About a year back, I had up loaded my bad experience with SOTC tours on mouthshut.com. We had booked a Europe tour through SOTC, in May 2010, three months in advance. The scheduled tour departure was on 22nd Aug. 2010. Our Visas were processed & we were ready to take off. We got a rude shock on 12th Aug, just 10 days before the departure date, when we were informed that the tour had been cancelled by them. We did not even have enough time to re plan a fresh tour.
SOTC did not even bother to appropriately respond to my letters, did not bother to refund Rs.42, 000.00 I had paid, as advance. Despite all my best efforts, I could not succeed in getting my money back from SOTC.
My argument was –
The tour cancellation information should have been given at least a month before and If the tour was to be cancelled, why so much money was spent on Visa processing.
After a frustrating follow up, I decided to appeal to Consumer Court, Nagpur.
I am very happy to inform that the Honourable Consumer court has recently given a judgement in my favour and has awarded me Rs. 1, 05, 000(Rs. One Lakh Five thousands only), including compensation. The amount has since been paid to me by SOTC.
This for the information of every one, particularly those, who may have had similar experience with major tour operators.
My sincere, heartfelt thanks to the Honourable courts and to my very able advocate Mr. Ravi Poharkar. Justice neither delayed nor denied.
Do not hesitate to fight back for your rights and against injustice. Judicial system is still great in great shape in our country.