[Resolved] Thomas Cook India — Fictitious Fuel Surcharge being charged by Thomas Cook India | |||
Fictitious Fuel Surcharge being charged 2013 Fictitious fuel surcharge being charged by Thomas Cook India. I had booked a tour on April 6th 2013 for Europe departing on 24th may 2013, I got a quotation of 1,23,000 all inclusive to which we mutually agreed. Now after the clearing of my 1st installment cheque of 50,000 per person they sent me an email that I have to pay them 5000 more for the fuel surcharge that being charged by the airline. I asked them that when did you come to know about the fuel surcharge increased by the airlines. They didn't reply exactly at first, but after my insistence they told me that they were told by the airlines in march and in the first week of April 13. I am surprised how can they charge me surcharge that they were aware of before taking my booking?? They are hiding under their unethical policies that states that they can charge surcharge. I can understand that they charge me surcharge for something that has increased after I have booked. Why should I pay for something that they were are already aware of while taking my booking?? This is a clear case of fraudulent practices! If I was aware of the increase in the price, I would have gone with the other tour operator. This is clear plan to first close sales with showing low prices and then later increasing the price under the excuse fuel surcharge. Now on either side their hands are in honey. If I I chose to cancel they will make money under cancellation charges. They are actually in a way coercing me to pay now. However, I am determined not to get coerced and fight till the very end… I would like to inform that thomas cook india is engaging in unfair trade practices under unfair internal policies. I request all the Thomas cook clients who are being charged this unfair surcharge to unite and deny paying them any surcharge. I am determined to fight and will not pay them this unfair surcharge. I once again request all affected people to unite Dhiraj S ([protected]@aol.com) Was this information helpful? | |||
Aug 13, 2020 Complaint marked as Resolved | |||
 3 Comments | |||
Comments
Hi, the same case is with me. I had booked a tour in Delhi (CP Office) for South Africa departing May 31 and now they are saying that I have to pay Rs.3000 per person extra as Fuel Surcharge out of the Blue and sending me Letters of just 2 Airlines in which I am not even travelling.
This is purely illegal.
My e-mail is [protected]@hotmal.com.
Kindly contact so that we can group together and talk to them collectively.
This is purely illegal.
My e-mail is [protected]@hotmal.com.
Kindly contact so that we can group together and talk to them collectively.
Thomas Cook rapped for deficiency of service
Garima Prasher, TNN Apr 30, 2013, 06.44AM IST
BANGALORE: It was supposed to be the trip of a lifetime for Prof Seema Gupta and her 15-year-old son. But it turned out to be a nightmare. Thanks to her travel company's goofing up, Seema coughed up over Rs 1 lakh rupees in addition to the planned expenses.
Seema, a professor at one of the country's prestigious B-schools here, took the issue to the consumer forum. Pulling up the travel company, Thomas Cook, for deficiency in service, theforum ordered it to refund Rs 94, 500 to the professor from whom the money had been collected as rescheduling charges.
The travel company was also asked to pay Rs 40, 000 as compensation and cost of Rs 5, 000 to the complainant.
Seema had booked a 10-day vacation with her son to the UK and Europe with Thomas Cookfrom May 1, 2012. She paid Rs 1, 26, 250 per person, including all charges like payment for visa, flight tickets, bus charges for travel in Europe, food, accommodation and tour guides.
The trip needed two visas - one for the UK and the Schengen visa for the European countries. The complainant alleged that because of the travel company's "casual" approach only her visa was granted, while her son's was withheld as the papers submitted did not include a No Objection Certificate and an affidavit from her former husband as was required. However, after the required documentation was done, the UK visa was granted to her son.
However, the Italian consulate did not grant Seema the Schengen visa as the travel company had applied for it only on April 30, 2012 with a wrong document. The company had got the legalization of affidavit from Seema's ex-husband done by the home department of Mumbai, whereas it should have been done at Bangalore, his place of residence.
The glitch about the Schengen visa was conveyed to Seema only a day before the trip began. Seema's trip was rescheduled for May 10, 2012 but after the visa was arranged, the company asked for an additional amount of Rs 94, 500 as rescheduling charge. The company also allegedly told her it would not release the visas, tickets and other travel documents if she did not pay the extra amount. When Seema asked about cancellation charges, the company said it would be Rs 1, 18, 500. After weighing all the options, she paid the money and went ahead with the trip.
