OVER CHARGING OF USD TT RATES - THOMAS COOK INDIA LTD.

With absolute displeasure I am writing this mail to you. I have booked the Grand America Bargain tour. The booking reference no. is G160002699.

The horror story started with mild a smile when we reached the Thomas cook office Jamnagar, we have canvassed the brochure and various tours and finalised the above one. To confirm the booking of Grand America Bargain tour we have paid the Cheque of Rs. 180000/- as per Thomas cook representative that sum was urgently required to book the tour so without any hesitation we have paid the money to avoid the last minute of rush and to confirm the booking of tour.

The mystery again roused when he again asked Rs. 15000/- required for Insurance cost of the trip coverage whereas initially we were told that the same has been included in the previous payment of Rs. 180000/- still believing his geniunity we paid it, after some follow-ups we were made to know that the Rs. 15000/- was included in previous payment of Rs. 180000/-, So we ended up paying the amount of Rs. 195000/- instead of Rs. 180000/-.

The above was the tip of iceberg, after same it was made to our knowledge that the tour may be rescheduled or may be postponed which was the most horrified thing that we could understand from Thomas cook representative, the Jamnagar office representative have taken the money for confirming the tour and suddenly to achieve his target we were not informed the possibilities of above tour regarding delay of postponement of tour. We had book the domestic flights, hotels and also we are have prolonged stay at USA so for that we also had booked domestic USA flights and suddenly the Thomas cook representative is reviling that the tour may postponed. Is his responsibility to not guide us for this matter initially at the time of booking the tour. I have got call from Mumbai may be your back office for confirming the tour even they also dint mentioned this anomalies that would occur. The response I was getting was worst and worst day by day. Hopefully the tour date was confirmed at last.

The problem is still not ending up, since last 4 days I have been making follow-up with Thomas cook branches for payment of remaining amount in USD parts as guided by Thomas cook representative. The pathetic thing is that I am get conversion rate higher more than the previous days where as Indian Rupee’s is going strong. The TT Sell rate is 69.80 today when today’s exchange was between something 67.30 to 67.60. This is absurd and ridiculous do you people understand us as moron. I have dealing in FX Market day in and out for lakhs of dollars. Even though you earn, but asking like ransom rate from customer and getting hard earned money from customers like extortionist is what you are doing. The TT rate where margin are more 2.40 rs is not at all acceptable. As a banker we know how the things get executed we have an array of NRI Clients,Export import customers, first time family remitters.

My tour is sponsored by my NRI Uncle, when he remits directly to your nostro/vostro account or physical dollars any of the above option to be accepted.

As per RBI guidelines you cannot force us booking the payment at such high TT rates even when in actual they are not so. The implications would come very hard if you charge with high TT rates for the compulsion payment we have to make, I would be forced to go to Consumer forum, RBI offices to file a complaint for the mental harassment after booking has been done and initial amount of booking collected. This Unacceptable approach of brand like Thomas cook India was never expected in dreams.

I feel that i've made a mistake by choosing Thomas cook India.

I am being lingered since months regarding the grievance created by lethargic attitude of your department and your team members. It would be my definite purpose of informing this shallow act of harassing and asking the margin as like extortionist.

Don’t know what other problems are going to come while actual touring with Grand Bargain America. We go for Leisure after spending so much our hard earned money and this is what we get from the beginning.

I hope this reaches to everyone and someone helps me and not wilfully further escalating the matter !!!

A very very grieved customer.



Pranav Nanda
Jamnagar.
09824207093.