The Department of Consumer Affairs (DoCA) has successfully facilitated refunds amounting to ₹1.56 crore for more than 600 aspirants and students in the education sector.
These individuals, who were previously denied rightful refunds by coaching centres despite adhering to the terms and conditions, have now received compensation for unfulfilled services, delayed classes, or cancelled courses.
The relief was made possible through the intervention of the National Consumer Helpline (NCH), which provided a streamlined process for dispute resolution. The swift action by the DoCA has ensured that students do not bear the financial burden of unfair business practices.
The Department has instructed all coaching centres to adopt a student-centric approach, mandating clear and transparent refund policies. It has also emphasized that denying legitimate refund claims will no longer be tolerated, urging educational institutions to uphold consumer rights.
In addition to securing refunds, the DoCA is committed to strengthening the complaint redressal mechanism and educating students on their consumer rights, empowering them to take action against unfair treatment. The NCH has proven to be a vital resource in resolving grievances, preventing the escalation of disputes, and offering an effective alternative to formal legal proceedings.
Several positive outcomes from the grievance redressal mechanism were highlighted, showcasing the impact of the DoCA’s efforts:
- In Chennai, a consumer received a refund for deficiencies in hostel services.
- In Rajkot, a consumer’s refund was facilitated after being denied a seat in a psychology workshop.
- In Jamshedpur, a JEE aspirant received a refund after the institute denied their course purchase.
- In Vellore, a consumer received a refund after leaving campus due to unmet service promises.
- In Kota, a student received a refund within four days after the institute failed to process it.
- In Korba, a consumer received a refund for a school course that did not meet expectations.
- In Aurangabad, a consumer received a refund for a civil services course due to unavoidable circumstances.
The Department of Consumer Affairs continues to advocate for student rights and encourages all students facing similar issues to utilize the National Consumer Helpline for quick resolution.
