Country Vacations told to refund membership fee to customer

Complainant alleges deficiency of service and also company’s refusal to cancel her membership

The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum-ll, Hyderabad, on June 9 directed Country Vacations to pay Rs. 1,20,000 along with 9 per cent interest on it from the date of the order till date of realisation to a customer. The order was passed by the forum based on a complaint from one Jayashree Ganguly, a resident of Begumpet, who filed a petition stating that Country Vacations — a division of Country Club (India) Ltd — had offered her a lifetime membership for a fee of Rs.1,30,000 in 2012.

The company had said that she could avail a seven-day/six-nights holiday in any of its resorts and hotels in India and abroad, Ms. Ganguly wrote.

Ms. Ganguly also said that the company personnel had informed her that she could cancel the membership with a five per cent deduction, and that she would be given free function halls five times a year in Country Club and its affiliated clubs.

However, in 2013, when she wanted about 10 rooms in the Cool Club, Begumpet, to conduct a wedding, she could not avail them. Later, her efforts to cancel her membership, and take her money back went in vain, she wrote.

In its response Country Vacations denied Ms. Ganguly’s claim, and said that an agreement had been signed by her, fully knowing all the facts mentioned in it.

It stated that the membership fee is non-refundable under any circumstances, as it is not a deposit, and was clearly mentioned in the agreement. The company also said that it had not promised to give her rooms for free, and had only asked her to pay the required taxes for them, which she failed to do. After putting forth all the evidence, the forum said that merely signing an agreement is not tantamount to a person knowing all the contents in it, and said that the plea of Country Vacations cannot be accepted. Ruling that the company would need some amount for development of its business from the Rs. 1,30,000 fee given by Ms. Ganguly, the forum deducted Rs.10,000 from it, and asked Country Vacations to give back the remaining, Rs. 1,20,000 to the complainant.