I also got trapped and taken a membership from country clubs Dubai office through Mr. Akhtar in may 2016 after wining the coupon from madina mall Dubai.
We paid through Emirates Nbd for Aed 31500/-+AED1200/-(Total AED 32, 700/-) first in May 2016 upon Mr Akhtar’s and team instructions that could get converted in 24 months installment, was not the case when we actually confirmed with NBD bank after the payment and we got shocked. We couldn’t convert that in 24 months so Mr Akhtar asked us to repay that through Masharaq card and said that will get discount of AED1500 so forcefully( we did not wanted to continue but had no options left, we had to take mashreq card, otherwise we had to pay NBD all amount together and which was not possible for us financially) we did repayment through Mashreq card for Aed 30000/- which got converted into 24 months installment but we had to pay AED 1200/- as processing fee on the top of the same which was not told to us while swiping by Mr. Akhtar and team which was second shock for us.
Then Mr Akhther had confirmed us that we will get total Aed 2700 /- back(1500 discount( from AED 31500/-)+ 1200 processing fees paid to mashreq for installments) on 8th July 2016(I have email sent by him of confirmation)
At the beginning, Mr Akhtar had confirmed us(during promotional discussion even before swiping emirates Nbd card) that country club will avail us the same fitness services free of cost in Al bustan health club, Al Qusais. Dubai( reference mail on 8th July 2017) which he couldn’t make it possible. Even after several telephonic discussion, we met him again to resolve this, then he told us that he will pay Aed 3300/-(first year for couple, so that we can pay this amount to Al Bustan start using their services) till the Country club could manage the tie up with al bustan.
So in total we have got Aed 6000/- cheque(AED 1500+1200+3300=6000/-). Which was not actual refund amount. But the letter which he made us to sign forcefully while receiving this AED6000 cheque was not mentioning with above real story. The letter was saying it is refund, when we refused to sign this letter Mr. Akhtar said that this is accounts people policy and management will not accept so better sign this letter otherwise accounts will not release this AED6000/- cheque. So we had to sign the letter forcefully.
Whenever we enquire with them to book for any holiday, there were no response, after so much follow up when we visited Dubai office, we found it closed and we completely shattered, shocked. We tried contacting Mr. Akhtar, he stopped receiving our calls, then we tried contacting their Al Karama, Dubai office they were not responding properly and we decided to cancel the membership. But Ms. Suja from karama office told us continue membership and it is non refundable( but at the beginning Mr. Akhtar confirmed us that it is refundable, if we face any problem, they will give us all money back).
As these people were not responding to calls and mails, then we went to Dubai economy - Consumer dept and discussed with officials. They called country club manager Mr. Faheem and warned him to refund all the money otherwise they will cancel their company registration License in Dubai as there were many complaints against country club. Here also Mr. Faheem lied and said they have refunded the AED6, 000 already and balance amount they will refund but the actual situation was different as I explained above.
After so much of follow ups and visits, they given meeting date, we went to karama office to take a refund but there also they tried pressuring / convincing us not to cancel the membership and instead go for Bangalore plot buying option. After so much of suffering there was no chance to stay in their membership, we continued asking them for refund and told them that otherwise we need to go to Dubai economy department. So finally after so much of follow up When we got AED22, 620/- cheque they made us to sign another letter saying that this is complete refund but the reality was different and took us all the originals back from us. If don’t sign this letter we wouldn’t have got back this cheque too. As they know that all the money is with them and customers hand is already under big rock, they made sure that customer who trusted them and paid such big amounts to them doesn’t have chance to move a single inch.
Total we have paid:
AED31, 500/-+1200/-= AED 32, 700/-
= AED 6, 000 /- 1st cheque
= AED 22, 620/- 2nd cheque
= AED 4, 080/- balance payment need to receive from country club.
The experience with this organization was pathetic, very big disappointment with customer service and false, misleading information and we lost our peace of mind completely. I don’t know why this people do this kind of things and it is again on foreign land. This is our hard earned money and I want it back, I request concern authorities to help us.