[Resolved]  Sahara City Homes — Refund and aceptable interest demanded

Address:

Ahmedabad, Gujarat

I was introduced to Sahara City Homes by a very pushy Sales Representative, Mr Mehul Pandya in February 2009. He was only interested in his commission and tried everything to secure the sale with his misleading advertising and hyped up sales tactics. After his several calls and finally a visit from him, I was forced to make a down payment (booking amount) of Rs2, 62, 600 on 27 February 2009 and an Allotment amount of Rs1, 31, 300 on 1 May 2009. On 2 May 2009, I received an Allotment letter from the Company confirming that possession of the 2 bedroom apartment would be handed over within 38 months from the date of the Allotment letter. Possession would therefore should have been in July 2012. This delay and especially the lack of communication from Sahara has caused me considerable stress.

Subsequent to getting a confirmation of booking, I started paying a monthly installment of Rs62, 003/-. In the second quarter of 2010, I inquired about the progress of the project as there was no communication from the Company. They had failed in their duty of care to customers. A good Company shows transparency, communicates with their customers regularly and posts actual photos of the development as time progresses. Sahara City Homes website removed it's photo gallery of construction status web page for Ahmedabad in 2010 so that no 'Aad Aadmi' could complain. I contacted Mehul Pandya several times in 2010 who simply lied about the construction updates and assured me that the project was a big hit and was in full swing. He kept referring to the Company's Lucknow project and how it trebled after completion and that the Ahmedabad project would also treble after completion. I also called the call centre number and was told that the project was ''In Full Swing''. So I took a visit to the site office in Ahmedabad and there was absolutely no construction work in progress. I could only see a sample house and their posh office, which must have been built from customers' installments.

I was persistent via email and phone, however, I when I was told that all approvals were in place and the construction was in full swing. Mehul Pandya left the Company suddenly and started communicating with several mangers who came and left after short periods. I was in consistent contact with Mr Ritesh Singh, Mr Manish Shah and Mr AsishKumar Singh. I was assured that this was the best project in Ahmedabad and was mislead that I carried on paying the monthly instalments of Rs62, 003 from 1 June 2009 and now totals Rs17, 98, 087 (plus booking amount of Rs2, 62, 600 and Allotment amount of Rs1, 31, 300) Total Amount Deposited with Sahara is Rs21, 91, 987. I have all the payment receipts from Sahara and kept all my emails which I sent to Sahara from February 2009 to date including recoded conversations with the Company's staff members.

My struggle to retrieve my money started after several site visits with no signs of possession and no construction work taking place on the site. Several previous Managers started ignoring my calls and the call centre reply was still that ''Construction was in full swing at Ahmedabad''. As a Aam Aadmi following the righteous path, I simply want a full refund and acceptable interest so that I can start living. I have been financial ruined by the Global recession, currently unemployed and suffering from severe stress caused by your company.

I am attaching the list of payments paid by cheques that I had deposited with Sahara:

Booking amount on 27 February 2009 of Rs2, 62, 600
Allotment amount on 1 May 2009 Rs1, 31, 300

Instalment of 62003/- every month Rs17, 98, 087
(from 1 June 2009 X 29 Installments)

Total Deposited with Sahara = Rs21, 91, 987

I humbly request you to look into the matter urgently and expedite the full refund of the monies I have made to date and payment of suitable interest. In the failure to get a response, full refund and the interest due, I will be forced to file a complaint under the Consumer Protection Act of 1986 and also the Real Estate Regulation Bill. This consumer complaint will be at your cost and expense and will be required to address the mental agony caused to me due to your lack of transparency and deficiency in catering to the issues raised. Please do not ask me to talk to your branch as I am not getting a satisfactory response from there. I assume you have control over your branches and request you to take appropriate action and communicate the end result to me.