[Resolved]  India Today Book Club / Holiday Stay Voucher — False Selling, Voucher Returned But Not Refunding the Money

India Today Book Club — Cancellation of Holiday Stay Voucher

I had opted to avail the Holiday Stay Voucher that was offered via a telephonic conversation. I took the offer ONLY because India Today was the company offering it. Now I really regret taking this decision and want to warn everyone here that PLEASE AVOID any promotion sponsored by India Today or India Today Book Club.It is indeed shameful that such a reputed firm with such a glorious past has lowered their standard to such appalling levels that have now resorted to cheating and fraud! I am now seriously considering cancelling my India Today subscription as well as propagate this message via print and web media.

The story unfolds as below:
I got the invoice# ORA[protected] dated 11-June-2009, along with a request to forward the same to M/s Premier Sales Promotions Pvt. Ltd for availing the Holiday Stay Vouchers. Accordingly I had forwarded the same immediately and they promptly deducted Rs. 5943 from my card. But despite contacting them over telephone at their number[protected] and reminder dated 10-July-2009 I am yet to recieve the voucher from them.In fact despite trying several times over phone I coud not get the an opportunity to talk to anyone.In addition they have a PO Box number for correspondence which makes sending Registered A/D communication impossible. Maybe that is the idea behind this fraud!
Other relevant details of the Invoice are:
Invoice Number: ORA[protected]
Order Number: OGA[protected]
Membership Number: ITBC0943411
Invoice and Order Date: 11-June-2009

I contacted then via email and wanted to cancel my voucher and get refund. I was given a toll free number that did not work and also a Delhi landline number[protected]. I got through at the landline number and in turn was directed to another forum- an email id to contact ([protected]@bigcity.in)! I was assured that they would respond immediately and refund the amount. But guess what? No response!
All this running and chasing around has convinced me that it is a scam and a test of your resolve and patience and maybe many o[censored]s will get frustrates and let go and these crooks get away with it!
I checked this site and found that someone at least takes the trouble to respond and say that the issue has been taken care of so am trying my luck here! :-)

INDIA TODAY BOOK CLUB / Holiday Stay Voucher — Not processing of refund

Membership Number: ITBC0943314

I purchased a holiday stay voucher from them. Thereafter, as desired filled & submitted the registration form. After a month or so i got the promotion code. But i tried booking the resort it found that the commitments / confirmations given to me at the time of selling the voucher are not met. So i called there customer care to get the same cancelled and asked them to process the refund of my money.

The complaint number was : 168090 dated: 04/08/09

They asked me to send all the documents back to them. I had sent them through courier on 06/08/09 and informed them the consignment number on customer care. Later on 12/08/09 i got the consignment back in the opned condition with a note from the courier company that consignee has returned it after checking.When i again called them they apologised and asked me to send the same again to their other address in C.P., They also assured me to refund the courier charges also. So i couriered all the documnets alongwith the POD receipt to this new address on 12/08/09 itself. I got the confirmation from the courier company that the consignment had been delivered on 13/08/09. But till date their customer care guys are saying that they have not received the consignment or even if received it is not updated in their records.

I need my refund to be processed immediately.

If i didn't get the proper response and clear timelines within a week, i am going to involve my lawer friend and take the serious actions.

Regards,
Rahul

Dear Member,

We have come across your online complaint on https://www.consumercomplaints.in

With reference to your complaint, we would like to request you kindly provide your POD's scan copy to us so that we can forward your request for the same to the concern department.

We value your association with India Today Book Club and thank you for your patronage & co-operation.

For any further query or assistance please feel free to write us on [protected]@indiatodaybookclub.com or call us at[protected].

We would request you to kindly mention this subject: ONLINE COMPLAINTS whenever you e-mail us for quicker response.

Thanks & Regards,
Team, India Today Book Club

Dear Rahul,
ITBC have cheated me in the same way. However i have not returned their consignment of books as asked by them for the refund, as i refused to beleive them after they had cheated me once.
I have had about 8-10 telephonic conversations with them where they agree that they have the recording of the telesale but say that it was a 'miscommunication' and they apologize for the same.
Please tell me if you have been able to get your money back and how.
Regards
Ritu