Chennai: East Coast Road resort told to refund fee over poor service

CHENNAI: A resort on the East Coast Road has been directed by a city consumer forum to refund Rs 18,000 to a guest, who went there along with his family to enjoy the New Year holidays, but was disappointed over the facilities available there.

The complainant, M Murugaiah of Anna Nagar, claimed he had seen large advertisements of the resort at Pattipulam on the ECR, which promised various entertainment facilities such as clubs, hotels, indoor and outdoor games, sight-seeing and various social and cultural activities, apart from providing accommodation for the customer.

He paid Rs 18,000 towards the membership fee to the Odour Club, which runs the resort, on December 26 and 28, 2015. On January 1, 2016, he went with his family to the resort to celebrate the New Year. However, he found the resort “marred” and “unsuitable for having fun and pleasure” with his family members, which left him disappointed. Despite sending letters to the management on February 22, 2016, and April 27, 2016, requesting a refund of the amount paid, the club did not respond.

“Despite the receipt of notice, the opposite party did not appear before this forum and therefore the opposite party was set ex parte,” said the District Consumer Dispute Redressal Forum, Chennai (South), presided by its president M Mony on January 5, 2018. “Though the opposite party remained ex parte, this forum wants to dispose of this complaint fully with available materials. This forum is of the considered view that the opposite party shall refund a sum of `18,000 towards membership fee and also pay a sum of Rs 5,000 towards compensation for mental agony,” it said.