Travel firm penalised for making false promises to retired IAF officer

Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, November 20

Not fulfilling promises has cost a travel firm dear. The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, Chandigarh, has not only directed Club Resorto Hospitality Ltd, New Delhi, to refund Rs75,000 along with interest at the rate of nine per cent to a retired Indian Air Force (IAF) officer, but also asked the firm to pay a sum of Rs11,000 towards compensation for mental agony and physical harassment. The conumer commission has also directed the firm to pay a sum of Rs7,000 as litigation expenses to the complainant.

The case

The order was passed on the complaint of Group Capt Narendera Jit Singh Rishi (retd), who alleged that the firm failed to provide services as told by their representatives and also failed to refund the booking amount.

The order was passed on the complaint of Group Captain Narendera Jit Singh Rishi (retd), who alleged that the firm failed to provide services as told by their representatives and also failed to refund the booking amount.

The complainant stated that he paid a sum of Rs75,000 to the travel firm on December 27, 2018, after a presentation was given by its representatives. But, the firm failed to provide him offered facilities along with other extra special benefits/offers, he added. Dissatisfied with services/offers, the complainant requested the travel firm within 8-10 days from the date of taking membership for its cancellation on January 4, 2019. Despite his request, the firm failed to refund the membership fee to him.

After hearing arguments the commission noted that acts on the part of the travel firm and its representatives amounted to deficiency in service or unfair trade practice. The commission stated, “The the firm and its representatives cannot by any of the provisions forfeit the amount of complainant and as such are liable to pay back Rs75,000.”

The commission further added that the firm and its representatives failed to fulfil their commitment as assured and also deprived the complainant of his hard earned money without any default on his part and rather they themselves enjoyed fruits of the amount for fairly a long period. As such the complainant was liable to be compensated on account of physical harassment and mental agony, the commission stated.