Complaint Details

Status	:	Un-Resolved
Complaint No	:	0060986/2016
Category	:	Travel
Date	:	12-04-2016
Subject Line	:	Looted by FLIGHT SHOP INDIA
Complainant	:	Soumya Nadkarni
Address	:	Fatima Nagar Pune
Complainee	:	Flight Shop India
Address	:

Complaint Details
I and my husband travelled to Singapore for 5 days-4 nights with ‘Flight Shop’ which is Australian based and related company of FCM Travels.
We had horrible experience while discussing and planning our tour with this agency.
Following are the series of incorrect information and looting done by Flight Shop.
1. Earlier we had a plan of 3 nights Phuket and 3 nights Singapore. While we had discussed about ‘Visa on arrival’ for Thailand, we were informed by the agent that in Phuket airport there is no ‘Visa on arrival’ available and so we will have to take it from Flight shop itslef. I did my own research and informed that there is no such information available online but we were informed it is recently started with such practice.
2. We had obtained the quote of 3 night Phuket and 3 nights Singapore earlier. So once we cancelled Phuket for some reason, we extended Singapore by one day and asked for revised quote.
We had got quote of Rs. 63,000(without flights) for 3 night which got revised to Rs. 73,000 without any sightseeing or any additions, which was ideally Rs. 10,000 for hotel.(ValuThomson Singapore)
We did our research on Tripadvisor which did show much less price around Rs. 6000 max. for same category room online with breakfast.
Flight shop said it is incorrect etc. and convinced us to pay fast since we had just one week left and said ‘Hotel confirmation is required for VISA’ and if I do not pay it is difficult to get VISA before expected departure.
So we ended up paying Rs. 73000 since we were put under lot of pressure for VISA.
We were apparently charged Rs. 40,000 (If they have charged Rs. 10000 extra for one night, its logical that they charged Rs. 40,000 for 4 nights)
Now the real shocker was when, we arrived at hotel in Singapore, ‘On reception desk at hotel itself it displayed Rs. 97 SGD which is Rs. 4850 for one night.’
We felt so looted that our trip began with surge of disappointment. We wished we would have just made online hotel booking which was right in front of eyes.
For this Flight Shop argued they had ‘Contracted rates’ with the hotel.
Our first experience at the hotel was they neither provide Glasses, cutlery or even chilled water (only normal water)in the room. We had to go and buy water from outside.
They served same breakfast for 4 days we stayed.
We explained all this to Flight Shop in 2 days and demanded for either refund or better hotel for remaining 2 days, on this Flight shop came up with ‘Hotel is not cancelling the room and they can only upgrade in same hotel’
‘Please note this hotel had no cupboard and neither the next category room had cupboard. Even next category room was Rs. 8000 including breakfast’
We were charged Rs. 40000 for the room which could cost max Rs.23000-24000 if booked online and with very pathetic experience.
3. We had previously asked to book flight as well to Flight Shop which gave us the quote of Rs. 44,000 but we ended up paying only Rs. 40,000 including baggage on cleartrip.
4. We had given VISA documents on exactly one week before departure and we asked if it is really possible to get VISA on time. We were assured not to worry. But next day I get a call and I was asked to Pay Rs. 2000 extra since it was needed on urgent basis. That too we were asked to pay everything in cash since there was no time to courier papers to Mumbai and that they were sending their own personnel for this from Pune to Mumbai!!. They also said this extra amount is required because we do not have marriage certificate!! We had disclosed all available details before and we were told its enough. But they looted us more looking at our anxiety and gave some stupid invoices showing its authentic.
5. We had been asking some contact person for sim card and foreign currency. It was so delayed that we got sim card just before 2 hours our departure to airport and currency we literally got at airport!!!! The guy came and delivered currency at airport.
6. We took sim-card from ‘MATRIX’ who did not inform at the time of taking sim that service tax and service charge of 26% will be charged!!!! This we were only informed when we reached leaving for airport. We did say we will not use these sim card and will return once we are back but they said minimum amount will be charged anyways. How were we supposed to return simcard while at airport!! As for the credit card statement, for Rs. 4000 plan we are paying Rs.6000 altogether. We don’t know what are they charging for because we did not even use what was included in plan for free.
7. We were departing from Pune-Chennai-Singapore. Flight shop had asked us to go from Mumbai and they were not aware of Chennai is a cheaper option!! Which travel agency does not be informed on more convenient options.
We are sure we would save easily around Rs. 35000-40000 if we had planned it on our own. This being such big organization, was not even ready to bear two nights cancellation and opted dissatisfy their customer. After numerous calls made by us from Singapore also, they were least bothered because they had money in their pockets.
While in Singapore, we got mail id of CEO of FCM travels and we mailed whole thing to him making all local agency members but we did not get any positive response. It is surprising how these local tours are looting first time international travelers with false information and showing off their big brands.
Lastly, we do not have any hopes on this agency but we hope this comes out in front of public and this agency should be ashamed of themselves for ruining someone’s first experience in such bad way. It has taught us not believe in any of these agencies and do our won arrangements.

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