Bad experiences with consultants

I recently had a bad experience with one of the consultant: Y-Axis, Hydrabad

I wanted to apply for the HSMP and had been aware of the complete process and documentation. I prepared all the documentation and asked them to submit the HSMP application in my behalf. I took this decision keeping in mind that most of the consultants are OISC members and same must be the case with Y-axis Hydrabad.

The marketting team of y-axis regerously followed me to get me in trap and pomised wonders like 98% success rate, experience of more than 200 successful HSMP application etc.

I paid them Rs. 50K without knowing their OISC membership number and as soon as they assigned me the process consultant I asked him for the OISC membership status. On failure to provide the same, I asked them to re-pay the complete amount as I applied for HSMP on my own and all the information provided by them are available on this website and Home Office's website.

After 10 days and repeated calls and e-mail they have not given me any solid response on my request.

I suggest all other people not to get in trap of the consultants and use the valuable information available on the internet. If you want then, only take help from consultants who are OISC,UK members.

Hope to get the complete refund from Y-aixs, any one had similar exeperience then please share. If anyone has filed a suit on service providing companies in consumer court then please advaise me how to take help of the laws in such cases.

Regards,
PM

Can I suggest that you report these people to the OISC. Even if they are not based in the UK, it may help to prevent others falling into the same trap.

Victoria

pmpm wrote:I paid them Rs. 50K without knowing their OISC membership number and as soon as they assigned me the process consultant I asked him for the OISC membership status.

Sorry to hear you're feeling ripped off. Due diligence can take some time but it is always better to spend time than lose money. I just typed OISC registered consultants into Google and found this link: http://www.willq4u.com/oisc.php

If the company never said to you outright, "We are OISC registered," when this statement would have been false then they have broken no laws and you have learned a hard lesson. If they represented anywhere in writing or on the phone that they ARE OISC registered and you found out later that this was not true, then they would be guilty of misleading you.

It sounds like your post that you may have been taken advantage of but the firm haven't done anything illegal. The crucial thing here seems to be that they did not answer your question when you asked whether they are OISC registered. Thus they have not said anything one way or another. By giving them your money you consented to their terms and conditions. It sounds to me like these guys probably get excellent income from people like yourself who do not demand things in writing and willingly send funds when you still have questions/concerns about the transaction.

The next time you work with an immigration consultant, ask their OISC registration number before you give them a single penny!!!

Caveat emptor!

Here comes another invaluable suggestion from ball. I quite agree with him/her advise of typing in google is more worth than loosing completeley.

I was told, early on in my HSMP research, to avoid the OISC agencies at all costs...most of them appear to be a little dodgy at best, scam artists at worst.

However, I was referred to a solicitor by a fellow applicant on another forum. As is stated in the guidance notes, solicitors are not required to be OISC registered because they are already registered with The Law Society.

Now that I have my precious visa all stamped into my passport and my saga is over, I'm not sure I needed my solicitor - my case was pretty straight forward and I may have been approved on my own.

BUT, he was completely professional, very nice and he did everything he said he would and a bit more. It was not inexpensive, but he certainly earned his fee.

Amy

pmpm wrote:I recently had a bad experience with one of the consultant: Y-Axis, Hydrabad

I wanted to apply for the HSMP and had been aware of the complete process and documentation. I prepared all the documentation and asked them to submit the HSMP application in my behalf. I took this decision keeping in mind that most of the consultants are OISC members and same must be the case with Y-axis Hydrabad.

The marketting team of y-axis regerously followed me to get me in trap and pomised wonders like 98% success rate, experience of more than 200 successful HSMP application etc.

I paid them Rs. 50K without knowing their OISC membership number and as soon as they assigned me the process consultant I asked him for the OISC membership status. On failure to provide the same, I asked them to re-pay the complete amount as I applied for HSMP on my own and all the information provided by them are available on this website and Home Office's website.

After 10 days and repeated calls and e-mail they have not given me any solid response on my request.

I suggest all other people not to get in trap of the consultants and use the valuable information available on the internet. If you want then, only take help from consultants who are OISC,UK members.

Hope to get the complete refund from Y-aixs, any one had similar exeperience then please share. If anyone has filed a suit on service providing companies in consumer court then please advaise me how to take help of the laws in such cases.

Regards,
PM

A few points -

1) It is unfair to say that most OISC regulated advisors are 'dodgy'. Some are, but many are highly reputable. We are, and I can name countless others who I would not hesitate to recommend if my workload were too much.

2) Some immigration solicitors are also 'dodgy'. There is good and bad in all industry. The OISC monitor us a lot more closely than the Law Society monitor solicitors, so there is more redress by going with OISC regulated advisors if they do something wrong.

3) If this firm are not solicitors and are not OISC regulated, and are in the UK and are providing immigration advice, then they are committing a criminal offense, and OISC MUST be notified. If they are out of the UK, they are not regulated at all, and they should be avouded at all costs.




Victoria

VictoriaS wrote:A few points -

1) It is unfair to say that most OISC regulated advisors are 'dodgy'. Some are, but many are highly reputable. We are, and I can name countless others who I would not hesitate to recommend if my workload were too much.

2) Some immigration solicitors are also 'dodgy'. There is good and bad in all industry. The OISC monitor us a lot more closely than the Law Society monitor solicitors, so there is more redress by going with OISC regulated advisors if they do something wrong.

3) If this firm are not solicitors and are not OISC regulated, and are in the UK and are providing immigration advice, then they are committing a criminal offense, and OISC MUST be notified. If they are out of the UK, they are not regulated at all, and they should be avouded at all costs.




Victoria

I did not say they ARE dodgy, I said:

"I was told, early on in my HSMP research, to avoid the OISC agencies at all costs...most of them appear to be a little dodgy at best, scam artists at worst. "

In other words, my PERSONAL experience was that they are dodgy. I was harrassed for weeks by 3 of them, incidentally, after I merely filled out the initial information form.

I'm sorry, perhaps it's my American thinking, but I trust someone with a law degree far more than I trust a consultant company. I looked into the OISC requirements and I wasn't impressed. My trust goes with The Law Society. Again, sorry to be harsh, but I can tell you from speaking with other applicants, I'm not alone.

I realise that you are not alone. But bear in mind that someone who has years of practising contract or conveyencing law can stand up and decide to practise immigration law without any prior experience, and the Law Society let them do that. OISC make us, however, jump through major hoops to get registered, including annual inspections and exams! And, as I said, there is always redress if OISC consultants talk to up.

Please don't just us all by your three bad experiences, or by what you have been told by someone who has had a bad experience.

NB. Just to stress that I don't count Paul Simon in among the 'bad' immigration solicitors - I know he is a good guy and extremely competent.

Victoria

I fully agree with Victoria. You should not generalize the experience you have got with all OISC consultants.

Pantaiema

VictoriaS wrote:Can I suggest that you report these people to the OISC. Even if they are not based in the UK, it may help to prevent others falling into the same trap.

Victoria