I booked a SpiceJet Bangalore-Delhi flight through Make My Trip App. Booking ID NF7207555172903
The flight itself got cancelled so I booked an Indigo flight through MMT App again after cancelling SpiceJet flight.
SpiceJet officials confirmed verbally, and then gave me an email confirmation as well, that they have refunded entire INR 6197/- booking amount to MMT.
However MMT has only refunded INR 4997/- and refused Rs 1200 refund. Their argument is that they put in a Cashback amount of Rs 1200 in my MMT account(this cashback automatically expires in 90 days) when I booked my SpiceJet ticket. So they don’t owe me this money at all.
I wonder whether it’s an illegal practice by MMT or are they exploiting a loophole in Indian laws that can allow a Pvt Entity to replace real "non-expiring cash" with imaginary "expiring cashback"? I repeatedly requested MMT to deduct Cashback and refund real Cash. But they have refused that too.
MMT is just an agent here unlike SpiceJet which was the real service provider. After SpiceJet refunded entire money to them, do they have any legal right to replace my money by their own currency(Called Cashback)? That too an expiring currency?
There was nothing in writing on website during ticket booking process or on e-ticket itself that allows MMT to withhold cash(Govt issued fungible real non-expiring money) and replace it with their own cashback(private non-fungible imaginary expiring money). So what gives them a contractual right to do so?
I would like to invite your comments and feedback. Anyone else has had a similar experience?