Edtech firm Byju’s on Wednesday “strongly denied” the allegation that it purchases college students’ databases and claimed that it depends on app customers, walk-ins and incoming requests for session. Byju’s assertion comes a day after Nationwide Fee for Safety of Little one Rights (NCPCR) chairperson Priyank Kanoongo claimed that the corporate is allegedly buying the telephone numbers of kids and their dad and mom, and threatening them that their future can be ruined if they don’t purchase programs from it.
“We categorically state that now we have by no means purchased any database and anticipate that the media will chorus from making such a baseless and unsubstantiated allegation,” the assertion mentioned.
The edtech agency additionally claimed that with greater than 150 million registered college students and with the top-of-the-mind recall that the Byju’s model has in India, “we don’t want to purchase or use exterior databases”.
“We emphasize that our lead pipeline contains solely of our app customers, walk-ins and incoming requests for session. BYJU’S is ranked No. 19 within the coveted Kantar checklist of India’s most trusted manufacturers. We don’t have to and we by no means make chilly calls or unscheduled walk-in visits. We strongly refute any allegation that signifies in any other case,” Byju’s said.
The corporate is reportedly dealing with a variety of complaints on social media platforms and shopper web sites with clients alleging that they had been exploited and deceived.
The NCPCR, taking cognisance of the matter, has summoned Byju’s CEO Byju Raveendran to look earlier than it on December 23.
“We got here to know the way Byju’s shopping for telephone numbers of kids and their dad and mom, rigorously following them and threatening them that their future can be ruined. They’re focusing on first-generation learners. We’ll provoke motion and if want be will make a report and write to the federal government,” information company ANI quoted Kanoongo as saying.
The panel took motion primarily based on a information report that the gross sales group of the corporate was indulging in malpractices to lure dad and mom to purchase their programs for his or her kids.
“Because the Fee has come throughout a information article whereby it has been identified that the gross sales group of BYJU’S is indulging in malpractices to lure dad and mom to purchase their programs for his or her kids. lt has additionally been talked about within the information report that some clients have additionally claimed that they had been exploited and deceived, and had put their financial savings and futures in jeopardy,” the NCPCR had mentioned in an announcement.
The NCPCR added that the information report additional alleged that the edtech firm had been actively tricking clients to enter into loan-based agreements for programs which might not be refunded if clients wished to take action.
(With inputs from businesses)