[Resolved]  Dr Lal Path Lab — Promised 10% discount for senior citizen, then refused after blood and urine samples given

Address:

Gurgaon, Haryana

Dear Sir,

I had to get some blood tests and urine tests done for my mother, Mrs XChandra Prabha Shukla aged over 80. At her age many health services offer a discount, so before deciding we called up Dr Lal Path Lab at customer care and they confirmed 10% discount for senior citizens

They gave the number of the nearest branch, which came and collected some samples on 28/3/2013 from our home (at a extra charge of Rs 100, which we agreed), and collected payment through bill number 994100 of Rs 1780.

One more samples which had to be taken across 24 hours were delivered two days later to their lab on 30/3/2013 to their outlet Dr Lal Path Lab, Park Vicew City 2, Sohna Road , Gurgaon, and paid Rs 210 vide bill number 894788

When I have the third sample today 04/04/2013 to them, and paid vide invoice number 010523 I had checked the amount in the rate card, and was charged full amount Rs 460 - the 10% discount was not deducted.

WHen I asked the counter salesman why the discount has not been given , he said this is the policy of the company. They do offer 10% discount on telephone at customer care. They also do direct you to the nearest location to do the pickup, but discount is only given in the bill at two locations which are company owned. If the nearest location is a franchisee outlet then the discount amount is refused. He said that this causes lot of customers to shout at him, he is helpless, and asked me to call up cusotmer care if I did not believe him

On calling customer care, I was told that the discount is announced , but it is only given for samples delivered at location of Sector 14 Gurgaon in this disctrict. When I said this is unethical as there are 22 locations in Gurgaon, and if you give discount at 1 location and not at 21 locations then you should only annouce it when the person is specifically asking for that location, she said that is normal. She informed me that "Gurgaon is nothing, in Delhi we have 151 locations, and give discount in 1 location only (Connaught Place) so what is so difficult about Gurgaon "


This is a clear case of deceptive communication, falsely promising discount to customer of 10% for senior citizens and then not providing it 21 out of 22 locations in Gurgoan.