[Resolved]  Shine.com — Complaint Against Shine.com for Pressurised Sale, Misrepresentation, and Denial of Refund Despite Non-Activation of Services

Address: Gurgaon

I am filing this complaint against Shine.com for engaging in pressurised sales tactics, misrepresentation of services, and unfair trade practices, resulting in financial loss and mental harassment.

I was contacted by representatives of Shine.com who aggressively persuaded me to purchase multiple paid services by projecting them as essential and highly effective for job placement. Under continuous pressure and assurances, I was made to purchase the following services (amounts in INR):
• Application Booster Package: ₹3, 657
• Education Verification Plus Package: ₹5, 192
• Job Profile Verification Plus Interviewing & Hiring Test Package: ₹8, 376
• Professional Summary & Job and Interviewing Guidance Training: ₹12, 743

Total amount paid: ₹29, 968 (excluding platform/payment gateway fees)

Despite these multiple purchases, I was further pressured to buy additional services, including higher-priced offerings claiming job guarantee, and I was told that the services already purchased would be ineffective or useless unless I made further payments. This conduct amounts to coercive upselling and misleading representation.
I would like to clearly state that I have NOT opted to activate any of the above services till date.
All the services are merely displayed as “purchased” in my Shine.com app, and no service has been initiated, activated, or availed by me in any form.

Furthermore:
• At no point prior to payment was I informed that these services were non-refundable
• No refund policy was clearly disclosed, highlighted, or explicitly agreed to by me
• No meaningful service has been delivered or commenced
• Upon realizing the nature of the sales tactics, I promptly requested cancellation and a full refund

However, Shine.com refused to refund the amount, citing internal policies that were never disclosed before the transaction. Enforcing undisclosed refund conditions despite non-activation of services constitutes an unfair trade practice and deficiency of service under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019.

I feel extremely cheated and misled, as the payments were obtained through undue pressure and verbal assurances, without informed consent or transparent disclosure of terms.

Relief Sought

I hereby request:
1. Full refund of ₹29, 968 plus applicable platform/payment gateway fees
2. Written clarification for enforcing undisclosed non-refund conditions