Study Abroad Agency: How to Check a Vietnam Consultant

A study abroad agency should be able to show you its licence, give you a written contract and explain every fee before you pay. Families in Vietnam spend a lot on overseas study, so a few plain checks can save real money and stress.

Check the licence first

Ask the agency to show its business registration and any licence or permit it holds to advise students. Write down the number, the date and the name of the office that issued it.

Then confirm it with the authorities. Ask the local education department or the business registration office how to confirm a licence. Do not rely on a certificate hanging on the office wall. A short phone call or visit to the issuing office takes little time.

A licence tells you the company may operate. It does not tell you the company is good. Treat it as the first gate, not the last.

Read the contract line by line

Never pay on a verbal promise. Ask for a written contract and take it home. Read it with someone you trust. Look for the services, the price, the dates and what happens if something goes wrong.

The contract should say clearly what the agency will do. That may include choosing schools, preparing the application, helping with the visa file or arranging a place to live. If a service is not written down, assume it is not included.

Be careful with promises of a sure result. No agency controls a school's decision or a visa officer's decision. A fair contract will describe the work, not guarantee the outcome.

Vietnam's Law on Protection of Consumers' Rights, passed in 2010, says that sellers must give clear information and that contract terms must be fair. If a term is hidden or confusing, ask the agency to explain it in writing.

Sources: Law on Protection of Consumers' Rights, No. 59/2010/QH12.

Ask about every fee

Ask for a full list of costs. Split them into three groups. The first group is what you pay the agency. The second group is what you pay to schools, such as application and tuition fees. The third group is what you pay to the government, such as visa fees.

Fees in the second and third groups should go to the school or office, with a receipt. Ask if you can pay them yourself. You can also check the amounts on the school's own website.

Ask when each payment is due. A good plan ties payments to steps, such as after the application is sent. Be wary of any demand to pay everything on day one.

Ask about refunds too. What if the school says no? What if you change your mind? Get the answer in writing, with dates and amounts.

Check the schools and the people

Look up each school the agency suggests. Confirm that it is a real school and that the course matches what you were told. Read the school's own pages for entry rules, language needs and costs.

Ask how many students the agency has sent to each school. Ask to speak with a family that used the service. A confident agency will not mind. Meet the adviser who will handle your case, and ask who you can call if that person is away.

Be careful if an agency pushes only one school or country. Advisers who earn a fee from a school may lean toward it. Ask if the agency is paid by schools, and ask for a few other options so you can compare.

Protect your papers and your child

Your passport, school records and bank papers are valuable. Give copies when you can. If the agency needs an original, ask for a signed receipt that lists each document. Make sure the agency keeps the papers safe and returns them.

Never sign a blank form. Never agree to a statement you have not read. Be wary of any adviser who suggests changing a grade, a date or a bank balance. False papers can lead to a visa refusal and a ban on future applications.

A quick checklist

Before you sign with a study abroad agency, tick each item.

• You have seen the licence and confirmed it with the authorities.
• You have a written contract that lists services, price and dates.
• You have a full list of agency fees, school fees and government fees.
• You know the refund rules and have them in writing.
• You have checked each school yourself.
• You have a receipt for every payment and every document.

If an agency fails any item, walk away or ask for a fix. If you have a dispute, keep your contract, receipts and messages. They are your best proof when you speak to the consumer office or the authorities.

Sources: Law No. 59/2010/QH12. This post is general information, not legal advice.