In 2022, a Kerala woman cleared IELTS and mortgaged her property for a promised UK job; consultancy retained Rs 18.89 lakh from a Rs 20 lakh loan despite failing to arrange visa; consumer panel orders Rs 19.49 lakh refund | Kochi News
KOCHI: A woman in Kerala who mortgaged her property to finance a promised job in the UK was left without employment and facing loan liabilities after an overseas recruitment consultancy allegedly failed to deliver on its assurance. The Pathanamthitta District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission has directed the consultancy firm and its associates to pay her Rs 19.49 lakh, including Rs 18.89 lakh retained from a loan raised against her property, Rs 50,000 in compensation and Rs 10,000 towards litigation costs.The woman, a divorcee raising two children, had approached the consultancy in 2022 after completing a healthcare assistant course and clearing the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) examination. She was looking for an opportunity to work in the UK. The consultancy agreed to arrange a job visa for Rs 13.50 lakh. When she told its representatives that she could not afford the amount, they allegedly suggested raising the money through a chitty loan from the Kerala State Financial Enterprises (KSFE).Under the arrangement, she was asked to mortgage her property against a chitty scheme registered in the name of one of the consultancy’s associates. She was assured that the loan instalments would be paid only after she found employment abroad.Trusting the promise, she handed over her property documents. The consultancy subsequently arranged a loan of Rs 20 lakh against her property, although the agreed cost of securing the UK job visa was Rs 13.50 lakh. The woman had initially paid the firm Rs 2.50 lakh on May 31, 2023, and received an offer letter. The amount was later returned after the loan was secured. The consultancy also paid Rs 10,266 towards an outstanding loan she had with another bank and gave her Rs 1 lakh for her children’s education.However, she questioned why a loan of Rs 20 lakh had been raised when the agreed amount was considerably lower. She alleged that the consultancy failed to arrange the promised visa and stopped responding to her calls. When she visited its office, she learnt that several other people had also allegedly faced similar problems.She subsequently approached the consumer commission, alleging deficiency in service and unfair trade practices. In its October 15 order, the commission noted that none of the consultancy’s representatives appeared before it.The panel noted that the woman had approached the consultancy after seeing an advertisement on Facebook in 2022. The firm provided assistance to people seeking employment overseas and operated through several associates and employees. The commission also recorded that the woman had lodged a police complaint against the consultancy’s representatives. They subsequently agreed to release her property documents after clearing the outstanding liabilities.However, the consultancy defaulted on the chitty loan repayments. KSFE issued a registered notice to both the firm and the woman, asking them to clear the dues under the scheme registered in the firm’s name. The panel found that the woman had received only Rs 1.10 lakh from the loan arrangement, including the amount provided for her children’s education. The remaining Rs 18.89 lakh was retained by the consultancy and its associates. The commission directed the firm and the other opposite parties to refund Rs 18.89 lakh to the woman within 30 days. It also ordered them to pay Rs 50,000 as compensation and Rs 10,000 towards the cost of proceedings.
