A student from Asia enrolled with a Private Training Establishment in 2020. She commenced her studies just as the COVID-19 alert level allowed her provider to reopen.
A parent of an international school student contacted iStudent Complaints as the parent had had their visa application declined and they needed to return to their home country. The student still had a valid visa and would have been able to remain in New Zealand if they stayed with a host family. The family chose to return to their home country together, as they did not want to leave their child in New Zealand during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The international student approached iStudent Complaints advising that they had withdrawn from their studies as they found it was too hard and decided to enroll with another provider in a different course. The education provider declined a refund as they were beyond the refund period and provided pastoral care.
The student approached iStudent Complaints advising that they had withdrawn from their course. They enrolled with another provider and requested a refund. The provider declined the refund as the student was well past the refund period and extensive pastoral care had been provided to the student.
A family enrolled their children for a short course starting in February 2020. Due to COVID-19 the family decided not to travel to NZ as intended in January and requested a refund of their tuition. The provider declined the request for refund, responding that the family did not provide enough notice for withdrawal.
An Indian student arrived in New Zealand to undertake a course at a Private Training Establishment (PTE). Due to air travel delays associated with COVID-19 in early 2020, they arrived late on the day their course commenced and went straight to the school. The student asked to start a day later as they were fatigued from their travel, however, this was declined and due to missing the first day of class, the student was told that they would not be able to take part in the course.
Communication between the student and education provider staff had become strained. The student was feeling frustrated and disappointed that they were likely to not achieve their Level 5 qualification.
The student was concerned about a payment to a non-authorised agent who they said was never formally ‘engaged’ and therefore the education provider had no right nor obligation to pay any agent fee to.