Archive · 9 Oct 2026
Telangana Commission Orders Consultancy to Refund US Application Fee
A father paid an education consultancy to help his daughter apply to universities abroad.
The consultancy applied to five universities in the United Kingdom.
It allegedly did not apply to the 10 universities in the United States, even though the father had paid for those applications.
His daughter later changed her plans, and her father asked for the unused US application fee back.
The consultancy did not respond to his refund requests.
A consumer commission in Telangana said the consultancy could not keep money for a service it had not provided.
It ordered the consultancy and its director to refund Rs 2,24,200.
They must also pay Rs 10,000 for mental agony and Rs 5,000 for legal costs.
The Ranga Reddy District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission ordered an overseas education consultancy and its director to refund Rs 2,24,200 to a student's father.
The father paid Rs 2.95 lakh in total: Rs 70,800 for applications to five UK universities and Rs 2,24,200 for applications to 10 US universities.
The consultancy applied to the five UK universities but allegedly did not submit the US applications.
After his daughter changed plans, the father sought a refund of the unused US application fee; the consultancy did not respond, and it and its director did not appear before the commission.
The commission also awarded Rs 10,000 for mental agony and Rs 5,000 in litigation costs, finding the non-refund an unfair trade practice under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019.
- Who
- A father, his daughter, an overseas education consultancy and its director.
- What
- The Ranga Reddy District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission ordered a Rs 2,24,200 refund, Rs 10,000 compensation and Rs 5,000 in litigation costs.
- When
- The commission issued its order on September 30; the year is not stated.
- Where
- Ranga Reddy district, Telangana.
- Why
- The commission found that the consultancy did not refund the fee collected for US university applications that it allegedly failed to submit.
Complainant's case
Consultancy's response
US applications and refund
Complainant's case
The father said he paid for US university applications that were not submitted and sought a refund after his daughter changed plans.
Consultancy's response
The consultancy and its director did not appear before the commission; the articles do not report a response from them.
- Refund ordered
- Rs 2,24,200 for US university applications
- Compensation
- Rs 10,000 for mental agony
- Litigation costs
- Rs 5,000
- Total amount paid
- Rs 2.95 lakh
- UK application fee
- Rs 70,800 for applications to five universities
- US applications planned
- Applications to 10 universities; the commission found they were not submitted
- Legal finding
- The non-refund amounted to an unfair trade practice under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019
- Order date
- September 30; year not specified
