Signature Linkers Pvt Ltd — Signature Grand Club Membership

Address:

Signature Linkers Pvt Ltd, K-28, 2nd FLOOR, LAJPAT NAGAR – 2, New Delhi.

Complaint against fraudulent business activities and cheating by M/s Signature Linkers Private Ltd.
On 3rd Sept 2021 one Ms Sony (Mob:[protected]) called me to tell that I have been selected in a lucky draw to receive a 4 day trip as prize and movie tickets. She asked me to reach Hotel Sheela Tower, Sambalpur along with my spouse (married couples only allowed with id proof) in the evening. She gave me three time slots 6pm, 7pm and 8pm to choose from. I selected the 8pm slot. After some time I received the following SMS on my phone: Mr PK Sahoo and Mrs Pushpanjali Sahoo.. GIFT CODE NO- SCH1649.
I did not take it very seriously and did not go.
Next day the same lady called again and asked me why I did not go last night. She told that as the Gift is already registered in my name the same cannot be given to anybody else and I must attend today i.e on 4th Sept to take the gift. She asked me to go at 6pm to Hotel Sheela Tower.
I, along with my spouse Mrs Puspanjali Sahu, reached Hotel Sheela Tower out of curiosity. Before I reached there some one from a Mob No.[protected] called me to reach the reception in the Hotel and ask for Signature Programme. I did that and the front desk man directed me to a hall in the basement of the Hotel. When we reached there we were given a form to fill up with some personal info like name, address, family income, vehicle, house etc. They told these details were necessary to issue the gift. I obliged without much thought.
Then one Ms Urmi (Mob:[protected]) started conversation with us asking about our personal liking, hobbies, whether we go to see places etc. She tried to be a very good friend of ours and her communication skill was commendable. Then one gentleman called Rohan ( Mob No. [protected]) joined and started talking about Signature Grand Club and its activities explaining in detail how they organize touring trips for people, showed us various properties of Signature at various locations on his laptop etc. Then they asked us if they give us a good offer of tour whether we would accept it then and there. I told them it depends on the attractiveness of the offer. Then they gave us two packages one for ten years and the other for 5 years costing Rs165K and Rs.90 K respectively.
When asked for details they told us that it would be a 7 day fully paid vacation every year for 5 or 10 years as the case may be. “You just have to reach the place of your choice and we take the entire responsibility of your stay sight seeing etc. We even get your air tickets done at 25 to 30 percent discount compared to any other online ticketing site like Make my trip, Goibibo etc. And we provide you 5 /4 star hospitality for 7 days. You will enjoy a hassle free holiday with our meticulously planned itinerary.”
When we were pondering over the offer and deciding to reject it they came up with a discount (as if reading from our face) Rs 121 K for the 10 year and RS.73K for the 5 year package. They called it as a Club membership/ownership. Also Mr Rohan proposed if we take it in the name of my wife there would be another special discount of Rs.5000/- for women. We were not interested. They called their senior Mr Hrushikesh Dubey (Mob No.[protected]) who told us that he was authorized by his company to look after Sambalpur business. When I asked him where is his office, he told there was no office and he operated from his home. We believed him considering the work from home policy of many companies today.
He was extra friendly with us and asked us to consider him as our son and started talking like emotionally black mailing us comparing himself with our son who is a travel blogger. (We had told them about our family members during our conversation earlier)
Then he came up with a offer of Rs.60K for the five year membership and even offered a EMI of Rs.3100/- per month for 24 months. HE EVEN ASSURED THAT IF WE SALE 14 DAYS OF HOLIDAY OUT OF THE 35 DAYS (7DAY/YEAR X 5) THEN WE WOULD GET BACK SOMETHING AROUND RS.58K. This is where we got bowled over. Getting 21 days of all expenses paid holiday for a paltry Rs.2000/- Rs.60000/- minus Rs.58000/-)was definitely a very attractive proposition. It appeared unrealistic but he told us that as a son he would never cheat us. His way of talking and style of communication somehow convinced me at that time and I accepted the proposal.
Immediately they asked for our i-cards and we gave our aadhar cards. Then they asked if I have a VISA credit card. I said Yes. He asked for it and asked me to pay Rs.60000/- I asked for the T&C of the deal. They told that they will only be available after I pay. When I insisted they gave us a print out of an email with 12 benefits of membership written there and told that same thing would be there on the agreement which would be signed by both parties after the payment is made.
At this point they had created such an atmosphere that my senses seemed to have stopped functioning and I mechanically put my PIN on the swiping machine giving away Rs.60K from my SBI credit card. Then they came with some forms and receipt and asked both o[censored]s to sign as 1st purchaser (my wife) and 2nd Purchaser(myself). When I asked to allow me to read the T&C they told that a copy would be given to me and whatever they showed me in the print out earlier would be written elaborately in the T&C. In good faith we signed and left the hotel with the papers they offered.
After reaching home I read the details of the T&C on which we had signed. I was shocked beyond imagination to see the clause which stated the amount paid for membership is not refundable under any circumstances. Among others the following points were shocking and whatever was promised to us by the three sales persons were of no use.
The following points were really shocking:
.
1. The total money paid once is not refundable in any circumstances. (That means my Rs.60000/- is lost for ever and this fact was never told to me before taking money from my credit card)

2. The club will provide only accomodation for 6 nights in a year (for which I have to compulsorily pay an extra AMC of Rs.8500/- plus GST) and all other tour charges were chargeable. (This was contrary to what I was made to believe that 7days holidays are completely free.)

