[Resolved]  SOTC — cancellation charges of booking amount even when security deposit for booking amount paid

Address:

Maharashtra

I have made payment of Rs 84,000 as booking deposit amount for the “American experience tour” on !4th dec 2011. We had paid Rs 4000 for securing the booking amount. Mr Vinay who was in charge and took the cheque assured us that if the tour is cancelled for any reason, the booking amount can be used for any other trip we would like to take with SOTC.

We are a family of 4 who were planning to travel. My husband’s passport was due for renewal and Mr Vinay said it could be done since there was ample time and he referred an agent to get it processed.

The passport did not get renewed even by march 19th. We contacted the Andheri SOTC to cancel the trip. They informed that there was still time and not to worry and Neha Mankar who is the sales manager gave us a letter addressed to the regional passport office to speed up the renewal but it did not help. Our plea to cancel the trip and refund the amount was always replied with a reassurance that we could take some other trip in that amount.

After that when I planned a trip I called SOTC for booking then to my horror I was informed that Rs 10,000 per person will be deducted since we did not take the trip which we booked. They were very much aware of our situation and were updated regularly and inspite of paying Rs 4000 for securing the deposit, if I have to lose 40,000 what is the use of this deposit?

If the passport office does not renew the passport are we responsible? We have had very good relationship with SOTC, hence we booked with you. Now the staff is Andheri is very rude and callous and irresponsible. Mr Raj, Neha Mankar, Vinay have behaved very badly. I would like to bring this to your notice. When I contact the andheri office they ask me to complain to costumercare, the phone of customer care is never answered and the mail id does not work

I am not asking for a refund, I am ready to travel now in December holidays. So kindly attend to my plea so that I can do the necessary booking. Hope I can get a positive response from you.