Hi, I write this to bring to your notice certain malpractices that owners of Apple House (Homestay in Village Shanag, P.O. Bahang, Tehsil Manali, Distt Kullu in Himachal Pradesh) have been indulging in. We are a family in Love with Himachal Pradesh and as a part of our annual ritual to visit some part of Himachal, we decided to Manali for the sixth time in June this year (05 to 11 June 2013).
I contacted Mr Ved Thakur on phone and he offered me a room @ 1000/- per night for five days. When my parents and sister decided to join us, I called up again and he offered me a full set of two bed rooms and a sitting room (on one floor) for Rs 2000/- per night.
So, I paid Rs 2000/- in advance (through e-transfer) and confirmed my bookings. We had a decent time there but when we were checking out, the lady of the house, Smt Champa, asked us to pay @ 2500 per night. When I explained the situation, she refused to honour her own husband’s word and insisted on paying 2500. Her husband was out and he did not pick up our calls.
I then requested her to adjust my advance of 2000/- and again she said since she did not know about that transaction, she could not adjust it. Not to spoil the mood and also since we have lots of faith in Himachalis, I paid 2000+2500= 4500 extra and left. After a number of attempts.
I finally got through to Sh Ved Thakur the next day and he promised to refund the amount, agreeing to keep his commitment given to me earlier but insisting that I should have called him (which I did do but he never picked up the phone) before making the payments. It has been more than one month now and everytime I call (four calls and as many SMSs in-between), he tells me to send him my account number.
I sent the number thrice but when I called up from a different number today and he picked up, he again asked for my number. Disgusted, I told him to keep the money and be happy. In the process, I had started feeling like a beggar rather than a visitor to Dev Bhoomi, a visitor who just wanted to seek excess charges refunded. I have incurred a loss of Rs 4500/- and since homestays work without regulatory checks, I do not have documents to show and in any case, I do not have time for fighting such cases.
I would fear to believe that if they can do this to us, what must be happening to foreigners there! Mr Ved Thakur is worst than a hotelier but hiding behind the garb of a homestay.