Global Visas UK - Fraud
I have recently had a bad experience with a company called Global Visas
here in the UK. My fiance and I approached Global Visas hoping to learn what it would entail to obtain a particular Visa.
The following set of events occurred:
1) I phoned global visas and requested information what was required to kick off the Visa application process.
I
got put through to an "agent" who said I needed to open a case at the
cost of 100£ and my case would be put forward to a "case worker".
I handed over my debit card details and they deducted 100£.
2) The agent then sent through a set of documents one of them being the "Client Care Letter". Without having read the documentation I proceeded to make an appointment with a case worker to determine what the Visa application process would entail, and to discuss fees.
3) During the consultation the case worker gave me no indication that by the mere fact that I was attending the consultation and had paid the £100 that the process had already been kicked off and that I was liable for the full amount of approximately £1800.
I had at no point read the client care letter even or even verbally given my approval to kick off the Visa application process. I had signed nothing either. I was completely unaware that according to them I had kicked off the Visa application process, and Global Visas made no effort to inform me at any point. I went on holiday with my fiance and after returning I
noticed that an amount of approximately £700 had been deducted from my debit card without my consent. After attempting to reach my Case worker I managed to get through to the Agent (Bosco) who I initially spoke to and asked him why the money had been deducted from my account. His reaction was aggressive and completely unsympathetic and continued to accuse me of using Global Visa's services without intent to pay.
Global Visas has deducted the £700 installment from my account using the Visa debit card details they had initially obtained from my £100 fee payment. They had illegally held on to my debit card details without my knowledge or consent.
They gave me no indication that the first installment of £700 would be deducted after our initial consultation and my fiance and I
explicitly indicated that we were not sure whether we would even be applying for the Visa's at all.
By deducting the initial service fee from my account without proper
consent I felt that Global Visas had unlawfully executed the
transaction for the initial fee in an attempt to tie us in to the contract. I then continued to raise a "Visa Dispute" with my bank and have been refunded the amount which was deducted by Global Visas. Through further investigation on the internet I realized that Global Visas has a name for doing such things.
A similar complaint about Global Visas UK:
http://www.complaintsboard.com/complaints/global-visas-c259741.html
The office of immigration which regulates Global Visas:
http://www.oisc.gov.uk/complaints_about_immigration_advice/
I discovered the following information in the "Client Care letter":
"After we have given you all the information and advice
we can during our consultation process, you must pay our fees in full.
In line with best practice and the DSR, you are entitled to cancel this
agreement up to the point where we start to provide our expert
information and you accept these conditions when you pay our fees.
Once we have provided you with our knowledge during our
consultation process our full fees are payable. As part of our service
and commitment to you we are happy to assist with the following
services:
You may end this contract at any time by writing to us to tell us that
you are ending your agreement. But you will be legally responsible for
paying any money you owe us for our fees or extra fees. You will have
to pay this money even if we have asked for any of these fees at the
time you end this agreement."
This is how Global Visas bully you into a contract with them.