Stitch Up

[telco]

I used the visa company (name removed) to do my vaf 4a visa application, I paid then £650.00 up front for which I received the vaf 4a application form ( which is a free download ) to fill in, thats all, due to illness I could not go ahead with the application so I applied for a refund. less any disbursments, to which a flat refusal to a refund was the reply, I understand that the form is easy to fill in so save your money.

Edited August 30, 2010 by 7by7
See below

[theoldgit]

You don't say which office you used or where the visa was for, but as you are in the UK and the form to which you refer is for a settlement visa then I assume that to be the case.

I suppose it depends on the terms of the contract you have with (name removed), did you have a written agreement with them? Did their terms and conditions make it clear that there would be no refund of the deposit whatever the reason, as harsh as it seems they do have to protect themselves from tyre kickers but £650 does seem a bit extreme.

If I were you I would tell them that if they don't at least refund a reasonable proportion of the deposit taking into account any remuneration for work done, you intend make a complaint to the regulatory body, OISC, The Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner, and you are sure of ground then make a complaint. You will see from the link that they will take up complaints about the charging of unreasonable fees and/or charging for work not done, but they cannot obtain refunds or negotiate compensation.

I suppose it all depends if OISC have enough teeth for (name removed) to be concerned.

Good luck.

http://www.oisc.gov....gration_advice/

Edited August 30, 2010 by 7by7
See below

[telco]

You don't say which office you used or where the visa was for, but as you are in the UK and the form to which you refer is for a settlement visa then I assume that to be the case.

I suppose it depends on the terms of the contract you have with (name removed), did you have a written agreement with them? Did their terms and conditions make it clear that there would be no refund of the deposit whatever the reason, as harsh as it seems they do have to protect themselves from tyre kickers but £650 does seem a bit extreme.

If I were you I would tell them that if they don't at least refund a reasonable proportion of the deposit taking into account any remuneration for work done, you intend make a complaint to the regulatory body, OISC, The Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner, and you are sure of ground then make a complaint. You will see from the link that they will take up complaints about the charging of unreasonable fees and/or charging for work not done, but they cannot obtain refunds or negotiate compensation.

I suppose it all depends if OISC have enough teeth for (name removed) to be concerned.

Good luck.

http://www.oisc.gov....gration_advice/

Edited August 30, 2010 by 7by7
See below

[ThaiVisaExpress]

Check the terms of business was they going to prepare and submit the application for you ?

[mickscottatlanta]

Too many sharks. I did their visa wizard. Not luck

Edited August 30, 2010 by mickscottatlanta

[telco]

Check the terms of business was they going to prepare and submit the application for you ?

As I said all I got was a vaf 4a fom and you have to fill it out for them, I was under the impression that for £650 this would all be done for you, like I said it was a stitch up, be very aware read the small print first before you part with any money, typical London Asian run company.

[theoldgit]

So are you going to challenge them?

Just making a racist remark such as "typical London Asian run company" isn't particularly helpful, I for one have tried to help, but you replied just quoting my reply, what do you want to do?

[telco]

So are you going to challenge them?

Just making a racist remark such as "typical London Asian run company" isn't particularly helpful, I for one have tried to help, but you replied just quoting my reply, what do you want to do?

[/q

I didn't mean to make a racist remark. I must have been temporary off the mark due to the Pakistani cricket scandal over here, as for doing anything about it I will mark that down to experience.

[ThaiVisaExpress]

Seems strange you are going to write off £650 ?

[theoldgit]

Seems strange you are going to write off £650 ?

A agree, I would tell them you are going to approach OISC and if that fails to jolt them, then actually do so.

[ThaiVisaExpress]

As the company cannot defend themselves due to data protection etc, I don’t think an open forum is a place to discuss this complaint I’m sure they are covered by the terms of business etc.

I'm sure the above company have a complaints procedure in place; I would suggest you put your complaint in writing to them.

Edited August 30, 2010 by ThaiVisaExpress

[7by7]

The terms and conditions of the company concerned, which presumably the OP agreed to before paying any money, contains

You agree that if you are unsatisfied with the service provided to you by (name removed) or if you have a dispute or grievance with (name removed), a member or members of its staff, affiliates or related companies, you shall not discuss your dispute, grievance or dissatisfaction in any published form, including but not limited to posting on website

Therefore to protect this site, and the OP, from any possible action the name of the company has been removed.

Please do not name the company concerned in any further posts.

[ThaiVisaExpress]

Example

REFUND POLICY

As soon as payment is made, the Client is deemed to have engaged the Service of ........... Any request for a refund will be considered at the discretion of ......... if your request is received prior to their commencing work on your case and within twenty-four (24) hours of the payment being processed. After this time however, please note that no refunds will be provided even if you are unable to apply for any visa(s) or the UK sponsor and/or the applicant decide not to continue with the application for any reason whatsoever.

Once any work has commenced on your case a refund will not be considered in any circumstances even if notice from the Client is received within 24 hours of the payment having been made

[Mercury]

So there you have it. No explanation of what "work" the company could possibly have done, even in such a short period as 24 hours, to justify refusing a refund, even in part. Quite what work could justify a fee of £650 I do not know but fools and their money are often easily parted.

Stitched up ? £650 for a form ? sure but caveat emptor and in the world of visa agents, doubly so.

