Refund entire tour cost, Thomas Cook directed

The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commi-ssion, Hyderabad-I, directed Thomas Cook (India) ltd. to refund `43,000 along with a nine per cent interest for deducting the amount even after their customer had cancelled tickets due to Covid-19.

One Manju Goyal from Madhapur filed a petition before the commission stating that she and her husband had booked a ‘Singapore wonders’ tour package from Thomas Cook (India) in 2019.

The total cost of the tour package was `1,07,321 per person and they paid an advance of `51,000. On being informed that the booking would be confirmed only after receiving the entire tour amount, the complainant’s husband paid the balance amount of`1,89,977.

Thomas Cook (India) staff informed them that they were under ‘trip protection plan’ and the tour operator would refund the full amount in case of unforeseen circumstances. The tour was scheduled for March 2020.

Following

the outbreak of Coronavirus, and the travel restrictions thereof, Thomas Cook (India) Limited deducted `27,029 per person towards air travel, visa fees and GST before refunding the balance amounts.

Thomas Cook (India) filed a counter petition stating that `41,054 was paid by the complainant to its supplier for booking air tickets with Scoot Airline. According to Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) regulations, the amount has to be refunded by the concerned airline even if the ticket is booked by the agent.

The commission directed them to refund `43,000 besides paying `10,000 towards compensation and another `5,000 towards costs.