Hotel ordered to pay Rs 10,000 for over-priced' beef fry

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Thrissur consumer disputes redressal forum has directed a restaurant to pay Rs 10,000 for allegedly charging an exorbitant price on beef coconut fry.

As per the complaint filed by VR Unnikrishnan of Muttoorkara, Thrissur, he had gone to a highway hotel named Paragon at Puzhakkal. He ordered half a plate of beef coconut fry and was charged Rs 240. The cost of the item was first written as Rs 160 on the bill but was corrected later.

As per the complainant, this would mean that a full plate of beef coconut fry would cost Rs 480, which was a rate higher than in five star hotels. He questioned the price and the hotel officials behaved badly. No menu card was supplied or exhibited properly in the restaurant.

The Taluk Supply Officer who had earlier probed the incident had reported that the price of coconut beef fry was listed as Rs 120 in the restaurant. However, it did not state that this was the rate of a quarter plate of the dish. Therefore, Mr Unnikrishnan approached the forum pointing out an unfair trade practice.

Hotel officials contested that the man had first ordered normal beef fry and later asked for coconut beef fry. Hence, a correction was made on the bill. They argued that coconut beef fry was expensive to prepare.

However, they could not produce the approved rate of their dishes. Also the carbon copy of the bill book was also not produced to justify their contentions.

The forum under its president Mr PK Sasi ordered in favour of the complainant.