When Policy Overrides Compassion: A Middle-Class Father’s Experience with Simplilearn and Fibe

 How a genuine medical emergency turned into a financial and emotional burden

Introduction

In today’s digital age, online education has become a powerful tool for skill development and career growth. Platforms like Simplilearn promise flexibility, access to quality content, and career advancement — especially appealing to working professionals and students alike.
However, behind these promises lie rigid systems that sometimes fail to accommodate genuine human circumstances.

This is a personal account of how I, a middle-class father, tried to invest in my son’s future by enrolling him in a course on Simplilearn, only to face a complete lack of support during an unforeseen medical crisis. To make matters worse, the associated loan, facilitated by Fibe (formerly EarlySalary), continued to deduct EMIs — even when course access became impossible.

A Father’s Dream and a Son’s Determination

Like many middle-class families, we constantly juggle our finances to give our children better opportunities. My son was eager to upskill and enrolled in a professional course on Simplilearn, hoping it would open doors to better job prospects.

The fee was considerable, so we opted for an EMI plan offered via Fibe, a digital lending platform. The process was smooth, and classes began. It felt like the right step forward.

When Life Took an Unexpected Turn

Just a few sessions into the course, my son began experiencing severe discomfort. After several consultations, he was diagnosed with Pilonidal Sinus, a painful condition requiring urgent surgery.

The recovery process was slow and painful, making it impossible for him to sit for long hours, attend classes, or engage in any academic activity for weeks.

Requesting Support — And Receiving None

As any responsible parent would, I immediately reached out to Simplilearn’s support team, explaining the situation and requesting a course cancellation, accompanied by valid medical documents. I was not looking for a full refund — just some flexibility and understanding.

Unfortunately, the response was disheartening and robotic:

“As per our policy, cancellations are not allowed after enrollment.”

No exception, no empathy, no discussion.

I then contacted Fibe, the loan provider, explaining that the service we were paying for was now unusable due to a medical emergency. Again, the response was standard:

“We are only a loan facilitator. You will need to resolve this with the service provider.”

As a result, the EMI deductions continued — every month — for a course my son could not attend, and for a service that we were no longer using.

The Emotional and Financial Toll

Each EMI felt like a double blow — not only to our limited finances but to our faith in the system. I was caught in a web of unbending policies and institutional indifference.

It left me wondering:

• Shouldn’t there be a compassion clause for medical emergencies?
• Are customers simply ID numbers in a database?
• Is there no accountability once payment is made?

As a father, it’s heartbreaking to watch your child suffer physically while also knowing that the opportunity you tried to give them has become a burden on the entire family.

What Should Change?

I am not writing this to defame any institution. I understand that policies are created to ensure order and prevent misuse. But policies should not be so rigid that they override basic human compassion.

I urge Simplilearn and Fibe — and all other education and lending platforms — to:

• Introduce a clear medical exemption policy.
• Train support teams to listen empathetically to genuine cases.
• Provide partial refunds or credit holds in exceptional circumstances.
• Build transparency in how complaints and requests are handled.

Conclusion

Middle-class families are not asking for favors. We are asking for fairness. Why can’t our institutions show a little more empathy and flexibility?

Let this be a call for change — not just in policies, but in mindset. Because education should not only be about progress; it should also be about people.

If you’ve had a similar experience or believe that platforms need to be more humane, share your thoughts in the comments or reach out. Your voice matters.

Screenshot: Simplilearn rejecting cancellation despite medical emergency.