English institute takes Ukrainian couple for a ride

BANGALORE: They came all the way from Kyiv to learn English in Bangalore. But Kovalova Natalia and his wife, both Ukraine nationals, ended up getting lessons in India’s consumer protection law. This thanks to a legal battle thrust upon them by a local institution that promised to teach them English.

The Ukrainians successfully fought for their right and won compensation of Rs 55,000 and refund of Rs 35,000 they paid as fees to the institution to ‘learn English’.

The couple moved the 3rd additional district consumer disputes redressal forum in January this year against the head manager, English Center, based in RT Nagar and Kammanahalli.

In their complaint, the Ukrainians alleged: “Classes were being conducted by incompetent and untrained teachers and there were no adequate equipments to teach.”

They alleged that when they made a specific complaint with the head manager, English Center, at RT Nagar they were asked to cough up an additional Rs. 70,000 ‘to get good-quality education’.

The couple had contacted the institute following an advertisement on a website in which it claimed to be the ‘largest training institute imparting various levels of English-learning courses’.

“We came to Bangalore on the promise of the opposite party (authorities of English Center) about the quality of teaching. We incurred heavy expenditure for air fare, lodging and boarding. We also paid Rs 35,000 towards the course fee for two persons,” their complaint stated.

In its order, a bench of president T Rajashekhariah and member HM Shivalingappa noted: “Classes were being conducted by incompetent and untrained teachers. Had the opposite party not promised good-quality teaching, the complainants wouldn’t have joined the course. Hence, on account of deficiency in service, the complainants were put to inconvenience and financial loss.”

The court on August 7, 2012, directed head manager, English Center, at RT Nagar and Kammanahalli to pay the complainants within 30 days Rs 35,000 (fee amount), Rs 50,000 as compensation for causing inconvenience and depriving the duo from availing quality course and Rs 5,000 as cost towards litigation.

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