next day due to a change in her family's relocation plan caused by financial issues from the COVID-19 pandemic.
The school refused the refund, citing its non-refundable fee policy.
The District Consumer Commission ruled in the mother's favor, ordering the school to refund Rs 90,000, plus Rs 20,000 in compensation and Rs 11,000 in litigation costs.
The commission emphasized that no educational services had commenced, making the school's refusal to refund a deficiency in service.
- Who
- A mother of two children and GD Goenka Signature School, Gurugram
- What
- A dispute over the refund of admission and registration fees after the mother cancelled the admissions within 24 hours
- Where
- Gurugram, Haryana, India
- When
- The request for cancellation and refund was made on January 30, 2021, and the order was passed on July 15
- Why
- The mother's relocation plan was cancelled due to financial circumstances arising from the COVID-19 pandemic, leading her to request a refund, which the school denied based on its non-refundable fee policy.
Mother's Perspective
School's Perspective
Refund Policy
Mother's Perspective
The mother requested a refund within 24 hours of payment, before any educational services commenced, and thus should be entitled to a refund.
School's Perspective
The school argued that its admission and registration fees were non-refundable under its refund policy, which the mother accepted at the time of payment.
Service Commencement
Mother's Perspective
The mother emphasized that no educational services had started, and the academic session had not begun, making the retention of fees unjustified.
School's Perspective
The school maintained that the fees were non-refundable as per the agreed terms, regardless of whether services had commenced.
Key facts
- Complainant
- Mother of two children
- School
- GD Goenka Signature School, Gurugram
- Amount Paid
- Rs 90,000
- Refund Awarded
- Rs 90,000
- Compensation Awarded
- Rs 20,000
- Litigation Costs
- Rs 11,000
- Date of Order
- July 15
- Consumer Helpline
- 1915 (National), 1800-180-2087 (Haryana)
Quotes
President Sanjeev Jindal
Chairperson of the District Consumer Commission, Gurugram
“So much so, even the interview for admission of the complainant’s children had not been held by the school nor the school had asked the complainant for the submission of the requisite/official documents in respect of the complainant’s both the children such as previous school leaving certificates, date of birth certificates and the mark sheets of the previous classes etc., which were inevitably mandatory for any admission process.”
indianexpress.com
Sources
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