Unfair trade practice: No relief for travel company

Ramkrishan Upadhyay

Tribune news service

Chandigarh, April 14

The State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, Chandigarh, has upheld the order of the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum directing travel company MakeMyTrip India Pvt Ltd to refund the entire booking amount to a consumer with compensation.

The company had challenged the order passed by the forum on December 5, 2018.

Punjab resident Kamaljit Singh Sandhu in his complaint to the forum had alleged that the travel company had failed to provide the promised services even after taking Rs2,77,179.

The complainant said that he, along with his wife, had paid Rs2,77,179 to MakeMyTrip for a holiday travel package to the European continent.

The company assured them that they would face no hiccups in securing a Schengen visa as the travel pack will justify the purpose and conditions of their travel.

They had also submitted their documents at VFS Centre, Elante Mall, Chandigarh, for obtaining a Schengen visa and paid Rs12,744 as visa fees.

But on August 18, 2017 he received a letter informing that their visa had been rejected on the ground that the information provided regarding the purpose and conditions of their intended stay was not reliable.

Sandhu said after their visa was rejected he cancelled the plan and sought refund from the company. But the company refunded only Rs2,70,179 out of Rs2,07,179 and the remaining amount of Rs70,000 was retained illegally and arbitrarily.

Complainant alleged that the acts of the firm amounted to deficiency in rendering service and unfair trade practice.

After hearing both the parties and going through the evidences, the forum directed the company to refund the remaining amount of Rs70,000. The company was also told to pay Rs11,000 as compensation to Sandhu for causing immense mental agony and harassment, and Rs10,000 as litigation expenses.

Feeling aggrieved, the firm challenged the order before the State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission.

After hearing the arguments, the commission dismissed the MakeMyTrip appeal and noted that the application of complainants for getting a visa required was rejected by the Embassy due to the negligence of the appellant, who failed to furnish the requisite information to the Embassy concerned regarding the purpose and intended stay of the respondents.

‘Deficiency in rendering service’

Punjab resident Kamaljit Singh Sandhu in his complaint to the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum had alleged that the travel company had failed to provide the promised services even after taking Rs2,77,179.