India Today — india today book club cheated me

India Today Book Club — ITBC cheated me

I am surprised at the way a reputed publication house like the India Today group has resorted to cheating people in the name of "fabulous offers" and "free gifts".

I fell into this trap myself on April 29, 2009, when I ordered two Benetton watches for Rs 998. I paid through credit card (Order number - 0GA[protected] and received a parcel 3 weeks later. To my shock and utter disbelief, the perfectly wrapped package had just one watch instead of two. I repeat, the package had not been tampered with, so the postal department can't be blamed. I immediately called up the customer helpline number and my call was answered by a Mr Lalit who assured me that there was an error on the part of the packaging and handling department and that the issue will be resolved right away and the parcel will arrive within the next 10 to 15 days. He sounded like it was a common phenomenon and there was nothing abnormal about it. He gave me a reference number - 109115 (he called it the request number to despatch order). Since then I have written to the [protected]@indiatodaybookclub.com address several times and my emails were answered by Mr Kuldeep Singh who repeated the exact same words in all the mails: "...we have forwarded your complain[t] to our concern[ed] department, they will do [the] needful (sic) for you as soon as possible." It has been a month and a half since I placed my order and almost a month since I received the incomplete parcel, I wonder how soon is "as soon as possible" for them. After reading the others complaints listed on this site, I don't think I should expect it to ever arrive.

I know that duping people through the Internet is not a new phenomenon, but usually they come as obvious spam mails from unknown people. One certainly can't associate the India Today group with this kind of fraudulent activities. I noticed that there are 235 pages on this site alone that are full of similar complaints. The list of people duped by the ITBC seems endless. It's about time that they are stopped.

Dear Sir

I have bought a sun glass of reebok from India Today Book Club. At the time of purchase i was told that i will be getting the Holiday Package totally Free. But with the product I have not got any free voucher. Thereafter I have contacted the ITBC for detail. Good the information that I have to Claim from their WEB with Some number. Which was not their in my Invoice. After waiting for some time i got that no.

When i went to the web page to get my gift a long procedure was written with at least 2 time post communication has to be done. But the surprisingly for the free gift they have asked to me to Pay Rs. 800 by DD as service charge. I don't know how its free when we have to pay Rs. 800

Moreover it was mentioned that if after booking if canceled we have to Pay Rs. 2000 to 4000 as charges for cancel by way of debit or credit card.

This means that once we pay Rs. 800 for booking they will again rob us in the name of free asking more money to be paid for some XYZ charges. This is clearly a cheating because before booking the product it was clearly mentioned by customer care person that no additional charges is required to be paid.

Kindly some one please guide me how to go for consumer court against such malpractice done by one of well known business house in media

INDIA TODAY BOOK CLUB — CHEATED OF SUBSCRIPTION GIFT

My membership No. ITBC08760028

I applied for membership Dec 08 & paid membership fess of Rs.299. My instruction was Webster Concise Edition Enclclopedia to be delivered as the subscription gift. gift. What I received on 15th Dec 08, was Collins Cobuild English Dictionary- that I had NOT asked for.

I started my communication with INDIA TODAY BOOK CLUB (ITBC) since 15th Dec 08. Initially I was advised Webster Concise Edition Enclclopedia was expected in 2-3 months & would be forwarded as soon as available. Later on 3rd Jun 09, I was notified Webster Concise Edition Enclclopedia was permanently out of stock. Finally I on 16th July 09, was advised by Mr. Amit (on Ph[protected] that I must return the Collins Cobuild English Dictionary to ITBC Competent House office & my subcription of Rs. 299/- would be refunded. The Collins Cobuild English Dictionary was returned on 28th July 09. The person who recd.this back- Mr. Ravinder informed that Rs. 299/- would be refunded withiin 14 days.

On 29th Jul09 I recd another phone call (Mr. Fernandez) saying refund of Rs. 299/- cannot be made.I requested him to suggest alternative books Mr.Fernandez said he would call back in two hours; when I asked for his contact no. he said that is secret and cannot be revealed. Anyway, Fernandez DID NOT call back after two hours or any time thereafter.

Thereafter I made numerous calls to the ITBC Competent House office & 40502424 for resolution.

Finally Mr. Ravi called on 12th Aug 09. He acknowledged the receipt of Collins Gem Cobuild English Dictionary that was returned on 28th July 09. He mentioned that the charges of Rs.299/- paid by me in Dec 08 cannot be refunded- this is contrary to whatMr. Amit & Mr. Ravinder had advised. Mr. Ravi suggested that he could offer a choice of two books (I need to select one) & he would send me a mail, with details of the books. Till now I recd. no mail from Mr. Ravi. I had called[protected], ITBC Comptent House & NOIDA) mutiple times. I am always told Mr. Ravi.is not available. There is a Mr. Rohit- who hangs up on me, I have sent mutiple e mails to which I haven't recd. a response.

I have had enough of harrassment by the ITBC team & now need them to refund my Rs.299/- subcritiption paid- to close this case.


Joydeep Mukerjea


Ph: 29230324/ 41631366

Dont worry you will never and ever get that refund. even if they give you option of other books they will ask more money from you and FOOL you just like they have been doing for donkey years to others.

INDIA TODAY BOOK CLUB — what they told was entirely not matched

sir,
iam santhi kiran ,32 years old,staying in Ongole
last month i.e, last week of the September,suddenly i got a phone call from India today book club, was told me that i won a one lakh rupee gold in a contest conducted by them.but i thought that was a business trick so i rejected.but to grab that chance i had to purchase a product among the available 4 products.i told them them that i do not want to take any discount coupons for any gold purchase.but they confirmed me i need not pay a single paise for the one lakh gold with the coupons without a single paise from my side.
but at last this became fraud from their side.the coupons were just discount vouchers for one lakh gold.when i asked they insulted me .