Immigration consultancy firm penalised for not providing visa

The district consumer disputes redresssal forum here, directed a Phase-1 based consultancy firm to pay `25,000 as compensation to an SAS-Nagar resident for not providing requisite services despite having received money for arranging visa.

The district consumer disputes redresssal forum here, directed a Phase-1 based consultancy firm to pay `25,000 as compensation to an SAS-Nagar resident for not providing requisite services despite having received money for arranging visa.

Disposing of a complaint filed by Rajesh Kumar, a resident of Baltana, district SAS Nagar, the consumer forum directed immigration consultancy firm Rudraksh Group to also refund `2.7 lakh with 9% interest from April 2013 till realisation.

Kumar, in his complaint, said he had approached the consultancy firm for getting a visa to Canada and had paid `2.7 lakh for it. Kumar was assured that his money would be refunded to him in case his visa was not approved. He provided all the necessary documents but the consultants could neither get his visa approved, nor did they refund his money despite repeated requests.

Denying deficiency in services, Rudraksh Group said it was an immigration consultancy firm and was not doing the business of providing visas and sending people abroad. The firm denied having entered into any contract of agreement with the complainant for providing services for a visa to Canada.

The consumer forum, presided over by Madhu P Singh, declared, "Not processing Kumar's case despite having received money is deficiency in service and unfair trade practice. The deficiency of service is writ large."