Paid Rs 1.5 lakh for a Poland job that never came; Kerala firm ordered to pay Rs 1.75 lakh

NEW DELHI: A district consumer commission in Kerala has directed an immigration and education consultancy to refund Rs 1.5 lakh to a man who paid the amount for a promised job in Poland but did not receive an offer. The commission also ordered the firm to pay Rs 20,000 as compensation and Rs 5,000 towards litigation costs, holding it guilty of deficiency in service and unfair trade practice.In its October 1, 2026, order, the commission directed the firm to refund the money with 10 percent annual interest from July 27, 2024, the date of the last payment.Why did the man pay Rs 1.5 lakh for a job in Poland?According to the commission order, the complainant, Akash, approached Global Pass after seeing advertisements on social media offering jobs in Poland. The consultancy allegedly assured him that it would secure a job as a CNC operator within a few months and promised to refund the amount if it failed to arrange the job.Akash entered into an agreement with the firm on April 1, 2024, which was signed by both parties on April 2. He initially paid Rs 50,000 as a processing fee.The agreement stated that the total amount payable for securing the job was Rs 3.75 lakh, excluding visa application centre charges, insurance and air tickets. It also provided for a processing period of five to six months and promised a refund if the firm failed to fulfil its part of the agreement.The complainant alleged that the firm later told him that the job was almost ready and demanded another Rs 1 lakh to be remitted to the embassy as the job visa was nearly ready.He transferred Rs 50,000 on July 26, 2024, and another Rs 50,000 the following day through Google Pay, taking the total payment to Rs 1.5 lakh.However, the firm did not arrange the promised job, according to the complaint. Akash said he repeatedly contacted the consultancy to find out the status of the job offer but received excuses instead of a resolution.He also told the commission that his ITI and experience certificates, which he had submitted as directed by the firm, remained in its custody.Akash later sought a refund, but the firm did not return the money. He approached the consumer commission seeking repayment with interest, compensation for mental agony and hardship, and litigation costs.What did the consumer commission find?The bench comprising President Vinay Menon V and members Vidya A and Krishnankutty N K examined the agreement and the complainant's bank statements to establish the payments made to Global Pass.The commission noted that the agreement provided for a refund if the consultancy failed to secure the promised job. The bank records showed that Akash had transferred Rs 50,000 initially and made two further payments of Rs 50,000 each in July 2024.The commission observed that the agreement clearly set out the refund condition if the firm failed to fulfil its commitment.“As per Ext.A1, the complainant had agreed to pay Rs.3,75,000/- excluding the VFS charge, insurance and ticket price for getting the job at Poland,” the commission said.The firm did not appear before the commission or file its version despite notice. It was therefore proceeded against ex parte, meaning the case was heard in its absence. The commission, however, required Akash to establish his case through evidence.After examining the agreement and payment records, the commission found that the complainant had paid Rs 1.5 lakh but had neither received the promised job nor obtained a refund.“From the evidence adduced, it is clear that the complainant had transferred an amount of Rs.1,50,000/- to the opposite party,” the commission said.The commission also noted that the firm had failed to fulfil its commitment despite receiving the money and had not returned the amount as promised under the agreement.“The opposite party also failed to refund the amount as per Ext.A1 agreement in case of failure to secure the assured job,” the commission observed.Holding that Akash had established his case, the commission directed the firm to refund Rs 1.5 lakh with 10% annual interest from July 27, 2024, and pay Rs 20,000 as compensation for deficiency in service and unfair trade practice, along with Rs 5,000 towards litigation costs.Final orderThe District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, Palakkad, in its October 1, 2026, order, allowed the complaint and directed Global Pass to:Refund Rs 1.5 lakh to Akash, with 10 percent annual interest from July 27, 2024, until realisation.Pay Rs 20,000 as compensation for deficiency in service and unfair trade practice.Pay Rs 5,000 towards litigation costs.The commission directed the firm to pay the amounts within 45 days of receiving the order. If it fails to comply, it will have to pay an additional Rs 500 for every month or part of a month from the date of the order until final payment.