Recently, we got conned into 'buying' a time-share holiday scheme from a company called "Mountain Club Resorts PL, New Delhi", Club Group of Hotels.
Their game was pretty simple -- and beguiling. First they dangled a "free holiday" at the end of an hour-long marketing pitch. When you decline to take up their offers, the smooth-talking gets smoother, and the prices keep going down until you take the bait on the basis of "zero interest" payments of multiple installments spread across a couple of years.
Then they take your credit cards and charge you the full amount saying that the CC company would be converting them to 'easy installments'. You are hurriedly made to sign at the bottom of some legal papers. It is only later that you kick yourself for being so gullible -- especially when you notice that the legal doc has blanks spaces that have not been filled, and the bill from the credit-card company is for full, upfront payments!
A rather belated internet search reveals that RBI had banned "zero interest" many months ago.
You desperately contact the company. The smooth-talkers are Mountain Club Resorts now feign ignorance. "Is there a new RBI rule? They must've introduced that after you signed up". When that line fails to convince, a new offer comes up - "We'll pay up the interest charged by the CC companies". When you ask them to send confirmatory emails, they just dissappear. Phone calls go unanswered; emails are ignored.
Is it too late? What do you do?
First, inform the credit card companies. In our case, the process with Citibank was a lot easier than HDFC bank. Citi just blocked the credit card, issued a new one and then initiated a "dispute" inquiry. The very next day, there was a follow-up call to assure us that no payment was required for this transaction. HDFC was a lot more cumbersome. They wanted to have a written application, signed and submitted to a local branch. Customer-care service was tardy and a test of patience.
Next, inform the Reserve Bank of India. The RBI Ombudsman page had officers listed city-wise to take up the complaints . Our case has now been forwarded to the Department of Non-Banking Supervision (DNBS).
What happens next? Watch this space.
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LINKS
* RBI bans zero-interest payment schems (26 Sep., 2013) -- http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/RBI-bans-zero-interest-loans-on-EMI-to-credit-card-holders/articleshow/23065529.cms
* Fraud membership offered by Club Group of Hotels -- http://www.icomplaints.in/fraud-membership-scheme-offered-by-club-group-of-025237.html
* Complaints registered online -- http://www.complaintsaboutbusiness.in/tag/club-group-of-hotels/
and http://www.consumercourt.in/product-services/110075-cheated-club-group-hotels-gold-star-hospitality.html (Club Group of Hotels / Gold Star Hospitality)
and http://www.consumercourtforum.in/f29/club-group-hotels-just-behind-your-mollah-don-t-fall-prey-them-84052/
* ...and more! -- http://www.complaintbox.in/cheating-by-club-group-of-hotelsdestination-resorts-india-pvt-ltd/ (Club Group of Hotels / Destination Resorts PL)
* RBI -- http://www.rbi.org.in/commonman/english/scripts/departments.aspx#DNBS
- http://www.rbi.org.in/Scripts/bs_viewcontent.aspx?Id=159
* Banking Obudsmen - RBI - http://www.rbi.org.in/scripts/AboutUsDisplay.aspx?pg=BankingOmbudsmen.htm
SO TRUE
ReplyDeleteNO RESPONSE FROM THEIR AGENT IN AHMEDABAD
NOR IMPERIAL VACATIONS PVT. LTD.
NOR MR GHANSHYAM
NOR MR AJAY KAUL
some officers of the company
NOR RCI
ALL MAKING A FAST BUCK
BHAVESH SHAH 079 23223351
hi,
ReplyDeletei faced the same thing this saturday 11th july 2015. Can you please help me to get things sorted
Hi Iesha, Since our transaction was on two credit-cards (Citi and HDFC) we just had to be persistent with the CC companies that the transaction was faudulent. Please remember to retain the copies of all the receipts as well as contact details of the salesmen and their managers. Citi was much more efficient in dealing with this. Keep going and don't give up!
ReplyDeleteHi Dinakarr,
ReplyDeleteCOuld you share ur email address?
In my case its HDFC and these ppl taking years to solve it. I have not received a single call from them. When i first called them, they said since the transaction was done in ur presence so we cannot do anything. Very weird they r?
I have all proofs, contact no of everyone whol fooled me. I hope i get my money back soon
Hey hi ,
ReplyDeleteCan you help me i have the same issue.
Hi Himani,
ReplyDeletePlease keep all the docs you received from the scamsters carefully, as well as names and contact details of the sales guys...and chase them down till you get your money back.
Its easier if you've paid using credit cards. Citibank was super efficient and prompt in reversing the payment, HDFC was a pain-in-the-neck, but thanks to the lead taken by Citi, they too followed suit after a few months.
All the Best!
- D
After 6 months my issue was finally resolved by HDFC. They took a lot of time but finally decision was taken in my favor. m relived now n will never look for any such crap again.
ReplyDeleteCongrats, Iesha! :)
ReplyDeleteAnother victory against the fraudsters!
hi Dinakarr....have been duped for Rs 200000 by the same company...have paid rs 17000 by debit card and rest all through sbi cc with emi option....4 emis paid till now bringing the total to 57000. can i complain now and stop paying emis?...pls advise....regards...anil
Deletehi lesha...i have been duped for Rs 2 lakhs by the same sompany in delhi...problem is it was in month od Dec 15 and have already paid 4 emi instalments to the bank in addition to rs 20000 paid to the company through debit card...have not availed any s3rvice from them...not even the free holiday...really dont know wat to do ....anil
ReplyDeletehi lesha...i have been duped for Rs 2 lakhs by the same sompany in delhi...problem is it was in month od Dec 15 and have already paid 4 emi instalments to the bank in addition to rs 20000 paid to the company through debit card...have not availed any s3rvice from them...not even the free holiday...really dont know wat to do ....anil
ReplyDeletehi...same issue..have been duped for rs 2 lakhs by same fraudsters...
ReplyDeleteHi Anil, The time-lag and mode of payment (debit card, SBI) may work against you. If you have all the relevant documents, along with names & contact details of the fellows who sold you this lemon, please approach the Consumer Court ASAP. A police complaint along with stoppage of payment may also help. Either way, please take action without further delay.
ReplyDeleteHi Lesha, I too was conned by Mountain Club Resorts today. I haves called HDFC people about this and they blocked my card. They asked me to fill the dispute form and send them back via email. Could you please elaborate the process you went through? I would be of great help. Kush Khanna
ReplyDeleteHi Dinakarr, can you please elaborate the process for HDFC card holders. I too got conned today by Mountain Club Resorts. I got my Credit card blocked and asked for payment reversal. They asked me to fill the online despite form and submit it via email. I would like to enquirer you about the process of the reversal. As the payment was authorised by me how they reverse the payment and what will be technical difficulties I must be ready for.
ReplyDeleteKush