3 weeks ago
Kerala nursing student wins refund over failed UK job promise
A woman in Kerala, India, wanted to work in the United Kingdom as a carer and housekeeping staff.
She gave a recruitment agency a lot of money, Rs 6 lakh, because it promised to find her a job and get her a visa.
The agency took her money but never gave her the visa or the job.
Then the agency stopped answering her calls, turned off its phones, and closed its office.
The woman had borrowed the money from others at a heavy interest rate, so she fell into severe debt.
She filed a police complaint and took the agency to a consumer court.
The consumer court protects people from unfair business practices.
The court said the agency cheated the woman and must return her Rs 6 lakh, plus interest.
The agency also has to pay Rs 35,000 extra as compensation.
The court gave the agency 45 days to pay.
A Kerala consumer commission ordered recruitment agency S. J. International to refund Rs 6 lakh to a nursing diploma holder over a failed UK job and visa promise.
The commission ruled the agency's conduct amounted to a deficiency in service and an unfair trade practice.
The woman paid Rs 6 lakh in installments on March 27 and May 22, 2023, after being promised a senior carer/housekeeping job in the UK.
The agency stopped answering calls, switched off its phones, and closed its office; an FIR was filed at Kollam West Police Station on July 6, 2023.
Proceeding ex parte, the commission ordered a refund with 12 per cent annual interest from May 22, 2023, plus Rs 35,000 as compensation and litigation costs.
- Who
- A Geriatric Nursing diploma holder from Kerala and S. J. International, a recruitment agency run by a married couple.
- What
- The consumer commission ordered the agency to refund Rs 6 lakh with interest and pay Rs 35,000 for failing to deliver a promised UK job and visa.
- Where
- Kollam, Kerala, India.
- When
- The commission's order was issued on July 29; payments were made on March 27 and May 22, 2023, and the FIR was filed on July 6, 2023.
- Why
- The agency collected Rs 6 lakh but failed to process the promised visa, stopped responding, and closed its office, which the commission called a deficiency in service and unfair trade practice.
Key facts
- Refund ordered
- Rs 6 lakh with 12% annual interest from May 22, 2023
- Compensation and litigation costs
- Rs 35,000
- Recruitment agency
- S. J. International, run by a married couple
- Complainant's qualification
- Diploma in Geriatric Nursing
- Promised job
- Senior carer/housekeeping staff in the UK
- Payments made
- Rs 3.5 lakh on March 27, 2023 and Rs 2.5 lakh on May 22, 2023
- FIR
- Filed at Kollam West Police Station on July 6, 2023
- Compliance deadline
- 45 days from the order
Quotes
Kollam Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission president S K Sreela
Commission president overseeing the case
“"The illegal withholding of the complainant’s hard‑earned and borrowed money for the opposite parties’ unlawful enrichment has shattered her career aspirations, plunged her into severe debt, and inflicted continuous mental harassment, anxiety, and insurmountable hardship, necessitating immediate and comprehensive legal redress."”
indianexpress.com
“"The emotional and practical hardship inflicted upon the complainant is catastrophic, as the enormous sums of money handed over to the opposite parties were not personal savings, but huge amounts borrowed from others at substantial financial burden and obligation."”
indianexpress.com
Sources
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