Hyderabad: The District Consumer Redressal Commission of Hyderabad has ordered an international tour operator to refund over Rs 70,000 with 6% interest and pay additional compensation in a case involving a rejected visa application and a cancelled European tour package.
The ruling came after a city-based bank employee filed a complaint against the tour operator regarding a European tour package he had booked to celebrate his first wedding anniversary in Aug 2022. He had paid an advance of Rs 1,00,000 for the package.
According to the court documents, the travel company failed to properly handle the visa application process, resulting in the complainant’s visa being rejected just days before the scheduled departure. The visa was refused because “no justification was provided as to the purpose and conditions of the intended stay,” which the court said was due to the operator’s failure to provide proper supporting documents such as hotel and flight booking confirmations during the visa appointment.
A three-member bench found that the operator had engaged in deficient service and unfair trade practices.
While the operator initially admitted its negligence and promised to refund the amount after minimal deductions, it later tried to impose cancellation charges of Rs 45,000 per person and offered to refund only Rs 10,000 to the complainant.
Rejecting the tour operator’s argument that the visa refusal was due to the complainant’s failure to justify the purpose of the trip, the Commission found that the company had failed in its contractual obligations to ensure proper visa processing.
In its final order, the Commission ordered the tour operator to refund Rs 70,000 with 6% interest from Sept 29, 2022, pay Rs 30,000 as compensation for mental anguish and financial loss and Rs 10,000 as legal costs.
The ruling came after a city-based bank employee filed a complaint against the tour operator regarding a European tour package he had booked to celebrate his first wedding anniversary in Aug 2022. He had paid an advance of Rs 1,00,000 for the package.
According to the court documents, the travel company failed to properly handle the visa application process, resulting in the complainant’s visa being rejected just days before the scheduled departure. The visa was refused because “no justification was provided as to the purpose and conditions of the intended stay,” which the court said was due to the operator’s failure to provide proper supporting documents such as hotel and flight booking confirmations during the visa appointment.
A three-member bench found that the operator had engaged in deficient service and unfair trade practices.
While the operator initially admitted its negligence and promised to refund the amount after minimal deductions, it later tried to impose cancellation charges of Rs 45,000 per person and offered to refund only Rs 10,000 to the complainant.
Rejecting the tour operator’s argument that the visa refusal was due to the complainant’s failure to justify the purpose of the trip, the Commission found that the company had failed in its contractual obligations to ensure proper visa processing.
In its final order, the Commission ordered the tour operator to refund Rs 70,000 with 6% interest from Sept 29, 2022, pay Rs 30,000 as compensation for mental anguish and financial loss and Rs 10,000 as legal costs.
