Student Loses 3,100 Shekels After Canceling Academic Course Days Before Start

A student who canceled her registration for academic courses at Oranim Academic College just four days before they were set to begin lost 3,100 shekels, as a court ruled that the Consumer Protection Law does not apply to academic institutions recognized by the Council for Higher Education. The court determined that registration at such institutions is governed by the institution's own regulations. Oranim's regulations stipulate a tiered refund system based on the cancellation date, and the student's cancellation fell into a tier that forfeited her payment.

In contrast, the Consumer Protection Law does apply to private colleges and professional courses, excluding the psychometric test. For these, consumers are generally entitled to cancel within 14 days of the transaction, provided notice is given at least 14 business days before the course starts. Cancellation fees are capped at 5% of the price or 100 shekels, whichever is lower. Registration fees, if charged separately, are often absorbed into this cap.

The article also highlights a case where a student who canceled a digital marketing course after 13 days was initially faced with a 36,000 shekel debt. Although a district court ruled the cancellation valid, the student still owed half the amount because the tuition was financed by a third-party loan. This loan remained active independently of the course cancellation, requiring a separate written cancellation with the financing company.

Further complicating matters, accessing digital course content is often considered equivalent to opening a product's packaging, thus negating the 14-day cancellation right under consumer law. For courses already in progress, refunds are typically prorated based on the portion of the course utilized, though court interpretations can vary. Students seeking refunds for medical reasons must provide documentation, and courts consider actual participation rates when making decisions.