7 hours Ago By Shariq Majeed
Ludhiana: The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission has ordered an IELTS centre to refund Rs 5,000 to a customer after it failed to do so after he cancelled the visit to Canada. The commission also ordered Sophiya IELTS centre , opposite the DC office in Sangrur in Punjab, to pay composite compensation of Rs 3,000 to the complainant Prem Chand of Manakwal in Ludhiana. As per the complaint, the complainant hired the services of the opposite party (which deals in Visa Assistance ) for a visa for himself and his wife for the purpose of meeting their son Rohit Grover residing in Canada.
The opposite party claimed Rs 35,000 for visa process in two installments with full refund, in case, the complainant cancelled the visit to Canada within one month. According to the complainant, he paid the first installment of Rs 15,000 on Aug 24 2022 and remaining Rs 20,000 was to be paid at the time of finalising the documentation by the opposite party within one month from the date of receiving first installment. The complainant provided all the requisite documents for the visa of Canada but before signing and process of visa, the complainant cancelled the visit of Canada due to some unavoidable circumstances and even the opposite party was informed after a week about cancellation of visit to Canada.
The complainant said that firstly the opposite party refused to refund Rs 15,000 but thereafter, it refunded Rs 10,000 to the complainant on Sept 8 2022. But the remaining amount has not been refunded. The complainant sent a legal notice dated May 12, 2023 upon the opposite party but no reply was given by it.
Hence this complaint, whereby the complainant has prayed for issuing directions to the opposite party to refund Rs 5000 with interest and to pay a compensation of Rs 25,000 and litigation expenses of Rs 5,500. Upon notice, none appeared on behalf of the opposite party despite service and as such, they proceeded against exparte vide order dated Sept 4 this year. The commission heard the exparte arguments of the counsel for the complainant and also went through the complaint, affidavit and annexed documents produced on record by the complainant.
The commission observed that the opposite party has failed to refund the entire amount to the complainant causing financial loss to the complainant. It held that the exparte evidence has gone unrebutted as the opposite party has not chosen to contest this case and has been proceeded against exparte. The commission observed that there is deficiency in service and unfair trade practice on part of the opposite party, whom it ordered to refund the remaining amount of Rs 5,000 to the complainant within 30 days from the date of receipt of copy of order, failing which the complainant shall be held entitled to interest at the rate 8% on the said amount from the date of order till date of actual payment.
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