Holiday Firm Told to Pay Rs 95,000 to Consumer for Sloppy Service
The complainant, Stephen Immanuel(56), an assistant executive engineer with the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board, alleged that the company had failed to provide the holiday facilities promised after he enrolled for its membership.
Tirunelveli: The Tirunelveli District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission has directed Orchid Vacation Limited, a Chennai-based holiday membership company, to refund the full membership amount it collected along with interest, as compensation for the mental agony caused by deficiency of service and for litigation expenses.
The complainant, Stephen Immanuel(56), an assistant executive engineer with the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board, alleged that the company had failed to provide the holiday facilities promised after he enrolled for its membership. He said he was contacted by the company over the phone following which he attended a meeting at GRT Regency in Vannarpettai, Tirunelveli, on June 20, 2025, where he was allegedly assured that payment of Rs 35,000 would entitle him and his family to stay for seven days a year at star hotels anywhere in India.
However, when he later attempted to make bookings in Chennai, Delhi and Thiruvananthapuram, he was allegedly informed of several conditions that had not been disclosed earlier. These included accommodation at hotels located in the outskirts of the respective city, deduction of two days from the membership for a one day stay and mandatory payment of Rs 1,600 for breakfast. Alleging deficiency in service and mental agony, Mr Immanuel filed a complaint with the Tirunelveli district Consumer dispute redressal commission through advocate A. Brahmma.
The commission, comprising president Y. Gladstone Blessed Tagore and member M. Kanagasabapathy, heard the case and held that imposing conditions contrary to the assurances given at the time of enrolment amounted to deficiency in service and an unfair trade practice and ordered Orchid Vacation Limited to refund the Rs 35,000 paid by Mr Immanuel with 6.5 per cent interest calculated from May 4, 2026 to August 27, 2026. Additionally, the holiday membership company too was ordered to pay the consumer Rs 50,000 as compensation for mental agony and deficiency in service and Rs 10,000 towards litigation expenses.
It has been further stated in the order that the ordered amount be paid within one month of receipt of a copy of the order. Failure to comply within the stipulated period would attract 9 per cent interest, the commission said.