Forum asks portal to compensate client

Chennai: The District Consumer Dispute Redressal Forum, Chennai (North), has directed the management of a leading online ticketing portal to pay a compensation of Rs 15,000 to a passenger, who was charged twice for booking a bus ticket through its website.

In the petition, G. Santhivinayagam of Mylapore said he booked a bus ticket through the website of Make My Trip (India) Pvt. Ltd., to travel from Chennai Perungalathur to Tirunelveli in an omni bus, Rathimeena Travels, on June 4, 2013.

The payment was made through net banking through his Indian Overseas Bank account. As there was some error on confirmation of the bus, seat and ticket, he booked a bus ticket again through the website in Rathimeena Travels for seat No.23. On completion of payment successfully he received a confirmed ticket. He came to know that the firm collected Rs 730 twice on June 4, 2013 for a single booking.

Immediately, he lodged a complaint with the customer care and management. Based on a request, he sent them cope of his bank statement on June 10, 2013.

As there was no reply, he issued them a notice. In the petition he sought direction to the company a compensation of Rs 20,000 for facing mental agony and Rs 15,000 as costs.

In its reply MakemyTrip, represented by its MD from Gurgaon, Haryana and its manager, Nungambakkam, submitted that as per the jurisdiction clause of the User Agreement, only the Court of NCR Delhi has  territorial jurisdiction to entertain the disputes arising out of the bookings.

He sent a complaint on the same day of booking about being charged twice. Immediately, the team investigated the matter and refunded the excess amount.

The bench comprising its president, K.Jayabalan and member T.Kalaiyarasi said “even after issuance of legal notice to Makemy Trip India Pvt Ltd, the excess ticket amount was not refunded”. “He is entitled for refund of ticket amount of Rs 730 and also a compensation of Rs 10,000 for causing him mental agony and Rs 5,000  for cost”, the bench said.