Chennai: Country Club India asked to pay Rs 1.29 lakh for deficiency in service
Chennai: The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum, Chennai (South) slapped a fine of Rs 1.29 lakh on Country Club India Limited for failure to offer service to a resident in Chennai. After collecting Rs 1 lakh from her, the Club failed to book air tickets and a room in Mathura for her six years ago.
In her petition, Mrs. Thangam Sankaranarayanan, Thiruvanmiyur, submitted that representatives Usha and R. Sridhar of Country Vacations, a division of Country Club (India) Ltd., T.T.K. Toad, met her and informed her about the attractive features of services offered by the club and hotels. They assured that they would provide cheap, short term holidays for every five years and several incentives including free holidays for 7 days in India or Asia. They also assured full air fare for any four persons to travel within India.
Attracted by this, the complainant agreed to become a member of the club and paid Rs 90,000 on August 2, 2013. She entered into a purchase agreement for vacation membership. In September 2013 and the Club offered four free return tickets for the first holiday. The complainant decided to avail the services and planned to visit Mathura in Uttar Pradesh along with her daughter and claimed two free domestic air tickets from Chennai to New Delhi and for return journey as well.
The complainant planned a trip for only 4 days from October 12, 2013. The Chennai branch office demanded Rs 4,000 towards booking of a double bedroom at Mathura.
She sought confirmation from Sridhar and B.R. Byreddy, Customer Care Assistant Manager. However, there was no proper response. About two days before commencing the trip, the staff stopped responding. She also visited the office twice and discussed the issue.
In the reply, country club stated that they had only offered that the company would get discounts for their members on airfare for travel within country and the discounts would vary from time to time and from airline to airline. Mathura had no airport and hence no flight tickets could be booked. No other services were promised.
The bench comprising president M. Mony and member R. Baskarkumaravel said considering oral and documentary evidences, the Country Vacations, Chennai and Country Club India Limited, Hyderabad committed deficiency in service. The bench directed the companies to pay Rs 1.29 lakh, including a refund of Rs 94,000.