[Thongkorn]

If you are telling the truth , just name the company ,It is not libel,as long as it is the truth , Why do you not just do it yourself, many people on this site have done in the past with very good results , You can get all the information you need from here , There are many learnerd men and lady's on this site who are quite happy to furnish you with the knowledge you need.

[theoldgit]

^^^

The OP did name the company but it was deleted "to protect this site".

Edited August 31, 2010 by theoldgit

[Tee2008]

Example

REFUND POLICY

As soon as payment is made, the Client is deemed to have engaged the Service of ........... Any request for a refund will be considered at the discretion of ......... if your request is received prior to their commencing work on your case and within twenty-four (24) hours of the payment being processed. After this time however, please note that no refunds will be provided even if you are unable to apply for any visa(s) or the UK sponsor and/or the applicant decide not to continue with the application for any reason whatsoever.

Once any work has commenced on your case a refund will not be considered in any circumstances even if notice from the Client is received within 24 hours of the payment having been made

And this is an example from which company ?

[mojo80]

Example

REFUND POLICY

As soon as payment is made, the Client is deemed to have engaged the Service of ........... Any request for a refund will be considered at the discretion of ......... if your request is received prior to their commencing work on your case and within twenty-four (24) hours of the payment being processed. After this time however, please note that no refunds will be provided even if you are unable to apply for any visa(s) or the UK sponsor and/or the applicant decide not to continue with the application for any reason whatsoever.

Once any work has commenced on your case a refund will not be considered in any circumstances even if notice from the Client is received within 24 hours of the payment having been made

personally i never use any agencies for any types of visa's, you will find google has all the information you need to point you in the right DIRECTION TO AVOID unnecessary costs at your expense.

[telco]

^^^

The OP did name the company but it was deleted "to protect this site".

The company which cannot be named (deleted) as I said before I had to abandon the application due to illness and as over 6 weeks had passed they were asking for another £200,00 to continue as they were saying it had a 6 week window, all these thing come to light later, as I said previously it was a stitch up, what with visa's costing 33,488 Baht, all in all it stinks like rotting fish.

Edited September 1, 2010 by 7by7
Attempt to identify the company deleted. Final warning to everyone; any more attempts to identify the company will result in the poster concerned being suspended.

[telco]

It was reported the other week that a Dutch flower lorry pulled in to Covent Garden market and and 22 young moslem women climbed out the back all carrying suit cases and just melted away in the crowd, can someone please tell me, whats the point of visa's. TB test's. Embassy interview's and all the other paraphernalia when this illegal entry goes on every single day?

[theoldgit]

As wasn't aware that Muslims needed a visa because of their religion, have I missed something here?

I still think you should challenge the company.

[7by7]

It was reported the other week that a Dutch flower lorry pulled in to Covent Garden market and and 22 young moslem women climbed out the back all carrying suit cases and just melted away in the crowd, can someone please tell me, whats the point of visa's. TB test's. Embassy interview's and all the other paraphernalia when this illegal entry goes on every single day?

Reported where and by whom?

How did the reporter know that the women were muslims, and why is their religion relevent anyway?

What made the reporter think that they were illegal migrants?

Yes, attempts are made by people every day to enter the UK illegally; some successful, others not. However, to follow your point to it's logical conclusion; what's the point in having a police force when most crimes are unsolved; we may just as well let the criminals get on with it!

With regard to your situation with the visa company; your best course of action is to follow the oldgit's advice and make an official complaint via the OISC.

As a general warning to all; before signing any agreement and parting with any money, always read through the terms and conditions thoroughly and make sure that you fully understand exactly what the company will do for the money you are paying them and what will happen if you do not, for any reason, proceed after you have paid them.

One racist post deleted, any more will result in suspensions.

[telco]

It was reported the other week that a Dutch flower lorry pulled in to Covent Garden market and and 22 young moslem women climbed out the back all carrying suit cases and just melted away in the crowd, can someone please tell me, whats the point of visa's. TB test's. Embassy interview's and all the other paraphernalia when this illegal entry goes on every single day?

Reported where and by whom?

How did the reporter know that the women were muslims, and why is their religion relevent anyway?

What made the reporter think that they were illegal migrants?

Yes, attempts are made by people every day to enter the UK illegally; some successful, others not. However, to follow your point to it's logical conclusion; what's the point in having a police force when most crimes are unsolved; we may just as well let the criminals get on with it!

With regard to your situation with the visa company; your best course of action is to follow the oldgit's advice and make an official complaint via the OISC.

As a general warning to all; before signing any agreement and parting with any money, always read through the terms and conditions thoroughly and make sure that you fully understand exactly what the company will do for the money you are paying them and what will happen if you do not, for any reason, proceed after you have paid them.

One racist post deleted, any more will result in suspensions.

What brought the observers attention was the fact that they were all wearing the islamic burka so it was presumed they were moslems and Covent Garden market is not a UK port of entry.

[7by7]

So?

Reported where and by whom?

Why is their religion relevant?

As you correctly say, Covent Garden is not a port of entry, not a port of any sort; so what made the reporter suspect that these women were migrants; legal or otherwise?

And a further question; how is this relevant to your dispute with the visa agent?

Have you been watching 'The Hunt For Britain's Sex Traffickers' on Channel 4? If so, then listening that poor Thai girl (told she would be working in a restaurant and then forced into a brothel, her passport kept by her 'employer' and threats made against her family in Thailand if she didn't comply) relate her experiences may make you understand one of the points of visa's, TB test's, embassy interview's and all the other paraphernalia!