3. NO other verbal or written offer or assurance given by anybody which is not there in the agreement form is valid. (That means what ever the three sales people told or showed us during their presentation were simple eye wash and was meant to influence us to take an instantaneous decision to pay.)

4. There was no clause for “look in period” which is a normal clause in any type of contract. The customer is given an exit route if he is not satisfied with the T&C within a stipulated period of 15 days to one month. This clause was not there in this contract form making it one sided in favour of the company and against the customer. This is very much objectionable and illegal.

5. There was no clause which spoke of exchange of the 14 days of holidays to get cash of Rs.58000/- . That means it was a false promise given by Mr Hrishikesh Dubey to dupe innocent people like us.

6. Compelling unsuspecting innocent people to take instantaneous decision with high sounding un-realistic promises and offers amounts to non transparent / illegal trade practice. This strategy is not expected from any credible established company.

After reading the T&C I immediately called Mr Rohan (at about 1 AM on 5th Sept 2021 (night of 4th Sept) and asked him to cancel my membership and refund my money. Rohan handed over the phone to Mr Hrishikesh Dubey who tried to convince me in his usual manner and asked me to ignore the contract form and enjoy the holidays he had provided to us. When I insisted to get out of the contract he promised me to help me out to get the refund and even went upto the extent of telling me “ Uncle, rest assured. I have sold you “Holidays” not “Headache”. If the company does not refund I will refund you from my pocket. But I still request you to continue.”

I talked to Mr Dubey the next day (5th Sept 2021) and wanted to meet him in person. But he told that he was in Jharsuguda and would definitely meet me the next day (6th Sept 2021) at Sambalpur. On 6th Sept I went to Hotel Sheela Tower only to be informed by the Hotel receptionist that the Signature people had left the previous day and they had booked the hall for two days only (3rd and 4th Sept 2021)

I called Mr Dubey again and asked him where he was. He assured that I would get the refund and asked me to raise the issue when I get the “Welcome Call” from their office. He told me that the Call would come on 7th Sept. No one called me on 7th. On 8th Sept 2021 one Mr Manish (Mob: [protected]) called me to welcome me to the Signature Grand Club. I told him clearly to cancel my membership as I was not in a position to accept their T&C imposed in the contract. He assured that he would put my case before their management and the refund would be given to me.

Immediately after this conversation with Mr Manish, Mr Hrishikesh Dubey called me to confirm that he had done everything from his side and assured me that I would definitely get back my money, but it may take some time. He asked me to wait patiently for a few days.

I waited for a week. But I did not get any response from anywhere. On 13th Sept 2021 I called Mr Manish and he asked me to send an email to [protected]@signaturelinkers.com so that he could present the same to their Management. I wrote an email immediately appealing for the refund of Rs.60000/-. I even gave them the liberty to deduct any penalty they may feel like.

Since then I have tried to contact Mr Dubey several times but he does not pick my call. He does not respond to my whatts app messages also. I have in correspondence by email on the email id [protected]@signaturelinkers.com but they are refusing to refund my money. Even they are not prepared to come to an amicable settlement of the issue. The email correspondence is attached herewith.

The following persons of the company Signaturte Linkers Pvt Limited are in touch with me.

Persons who duped me in Hotel Sheela Tower, Sambalpur on 4th Sept 2021:

Mr Hrushikesh Dubey: Mob: [protected]
Mr Rohan : Mob : [protected]
Ms Urmi : Mob: [protected]

Signature Customer Care: (Who replies the emails)

Mr Manish/ MS Poonam: Mob: [protected]

The First Person who contacted me on 3rd/4th September to receive a free Gift in Sheela Tower

Ms Sony; Mob: [protected].

I could find a lot of complaints in the internet by people who were also duped by this company in a similar manner. It appears that the company is a fraud company which dupes people and makes them sign an agreement to avoid court proceedings. It is a real wonder how this company is continuing its cheating business since 2014. It has now expanded its wings to smaller towns like Sambalpur, Rourkela etc where people are comparatively simple and naïve.

In a word, Signature Linkers Pvt Ltd is engaged in organized cheating business and use innovative marketing techniques to attract people promising them free gifts, then brain washing them through false promises and showing dream locations and compelling them to pay then and there. They fraudulently make non suspecting people to sign one sided agreements without allowing them to read it before signing. They generate the contract form only after taking the payment.

I urge the authorities to help me in getting back my money of ₹60K for which M/S Signature Linkers Pvt Ltd has not provided me any product or service till now. They are simply planning to embezzle my money without providing anything to me in return.

Govt agencies should take appropriate stern action against this fraudulent business of the Company so that common people are not duped by them.

My demand from Signature Linkers Pvt Ltd, K-28, 2nd FLOOR, LAJPAT NAGAR – 2, New Delhi.
1. Return of my Rs.60000/- which Mr Hrishikesh Dubey and his two associates (Namely, Mr Rohan and Ms Urmi) had fraudulently taken on 4th Sept 2021.
2. A compensation of Rs.1, 00, 000/- for mental and physical trauma they have given me since then till date.