Archive · 18 Aug 2026
Study-abroad firm ordered to refund Rs 11 lakh to student
A woman in India wanted to study at a university in Canada.
She paid a company that promised to help students get admission and study visas.
The company took her money but never paid the university.
It also never processed her visa application.
Because of this, the woman lost her place at the university and missed a whole year of studies.
The company promised to give her money back but only returned a small part.
So the woman complained to a special consumer court in Chandigarh.
The court said the company had cheated her and must give back almost all the money.
It also ordered the company to repay money lost from her investment account and to pay compensation for her trouble.
This ruling means study-abroad companies must do their promised work or return their customers' money.
The Chandigarh Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission found a study-abroad consultancy guilty of unfair trade practice.
The firm failed to deposit a 31-year-old woman's tuition fee at Crandall University in Canada and did not process her visa.
The woman lost her admission to the Master of Management programme and an academic year.
The consultancy had signed a written settlement to refund Rs 11.34 lakh but paid only Rs 1 lakh.
The commission ordered a Rs 10.34 lakh refund plus Rs 46,985, Rs 6,200 and Rs 15,000 for GIC loss, offer-letter charges and compensation.
- Who
- A 31-year-old woman who lost her admission to Crandall University's Master of Management programme.
- What
- The Chandigarh Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission ordered a study-abroad consultancy to refund over Rs 11 lakh for failing to process a Canada visa and deposit tuition fees.
- When
- The complaint was filed after the woman approached the consultancy in 2023; the commission's order is dated July 21.
- Where
- Chandigarh, India, where the consumer commission heard the case; the university is in Canada.
- Why
- The consultancy failed to deliver the promised visa and admission services, causing the woman to lose an academic year, and then did not honour its written refund settlement.
- Forum
- Chandigarh Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission
- Complainant
- 31-year-old woman
- University
- Crandall University, Canada
- Programme
- Master of Management
- Relief ordered
- Rs 10.34 lakh refund, Rs 46,985 GIC deduction, Rs 6,200 offer-letter charge, Rs 15,000 compensation
- Settlement
- Rs 11.34 lakh agreed, of which only Rs 1 lakh was paid
- Order date
- July 21