Chennai: The District Consumer Dispute Redressal Forum, Chennai (South) has directed a famous travel agency to pay a compensation of Rs 60,000 to a person for failure to accommodate him and his wife in a ‘European Experie-nce’ tour organised by it after the customer had paid for it.
In the petition, G. Munendran, Saligramam, submitted that M/s. Cox & Kings (India) Ltd during April-May, 2009 floated “European Experience” tour for 10 to 11 days starting at various dates from Mumbai and from Chennai.
The agency’s representative Jitto requested him and his wife to join the tour.
When he expressed reservations over getting UK and Schengen visa, (all citizens of India and Afghanistan are required to get the Schengen visa before entering Finland and other countries) for the tour. However, the representative assured him he would get him the visas.
Trusting this he paid Rs 1,88,788 for the package. Since a few columns were left unfilled in the visa form by the travel agency, the British Embassy rejected their visa applications.
Hence, the customer demanded that the agency refund the amount paid. They returned only Rs 1, 23,488 and did not refund the remaining Rs 65,300. They also sought of the company the sending of the rejection letter issued by the British Embassy, which would be useful for their future travel plans.
In its reply, M/s Cox & Kings (India) Ltd., stated that Munendran approached the company through its travel agent, M/s Parry Travels.
“They do not have any control nor give any assurance with regard to visa, as it was entirely in the hands of the respective Embassies”, the agency said.
The company deducted Rs 25,300 towards UK Visa cancellation charges for them. They also requested the company to adjust Rs 40,000 towards the tour cost of the family of A.P. Narayanan, with whom they planned to go for the package tour. At no point did the agency guarantee getting the visa for them.
The bench, comprising president M. Mony, members K. Amala and Dr T. Paul Rajasekaran, directed M/s. Cox & Kings (India) Ltd., to refund the balance amount of Rs 40,000 and a compensation of Rs 15,000 for causing mental agony and a cost of Rs 5,000.
