Tour firm dodges man over money, told to pay

A private tour operator has been told to pay its customer Rs15,000 as it failed to return him money after an international tour was cancelled.

The District Consumer Forum directed 'Dhaval Travels', which has a office in Borivli, to repay Saurabh Gog Rs15,000 for not taking him and his family for a international tour as promised even after accepting money from them.

The division bench of president JL Deshpande and member Deepa Bidnuskar directed the operator to return the money at the earliest. Gog's complaint said he and his relatives had booked a 'far east' tour and paid Rs92,000.

The tour was supposed to begin on June 18, 2011. After enquiries, the complainant was told that the tour was postponed to June 22. Two days before the tour, he was again informed that due to visa problems the tour was cancelled. The company gave Gog two cheques of Rs 45,000 each, of which one cheque bounced. He again asked the tour company to return of his money. He was given Rs 25,000 and the rest was promised to be returned in 15 days. Months later, the company returned Rs 10,000 out of Rs20,000 due.

Gog approached the forum seeking a compensation of Rs57,000 along with interest at the rate of 15% and Rs10,000 as compensation for the mental agony caused to him. The tour operator did not reply to the forum even after being served a notice by the complainant. The forum proceeded ex-parte and held the company liable for not providing service and directed it to return the complaint Rs10,000 and Rs5,000
towards litigation.