Home / Crime and Justice / Couple Wins Rs 1 Lakh After Trip Cancellation Dispute
Couple Wins Rs 1 Lakh After Trip Cancellation Dispute
16 Sep
Summary
- Travel agency ordered to refund retained Rs 80,000.
- Consumer commission awarded Rs 15,000 compensation.
- Agency failed to prove expenses for cancelled trip.
A Hyderabad consumer commission has directed a travel agency to refund Rs 80,000 to a couple who cancelled a Malaysia trip. The commission also awarded Rs 15,000 as compensation and Rs 5,000 for litigation costs, totaling Rs 1 lakh in relief.
The couple had paid Rs 1.30 lakh for a six-day package to Kuala Lumpur and Langkawi. Two days before departure, the agency demanded an additional Rs 30,000 for alternate flights, which the couple refused. They then cancelled the trip and sought a refund.
The travel agency returned only Rs 50,000 and kept the remaining Rs 80,000 without providing evidence of any incurred expenses. The commission found this to be a deficiency in service, stating that money cannot be retained without substantiating actual costs.
The agency, despite being served notice, did not appear before the commission. The order highlighted that travel agencies must prove expenses before retaining customer funds for cancelled tours. The agency has 45 days to comply with the order.
