Whether a refund is due depends on the promised service, cancellation terms, usage and applicable rules. A “non-refundable” label does not necessarily justify every misleading promise or failure to provide a service.
Coaching, ed-tech subscriptions and recognised formal education should not be treated as legally identical. Whether a matter is maintainable before a consumer forum may depend on the nature of the service and applicable decisions. It is also not correct to apply a college’s UGC refund policy directly to every coaching course.
What should you do now?
- Collect the advertisement, refund policy and counselling messages shown before admission.
- Provide a written account of course delivery, the cancellation date and the amount claimed.
- Raise a grievance with the NCH and check your eligibility to approach an appropriate forum.
Which documents should you keep?
Keep the fee receipt, course terms, advertisements, attendance/access records and refund request.
Avoid this mistake
Do not treat failure to be selected in an exam as a breach in every case involving a promised service; examine the actual assurance given.
A hypothetical example
The coaching provider never started the batch but still withheld the entire fee. This is different from a student simply leaving the course. Records of the admission promises, start date and cancelled classes will clarify the claim.
Does a fixed percentage apply to all coaching refunds?
No. The claim depends on the contract, the status of the service and the relevant rules.
Legal basis and useful sources
- Consumer Protection Act, 2019 — complaints, unfair trade practices and remedies
- Indian Contract Act, 1872 — Sections 27, 72–74, 126–128
- Department of Consumer Affairs — National Consumer Helpline
- Department of Consumer Affairs — coaching fee refunds through NCH, 22 February 2025
This is general legal information. Advice may differ depending on your facts, applicable law and state rules.