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Consumer Commission Orders Refund for Covid-Cancelled Australia-New Zealand Tour
A person paid Rs 2 lakh for a trip to Australia and New Zealand.
The trip was cancelled during the Covid-19 pandemic, so the person did not travel.
The person repeatedly asked the travel company to return the money.
The company said it did not have to give a refund and had offered a voucher for a future trip.
A consumer commission in Kolkata decided the company should return the Rs 2 lakh.
It also ordered the company to pay Rs 20,000 as compensation and Rs 10,000 for legal costs.
The commission said not returning the advance after repeated requests was a failure to provide proper service.
A Kolkata consumer commission ordered a travel company to refund Rs 2 lakh paid for an Australia-New Zealand tour.
The proposed tour was cancelled during the Covid-19 pandemic, and the complainant did not use the company’s services.
The commission said the company failed to refund the advance despite repeated requests, reminders and personal visits.
It awarded the complainant Rs 20,000 in compensation and Rs 10,000 in litigation costs.
The company contested the complaint, saying the complainant was not entitled to a refund and that it had offered a credit voucher.
- Who
- A complainant and an unnamed travel company; the order was issued by the Kolkata District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission.
- What
- The commission ordered a refund of Rs 2 lakh, Rs 20,000 compensation and Rs 10,000 in litigation costs.
- Where
- The case was heard in Kolkata, West Bengal, and concerned an Australia-New Zealand tour.
- When
- The order was dated September 29; the proposed tour was cancelled during the Covid-19 pandemic.
- Why
- The commission found that the company had failed to refund the advance despite repeated requests.
Complainant and Commission
Travel Company
Refund entitlement
Complainant and Commission
The complainant sought the return of the advance after the tour was cancelled; the commission ordered the company to refund Rs 2 lakh.
Travel Company
The company argued that the complainant was not entitled to a refund.
Alternative remedy
Complainant and Commission
The commission noted that repeated requests for a refund had not been met and found a deficiency in service.
Travel Company
The company said it had offered a credit voucher for future services.
Key facts
- Refund ordered
- Rs 2 lakh
- Compensation
- Rs 20,000
- Litigation costs
- Rs 10,000
- Total ordered
- Rs 2.3 lakh
- Tour
- Australia-New Zealand package
- Commission
- Kolkata District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission
- Company's position
- It argued the complainant was not entitled to a refund and said it had offered a credit voucher for future services.
Quotes
Kolkata District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission
The consumer commission that issued the order
“The complainant had paid Rs 2 lakh for the tour package but did not avail the services of the opposite party due to cancellation of the proposed tour. Though several requests, reminders, and personal visits were made to the opposite party by the complainant from time to time regarding refund of the advance amount, the opposite party deliberately failed and neglected to refund the advance amount to the complainant.”
indianexpress.com









