COS fees?

[Rastafari1]

I was not getting any hours from my COS sponsor, I was introduced to someone who said that he can help me as I was very desperate and about to be made homeless. He offered me a switch to an employer who would give me the hours I needed. He charged me £7 000,00 which I borrowed out of desperation. I paid the "agent" who shared the money with the agency he referred me to. The agency he referred to had their licence cancelled & I asked for a refund as I had not even completed the registration with this agency. They are now refusing to refund me and are threatening me. I was to report them to the Home Office as well as get my money back? Can anyone advice me what to do as they are now hiding away from me.

I now have 2 COS certificates as I had not yet resigned from my first sponsor. Will that affect me in any way as I have not accepted the job with the employer to whom I paid the £7 thousand. I just want my money back.

[CR001]

Sounds like you have been scammed.

There is no fee for you for an employer to issue you a cos and employers are permitted to charge a cos fee.

You won't get your money back either regardless of whether you report them to ukvi or not. You were a willing participant in this by paying for a cos that likely doesn't even exist.

[Rastafari1]

Sounds like you have been scammed.

There is no fee for you for an employer to issue you a cos and employers are permitted to charge a cos fee.

You won't get your money back either regardless of whether you report them to ukvi or not. You were a willing participant in this by paying for a cos that likely doesn't even exist.

I realise I may not get my money back using conventional means, but can I report them to the Home Office or police?

[zxyzhgp]

Home office is aware of this kind of cases which are very common in health care work visa.
It is widely reported and even on Youtube. Really puzzle me why people keep falling into this

[lolo2]

I now have 2 COS certificates as I had not yet resigned from my first sponsor.

Have you also paid any fee - apart from the visa application itself - to your first sponsor?

[Rastafari1]

No i never paid

[Rastafari1]

All I need to know right now is that can I report this to the Home Office so they can take action against this practice & if so how can I go about it.

[lolo2]

Yes, you're free to report this to UKVI, the police etc, nothing is preventing you on doing so. However, I don't think this will make any change to your situation.

[vinny]

Report an immigration or border crime.

[Rastafari1]

Yes, you're free to report this to UKVI, the police etc, nothing is preventing you on doing so. However, I don't think this will make any change to your situation.

Thank you very much Lolo, I was repaid all my money in full yesterday after reporting to the Police, Home Office & Care Quality Commission. My trade union was of great help. I was also offered a new COS switch with the NHS so I am absolutely over the moon. Sorted now.

[lolo2]

That's fantastic news.

Lesson learned that you never have to pay any money to get a CoS.

[Akinkunmi]

Hi, I have been in this situation and I need help on how to get refund. Can you help on the steps to take