… organiser says refund would be made by end of April

Phurpa Lhamo

Eighty-two individuals whose International English Language Testing System (IELTs) exams were cancelled in March 2020 are yet to receive a refund.

They registered to take the test at the Royal Institute of Management (RIM) on March 21, 2020. Each of them paid Nu 13,250 for the test.

Sangnga Chophel, who is yet to receive a refund, said that earlier, RIM officials had ensured them that the refund would be made in November last year.

He added that communication has been minimum and little has been conveyed with regard to rescheduling their exams.

“I think they should be held accountable for all these,” he said.

In the email exchanged between those waiting for the refund, individuals suggested taking the institute to court.

Last month, they wrote to the RIM for the refund. On March 14, RIM officials conveyed to the individuals that the refund would be made by end of April.

“We have been in constant touch with British Council India with regard to your refund request. British Council has given us their assurance and we look forward to receiving the refund by end of April,” stated the mail from RIM.

IELTS is conducted in partnership with British Council in the United Kingdom’s sub-agent in Kolkata.

RIM’s IELTS and TOEFL coordinator said that the delay in the refund was because of the pandemic and the closure of the examination sub-agent in Kolkata.

She added that with the change in management, the money had to be received from the UK. “We have been constantly in touch with them. Recently, they have told us that they would send it by end of April.”

Until last year, around 200 individuals were awaiting refunds. They were individuals who had registered for IELTS between March 7 and 27, 2020.

The coordinator said that apart from those who registered for March 21, others were refunded in November and December.