[2019] NZIACDT 17 — Singh v Patel (Jignesh Kumar Patel)

Immigration Advisers Complaints and Disciplinary Tribunal · decided 28 March 2019 · adviser: Jignesh Kumar Patel

The tribunal's published summary

Excessive fees / failure to record meetings and discussions / residence application / adviser charged $15,000 standard fee / adviser prepared application which required analysis of financial information / complainant signed application & paid second instalment of fees / complainant changed his mind & requested withdrawal of application & full refund of fees / complainant terminated agreement / adviser offered a partial refund / Code of Conduct 2014, cl20, cl24, cl26 / Immigration Advisers Licensing Act 2007, s442 / adviser should have recorded material discussions in writing / fee at higher end of scale but not unfair or unreasonable / urgency relevant factor in setting fee / adviser carried out substantial work at time agreement was terminated / work largely completed & only some documents outstanding / refund fair / adviser under no obligation to refund more than small part of fee / complaint upheld.

Read the full decision (PDF, Ministry of Justice)

This page reproduces the tribunal's own published summary as a fair report of public tribunal proceedings; the linked decision is the authoritative record. A decision is not itself a finding of wrongdoing — some complaints are dismissed. Complainants are anonymised by the tribunal. Complaints about advisers go to the Immigration Advisers Authority.