Struggling with Refunds from Coaching Institute report to NCH
NCH recently facilitated refund of more than ₹ 1 cr. to Aspirants/ Students of various coaching institutes
The National Consumer helpline settled all this account before the matter goes to the court for settlement thus giving a big relief to the aspirant. These student were under going the coaching for various exams such as Civil Services,JEE Advanced and other entrance exam.
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NCH initiated a drive to resolve these grievances on a mission-mode to facilitate a total refund of 1 cr. to affected students from the total demanded refund of 2.39 Cr till date.
It received numerous complaints registered in the National Consumer Helpline regarding unfair practices by various coaching centres especially not refunding the enrolment fees of the students/ aspirants,
The number of complaint grew in the past three years as the data reveals that during a short span of 12 months i.e. 2023-2024 – 16,276 numbers of students reached out to NCH, once their requests were declined/ rejected/ not specifically redressed to their satisfaction by coaching centres. The analysis of data repository also revealed/highlighted an increasing trend in the numbers of dissatisfied students/consumers lodging complaints at NCH.
Last three year figure
2021-22- 4815
2022-23-5341
2023-24-16276
In 2024, already 6980 students have reached out to NCH for speedy redressal of their grievances at a pre litigation stage.
Table showing Consistent increase in the number of grievances registered at NCH from year 2021-2024
NCH Cases
One such came to NCH from Bengluru who had taken a study loan of Rs 3.5 lacs to take admission in a management course offered by an institution from Lucknow. He was forced to opt out of the course on account of unreasonable delays in commencement of course.
Even after multiple follow ups, the refund was not granted. Distressed by loan EMIs and inability to enrol anywhere else due to paucity of funds, he approached NCH and was granted refund on department’s intervention.
In another success story belongs to a student from Bharuch, Gujarat who was granted a refund of 8.36 lacs paid for enrolment once NCH stepped in.
1915 helpline number
Students must note down this number whenever they face such situation as these students who received their refund used this helpline number or registering their grievances at the portal namely “www.consumerhelpline.gov.in”.
The Department of Consumer Affairs launched the National Consumer Helpline (NCH) to disseminate information on issues pertaining to consumers and promote consumer welfare. Department extended this service with the launch of Integrated Consumer Grievance Redressal Mechanism (INGRAM) portal : a pre-litigation platform maintained and monitored by NCH for consumers to get their complaints and grievances addressed directly by the companies.
It may be mentioned that CCPA took up class action against malpractices of misleading advertisements and unfair trade practices and has also penalized several Coaching Centres on several occasions. These initiatives reinforced DoCA’s commitment and contribution to empower our society by supporting students as a consumer class.
Smt. Nidhi Khare, Secretary of DoCA, stated, “We are dedicated to safeguarding the rights of consumers, especially students who invest their precious time and resources in pursuing their dreams. This action reaffirms our commitment to ensure that coaching institutions adhere to fair practices and honour the rights of consumers.” and emphasized that coaching institutes must present facts truthfully and honestly by clearly and prominently disclosing important information so that consumers can not only notice it easily but also take more informed choice. She underscored the significance of consumer rights and the responsibility of advertisers to ensure they provide accurate information.
“Mandatory pre-litigation/ ODR cases involving e-commerce claims, small cause claims and cheque-bouncing issues can be resolved before they reach the courts system. This is extremely critical for Indian judiciary, which has a burgeoning case-load”
Moreover, the department has directed coaching centres to adopt a more student centric approach and ensure transparency in course offerings and assured quality standards in the sector. This proactive stance not only supports affected students but also sets a precedent for improved practices within the education sector, ensuring that coaching institutions prioritize transparency and accountability in their operations