[Resolved]  Dealsothon — Misleading & fraud against customer

Address:

Kolkata, West Bengal

On 08.11.2013, I received a call from Miss Gauri Sharma of Dealsothon that I have been selected as a lucky customer for prizes to be given by Dealsothon. If I opted for the 1st prize i.e. Toyota Etios (Liva), I would have to pay Rs. 70000.00 as 50% of the registration and other charges for the car (balance to be paid by Dealsothon) and nothing else. I was asked on whose name I wanted to book the prize to which I replied that it would be on my wife, Mitali Bagchis name. The same amount was paid through Citibank credit card in 3 transactions of Rs. 19999.00, 29999.00 & 19999.00. I was asked to send some documents related to identity & age proof of my wife. After this again later on the same day, I was told that the prize has been finalized on my wifes name and I need to create an ID for processing of the prize by paying another Rs. 30000.00. It was also told that this shall be the last payment and my prize confirmation shall be received on my mail as soon as I mail the documents related to my wife. The payment of Rs. 30198.00 was made by SBI Debit Card. After the payment I was told that I shall receive the confirmation mail as soon as I send my wifes documents; which was sent the same day. After sometime I again received a call from Miss Gauri that I need to make a payment of Rs. 30198.00 again against prize claim ID as the earlier claim ID has wrongly created in my name whereas it ought to have been created in my wifes name in whose name the prize is to be processed. I asked what shall happen to the money I have already paid to which she replied that I shall get the money back at the time of receipt of 1st prize. THIS AMOUNT OF Rs. 30198.00 WAS PAID IN EXCESS. I again paid an amount of Rs. 30198.00 by SBI Debit card. She again assured that the 1st prize is confirmed against my name and I shall get the confirmation soon. On 13.11.2013, I received a call from Miss Gauri telling me that as a part of Govt. regulations, some PODs shall be made against the amount paid by me and some products would be sent to me for which I shall be receiving verification calls. I was also told to reply to those calls by asking the caller to process my orders. I told her that I donot want any product but Miss Gauri told that these were gifts from Dealsothon which were required to be given as per Govt. regulations. The products were delivered to my office on 16.11.2013. On 13.11.2013 itself, I received another call from Miss Gauri to make a payment another payment of Rs. 30098.00 for forwarding the file to their headoffice which shall be the last payment to be made by me (all this time one of her senior madam was in conference and instructing her to ask me to make the payment so that she forwards the file to their headoffice for processing of the prize). The payment was made by SBI Debit card. On 28.11.2013 (after lots of telephonic persuasion), I received a call from Dealsothon that my file has been processed and I have to claim my prize by paying another Rs. 30198.00. The same was paid by SBI Credit Card on 28.11.2013. Even after this I did not receive any confirmation mail. Instead on 21.12.2013, I received a call from Mr. Rajeev and Miss Gauri that my Rs. 60000.00 payment has rebound due to some technical problem. I was categorically told by Mr. Rajeev that the amount of Rs. 60000.00 shall be released to me by 25.12.2013. Mean while I was requested to pay Rs. 59999.00 which was paid by Citibank credit card on 21.12.2013. I neither received any money nor any confirmation about my prize. Instead on 29.12.2013, I was told by Miss Gauri that payment shall be made by 06.01.2014. When I did not get any confirmation on refund of Rs. 59999.00 even after 06.01.2014, I called again and this time I was told by Miss Gauri/Mr. Rajeev that the amount shall be refunded at the time of handing over of 1st prize to me (which shall be declared on 31.03.2014). When I enquired about the Rs. 30198.00 I have paid extra earlier on 08.11.2013, at first Mr. Rajeev asked Miss Gauri that whether it was true and why it was not communicated to him. Later he confirmed me that the total amount of Rs. 90197.00 shall be refunded to me after 31.03.2014 while handing over of the 1st prize to me which I had no other option but to believe. In Jan14, I again received a call from Miss Gauri/Mr. Rajeev which I thought was about my 1st prize confirmation and refund of my excess paid amount of Rs. 90197.00. Instead I found out that the phone was for payment of another Rs. 40000.00 as a final payment for claiming of the 1st prize. According to her, thereafter no calls shall be made to me for any further payment. I have to make one last payment. Initially I refused but Miss Gauri regularly called me and convinced me to pay the amount of Rs. 40000.00. She told me that I am like her brother and that I shall believe on my younger sister. Ultimately I made a payment of Rs. 40098.00 vide my SBI debit card on 21.01.2014. Even after this I did not receive any confirmation of either my refund or my prize. Whenever I followed up, Miss Gauri used to convince me that my 1st prize is confirmed and I need not worry when she is