- This topic has 5 replies, 3 voices, and was last updated 1 year, 3 months ago by
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SHey everyone,
I recently booked a flat through Nestaway in Bangalore, and I believe they are unfairly imposing hidden charges on me. Here’s what happened:
1. Before making the payment, I explicitly asked for a summary of all applicable charges (including deposits and additional fees) via email. However, Nestaway did not inform me about any painting charges at the time of exit.
2. I carefully read their Tenancy Policy before booking. There was no mention of mandatory painting charges being deducted at exit.
3. I only found out about the painting charges after I had already paid the amount (₹49,113) and the rent agreement was generated. They are now stating that ₹12,500 (one month’s rent) will be deducted for painting charges at the time of move-out, regardless of whether I actually damage the walls.
4. If I cancel the booking now, they will deduct ₹10,000 as brokerage + ₹3,200 token amount (total ₹15,700) and refund me the remaining amount.
5. When I raised a dispute, they directed me to an FAQ section in their app, claiming that the painting charge is mentioned there.My Concern:
• FAQs are not part of legally binding tenancy policies. If this charge was mandatory, they should have clearly mentioned it in the official tenancy agreement or disclosed it before payment.
• I got to know from my colleagues that it’s common in Bangalore to have such exit charges. But my issue isn’t with the charge itself—it’s with the lack of transparency. If they had informed me in advance, I wouldn’t have an issue & might have not paid the amount.
• Under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, service providers must transparently disclose all material charges upfront before a consumer enters into an agreement. Hidden charges like this could constitute a deficiency in service (Section 2(11)).
• I want painting charges to be applied only if I damage the walls—not as a blanket rule.
What legal options do I have?
1. Can I demand a full refund on the basis of unfair trade practices?
2. Is it valid for them to impose such charges when it’s not in the official tenancy policies?
3. Should I escalate this to the Consumer Commission or the National Consumer Helpline?My Plan:
• I can file a complaint on National Consumer Helpline on my own, as I’ve done many before.
• However, filing a case through the e-Daakhil (Jagriti) website requires significant documentation and effort.
• If anyone here can recommend an affordable consumer lawyer (even with 1-2 years of experience), I’d appreciate it.
• My case is strong as I have proof of email conversations and a video of Nestaway’s Terms & Conditions.
• Even if the case takes 1-5 years, I’m okay with it. I may recover my money most probably, but even if I don’t, I’ll gain valuable experience in handling legal cases.
Would love to hear from legal experts or anyone who has faced similar issues. Any guidance on how to proceed would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks in advance!
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RADVOCATE HERE. You are being misled. Exercise PROPER ACTIONS and see how company runs after you. My best wishes.
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FForget about only paining charges, you may not even get the full security amount returned. This is another loot going on here in Bangalore.
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