I’m posting this to warn anyone applying for a Schengen visa through the VFS Global center in Mumbai (Mahalakshmi branch). My elderly parents went in for their Schengen visa appointment recently, and what should have been a standard process turned into a highly coordinated extortion scam by the VFS staff.
They deliberately targeted my parents—who are elderly, have mobility issues, and were recovering from an illness—because they knew they lacked the physical stamina to fight back. Here is exactly how their scam operates:
1. The "Cheap Upgrade" Lie at the Gate We specifically agreed beforehand to only use the standard submission process. At the entry gate, the guards and a VFS staff member asked if they wanted the Premium Lounge. When my parents said NO, the staff lied and said, "It only costs ₹2,000 extra, and the second person gets to go in for free." Based on this blatant lie, the staff member scribbled something on their forms and directed them to a specific lift.
2. The Bait-and-Switch (Holding Documents Hostage) Once they got upstairs to the "Premium" floor, they were told the actual bill would be ₹31,500 (standard fees Rs.9900 + standard courier Rs.990 should only be around ₹22,000 for two people). Realizing they were tricked, my parents immediately said they didn't want it and asked to go back down to the normal queue.
The VFS staff flat-out refused. They lied and said, "We have already scanned your application, so it is not possible to go back to the normal process anymore." They effectively held their physical documents hostage.
3. Physical Intimidation and Bargaining My parents tried to walk back to the lift to return to the normal area. A VFS staff member actually stood between the elevators to block their path! The staff member then started haggling like a street vendor, saying, "Fine, I'll make it ₹24,000 for you."
When my parents still resisted, the staff resorted to threats. Because VFS had intentionally delayed them, the staff claimed their original appointment time had now passed, and if they went downstairs, they would lose their appointment entirely. Exhausted and terrified of their visas being rejected, my parents caved.
4. No "Premium" Service and Forced Courier Plus There was absolutely nothing premium about the experience. They waited a long time and weren't even offered a glass of water.
When it came time to pay, they asked ~₹27,000. My parents explicitly stated—multiple times—that they DID NOT want the Premium Lounge and DID NOT want the expensive "Courier Plus" add-on (they just wanted standard courier). The staff completely ignored them, even saying "you don't know the price, it is today's updated fees,", and punched the expensive options into the system, asked them to pay and then printed the receipt. When my parents protested the forced Courier Plus charges, the staff coldly said, "The bill has already been printed, you cannot change it, you just have to deal with it."
The Takeaway This is a calculated racket. They use physical misdirection, outright lies about pricing, hostage tactics with scanned documents, and intimidation to milk money from vulnerable people who are isolated without cell reception.
If you or your parents are going to VFS Mahalakshmi:
- DO NOT listen to the staff at the gate offering "cheap" premium upgrades. It is a trap.
- DO NOT let them direct you to the separate Premium lift unless you are fully prepared to pay for the services you do not even want to take.
- Stand your ground, and ask them to call their manager, threaten them to raise it to the respective embassy.
I have already filed a severe formal grievance directly with the Embassy regarding this contractor's behavior, but I wanted to warn this community so no one else falls victim to this.