She later approached the III Additional Bangalore Urban District Consumer Dispute Redressal Forum.
The defence
Thomas Cook denied any deficiency in service. Regarding the visa complications, the travel company argued it could not influence the visa agency which took decisions at its discretion. The company said it was only a reference point between the complainant and the consulate for the visa and its responsibility was restricted to forwarding documents it received from customers to the consulate.
The verdict
The consumer forum, comprising president T Rajashekharaiah and member Dr Subhashini, held the complainant had established the alleged deficiency of service. The forum said there was an omission on the company's part in giving proper guidance and this led to the delay in issuing of visa. The forum didn't accept the complainant's claims the food during the tour was not good and tour guides too were not good.
The forum said the complainant was entitled to refund of rescheduling charge of Rs 94, 500. Considering the mental tension and hardship she underwent, the forum awarded a compensation of Rs 40, 000 and Rs 5, 000 towards costs.
Garima Prasher, TNN Apr 30, 2013, 06.44AM IST
BANGALORE: It was supposed to be the trip of a lifetime for Prof Seema Gupta and her 15-year-old son. But it turned out to be a nightmare. Thanks to her travel company's goofing up, Seema coughed up over Rs 1 lakh rupees in addition to the planned expenses.
Seema, a professor at one of the country's prestigious B-schools here, took the issue to the consumer forum. Pulling up the travel company, Thomas Cook, for deficiency in service, theforum ordered it to refund Rs 94, 500 to the professor from whom the money had been collected as rescheduling charges.
The travel company was also asked to pay Rs 40, 000 as compensation and cost of Rs 5, 000 to the complainant.
Seema had booked a 10-day vacation with her son to the UK and Europe with Thomas Cookfrom May 1, 2012. She paid Rs 1, 26, 250 per person, including all charges like payment for visa, flight tickets, bus charges for travel in Europe, food, accommodation and tour guides.
The trip needed two visas - one for the UK and the Schengen visa for the European countries. The complainant alleged that because of the travel company's "casual" approach only her visa was granted, while her son's was withheld as the papers submitted did not include a No Objection Certificate and an affidavit from her former husband as was required. However, after the required documentation was done, the UK visa was granted to her son.
However, the Italian consulate did not grant Seema the Schengen visa as the travel company had applied for it only on April 30, 2012 with a wrong document. The company had got the legalization of affidavit from Seema's ex-husband done by the home department of Mumbai, whereas it should have been done at Bangalore, his place of residence.
The glitch about the Schengen visa was conveyed to Seema only a day before the trip began. Seema's trip was rescheduled for May 10, 2012 but after the visa was arranged, the company asked for an additional amount of Rs 94, 500 as rescheduling charge. The company also allegedly told her it would not release the visas, tickets and other travel documents if she did not pay the extra amount. When Seema asked about cancellation charges, the company said it would be Rs 1, 18, 500. After weighing all the options, she paid the money and went ahead with the trip.
She later approached the III Additional Bangalore Urban District Consumer Dispute Redressal Forum.
The defence
Thomas Cook denied any deficiency in service. Regarding the visa complications, the travel company argued it could not influence the visa agency which took decisions at its discretion. The company said it was only a reference point between the complainant and the consulate for the visa and its responsibility was restricted to forwarding documents it received from customers to the consulate.
The verdict
The consumer forum, comprising president T Rajashekharaiah and member Dr Subhashini, held the complainant had established the alleged deficiency of service. The forum said there was an omission on the company's part in giving proper guidance and this led to the delay in issuing of visa. The forum didn't accept the complainant's claims the food during the tour was not good and tour guides too were not good.
The forum said the complainant was entitled to refund of rescheduling charge of Rs 94, 500. Considering the mental tension and hardship she underwent, the forum awarded a compensation of Rs 40, 000 and Rs 5, 000 towards costs.
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i have booked for the departure from 12th may 2013, I have gone through the same thing, infact i had read earlier before booking about the surcharge on fuel being hiked for a passenger similarly, also during the booking i asked them clearly if any other charges i need to pay later they said no now they send me a mail, for my surprise