there. In February 2014, I again received a call from Miss Gauri to make a final payment of Rs. 20000.00 which I refused. She again called me to pursue and ultimately one day she told me atleast you make one final payment of Rs. 10000.00. Ultimately I made the payment of Rs. 10098.00 on 27.02.2014 by Citibank credit card. Thereafter I got no calls from them till sometimes near the end of March14 regarding creation of some mandatory PODs. I told I donot need any goods to which she (Miss Gauri) again told me that these are gifts and not purchased items from my side. In April14 when I called Miss Gauri enquiring about my refund and 1st prize, I was told me to rest assured that I shall be getting them but only after elections due to some Govt. restrictions for election period. After elections in the end of May14, I received 2 packets of goods from Dealsothon but didnot get either my prize or my refund. In the meantime, I have regularly mailing to Dealsothon about my prize and refund. In response, I was either getting mails quoting something like We sincerely apologies for the inconvenience caused. We have noted your concern and we are personally looking into this issue, please allow us 1 business day to provide a reliable update on this query. Please be assured that we will resolve this issue in the best possible way. Or phone call from Miss Gauri telling me not to mail and reassuring me that my prize is confirmed and I shall get my 1st prize as well as my refund soon. Around last week of mail, I started getting repeated calls from Miss Gauri to make a final payment of Rs. 20000.00 and later reduced it to Rs. 10000.00. Miss Gauris last call came on 02.06.2014 or 03.06.2014 requesting to make a final payment of Rs. 10000.00 which I refused stating that I am not in a position to pay any more money as my financial situation has become so critical over the months due to making payments to Dealsothon. She told okay brother, I am trying to talk to my seniors and get you the prize. I told her, I have effectively understood that I am not going to get the prize and I am fauxed but atleast get me my legitimate refund of my hard-earned money of Rs. 90000.00 which she told that I shall be getting both. I mailed again to Dealsothon to which I received a call from Mr. Rajeev on 05.06.2014 stating that there is no refund due against me for which I was making a claim. Regarding prize, he told that he is looking into it. When I stressed about my legitimate refund, he told me that he is rechecking and shall be reverting back within  hour which he did not. In the meantime, I visited Dealsothon website and found that the earlier contest is over and a new contest which is to end on 31.08.2014 has been announced. On 06.06.2014, when I contacted Dealsothon office, Mr. Rajeev again told me that no refund is due to me as all the PODs has been created. When I told him that PODs were created on request from Miss Gauri on grounds that this was only for compliance to Govt. regulations. I have even refused to take any gifts against Rs. 90000.00 due to me. He reiterated that as PODs are created, no refund is due to me. As far as the 1st prize is concerned, he shall be confirming. When I told him that I have visited their website and found that the earlier contest is over and new contest has started; he accepted that the result has been announced. When I charged him that how he was still telling me that he was looking into the prize issue, he said that he shall talk to his seniors and try to get some prize for me. I categorically told him, I donot need any prizes but only refund of Rs. 90000.00 which was paid in excess to Dealsothon and which was committed by Miss Gauri/Mr. Rajeev on behalf of Dealsothon to be refunded after 31st March, 2014 at the time of handing over of the 1st prize to me. Such is the audacity of Dealsothon representatives that Miss Gauri is trying to extract money from me even after declaration of the prize and Mr. Rajeev lie to me that he is trying to do something for getting me the prize even though he very well knew that the prize has been declared. I donot know whether I shall be getting my refund or my 1st prize as committed by Dealsothon but I am just trying to get my hard earned money refund. I in total paid Rs. 302982.00 of which Rs. 90197.00 is excess payment as per the commitment/verbal communication of Dealsothon. I have fauxed by them into coughing out my hard earned money. I never expected Dealsothon to be fraudulent and misleading. I shall once again request Dealsothon to look into the matter and resolve my problem instead of blatantly denying facts. As a matter of fact total fraudulence is Rs. 302982.00 as I never intended to purchase anything from them but I was fauxed into doing so. I shall be happy even if I get my Rs. 90197.00 refunded considering they have send goods to me (which also I am sure has been sent for a value much less than Rs. 212785.00). An amicable solution shall be refund of Rs. 90197.00; receipt of goods of the value of Rs. 212785.00 and my 1st prize. Expect a early resolving of the issue. Due to my transactions with Dealsothon I am still paying to my credit card company with interest and my bank balance is very very critical.