upgrad - Harassment by Upgrad ZestMoney

I had taken a course called MSc. Computer Science by LiverPool John Moores University through Upgrad. I was tricked into buying the course by the admission counsellor of Upgrad. He told me I will get a very high package after completing this course. I paid Rs ***** as a blocking amount and the loan partner was ZestMoney(one of the loan partners), which was suggested by Upgrad. The counselor told me that the course will be from a foreign university and the admission committee had based its decision on my performance in the Advanced Certificate Program by IIITB in association with Upgrad. The course was to begin on **st March **** as per the Admission offer letter. At the time of taking the course, I had a job. But unfortunately, I lost my job on **th March. On **st March, I got a few mails from the Student Support team for a different course from IIIT Bangalore. The name of the course was Executive PG Program in Software Development from IIIT Bangalore. The course syllabus was also diffenrent than what the counselor had told me. The course start date was *st April.

Later when I got to know that I have been tricked, I mailed them on *th April that I want to cancel the course. I had not attended a single lecture till then. I had called the admission counsellor but he was not cooperating with me. He was also not picking my calls later on. At first they did not reply to mails. But later on they were adamant on not cancelling the course for me citing their policies. I started receiving messages from the loan partner regarding EMIs. They(Upgrad) told me that as I had told them to cancel the course after the commencement, hence they cannot refund my money back. I wrote them multiple emails for the cancellation of the course but they were not willing to do that. Instead, I was being harassed on emails and calls by their Upgrad Buddy. Later on, I started receiving calls from ZestMoney too. I told them repeatedly that due to my physical, mental and financial condition, I cannot go forward with this course but they were not willing to listen to it. Instead, they asked me to defer the course or choose a different course instead. Someone from their Student Support team told me to submit the relieving letter and the medical document to substantiate my claim. They said it will be presented to a committee that will decide whether to cancel the course or not. I submitted the documents that I had available at that point in time but they still rejected my request for cancellation of the course. Later on they started demanding money for the settlement of this dispute. It became increasingly clear that they were only interested in money.

As a result of the psychological and emotional stress caused by this dispute, I thought it was wise for me to leave my home for some time and so I went to my sister's home in Jammu on a family trip. There I received a mail from the university regarding a receipt of payment for the course. I told them the same thing that I told Upgrad that I cannot go forward with this course due to financial and health reasons. Later I mailed the institute's grievance team and they asked me for the documents and I mailed them the documents(Relieving Letter and Medical Document). As of now, the issue is on a standstill.

Since I am not in a good mental, physical and financial position to continue with this course and I am not aware how much time it will take for me to recover.
I have already informed Upgrad and IIIT Bangalore in this regard.
Furthermore, the terms and conditions for the course clearly states that the course can be cancelled at any point of time. I have already mailed documents regarding my health and employment status. I reiterate again that I am not having any employment and also have been seeing a doctor for my health issues.
My old parents and myself are being harassed by the misactions of Upgrad and ZestMoney. Hence my request is for the cancellation of the course, which they are not taking seriously.