Feb 29, 2008 09:23 AM
4059 Views
Wanted to share the traumatic experience I have had with Club Mahindra. We had been receiving calls claiming to have won a free trip for ages. We finally decided to go down to their office in The HUB when they claimed that we had won a free trip after shopping at Spencer's Inorbit. Believe me, the forms they make you fill up at Spencer's or any other public outlet is just a scam to give you the feeling that when they call you claiming that you have won something, it is authentic.
We went down and were given a cheap printout which mentioned a 2 day stay at 5 select resorts subject to certain conditions. We were least interested in that as we knew how we would be treated if we took it. We spent close to 2 hours there and they finally convinced us with a host of goodies that joining up was worthwhile. Paid an upfront amount of 30K for white package. At no point during this presentation did they mention about the cancellation policy which would have to be notified in 10 days.
The free offer which they promised could not be availed as the bookings were full in Oct. They could not also get us the first independant package we requested citing various excuses. It was only a month later when the policy documents reached us that we realized how we had been conned. Despite several attempts, we realized we could not get any confirmed bookings till Dec. And the concerned executives who were supposed to help is would not answer our calls or respond to us.
We finally decided we had enough and started the three month long battle to get out money back which they initially refused upfront stating that we should have cancelled in 10 days. We finally got back about 75% of the money in this last week of Feb. To make a long story short, they still made 7K from my cancellation.
A few words of advice to anyone who is planning to get enrolled in Club Mahindra. You are free to make your own decision, but please be informed of the following.
Ensure that you take valid escalation points at least 4-5 levels above the person who sells you the package
Do not make ANY upfront payment unless you have had a chance to avail at least one bookiing from their end. Else, even that first booking will be elusive
Their claim that the cost of vacation increases yearly and if you take it now, you will not be hit by that inflation is hogwash. The price does increase yearly with hidden costs. The subscription fee you pay is ADDITIONAL to the membership cost
You pay ONLY FOR ACCO. Your food, travel and everything else is your own.
Unless you book in the Purple or Red package, be assured that you will never get a confirmed booking unless the weather is miserable where you plan.
If you decide to avail of their partner resorts you still have to shell out an exchange fee which would only be marginally higher if you are not going through Mahindra
You will end up planning your vacations as per their resorts availability and not your own convenience if you take the package.
Even if you do not avail a single rupee of their package, they will outright refuse to return your upfront amount [which they will fleece off you in the first meeting] unless you threaten to file a legal case.
