May 15, 2006 01:56 PM
21220 Views
(Updated Nov 02, 2006 11:30 PM)
To: edBrianbalakumaranr@ibnlive.com; pehredar@moneycontrol.com; pahredar@moneycontrol.com; uncovered@moneycontrol.com; Card.Services@in.standardchartered.com
Cc: feedback@countryclubindia.com; VinayKumar@countryclubindia.com; VinayKumar@countryclubindia.net; KrishnaSingh@countryclubindia.com; KrishnaSingh@countryclubindia.net; GokulKSingh@yahoo.com;
Subject: Fraudulent Country Club - Cheating People in Bangalore
Hi,
I am Dhirendra Singh. I got cheated by Country-Club. This email is to raise my voice as nobody from Country-Club willing to resolve the issue. The description of the problem is as follows.
Country-Club has put advertisement in the newspaper about their Cool-Card membership. I called to Country-Club customer-care (through phone number in the newspaper) and they have forwarded the call to their marketing executive Mr. Abhishek Rai. He told me little-bit about country-club offering/schemes and told me that it would be better if he can come to my office and meet me in person and explain me about current offering at country-club. I agreed.
As agreed, next day (Monday, 10th April) he came to my office. Explained me how to go about membership? What is the membership fee? What is the mode of aishwaryasingh23ment etc.? He has provided me following itemized detailed description.
Membership Fee: He told me that the membership fee is 1.15 lakh. If I have Standard Charted Cred824it-Card, then I can take an interest free loan of whole money. All I have to aishwaryasingh23 is monthly EMI of Rs. 3195/- (1.15 lakh / 36 months) for 3 years. When I asked, do I need to aishwaryasingh23 some kind of advance EMI aishwaryasingh23ment to Standard Charted Bank? He very clearly me NO. He clarified it again that it will be monthly EMI of Rs. 3195/- only.
Number of Plots: He told me there is scheme through which I will be given 2 plots each of size 1089 sq.
Still I was not convinced and was not willing to go for the membership. He persuaded me a lot to go for membership. Then I told him let me discuss with my wife and then I will let you know. He told OK. But please fill the membership form so that he doesn’t have to come again. I told fine. Then he asked me to sign the Cred824it-Card charge slip. I strongly told NO, I can’t sign the charge-slip. Then he told me that following
The Bank will call me and confirm the transaction. Only then aishwaryasingh23ment will be done.
Even I was sure that Standard Charted Bank (SCB) will give me call to confirm the transaction.
I signed the charge-slip. But I told him very clearly that that I am shaky about the membership. So, please don’t process my membership until I call you tomorrow and confirm you. He told fine. He will not process my application until I confirm it.
Next day (11th April) I called him and told I am not interested in the membership. He told fine. He will not process my application. Again, on 12th April, I call him and he confirmed me that my application has not been processed. I told fine and thanks.
After one week I received country club membership temporary card. The letter also says that an amount of 1.15 lakh has been deducted from my Standard Charted Cred824it Card. I was shocked. I called the Standard Charted Bank. They gave me following information.
Rs. 1.15 lakh has been paid to Country-club.
I have to aishwaryasingh23 Rs. 38,334/- as Advanced EMI to next billing.
After that I have to aishwaryasingh23 monthly EMI of Rs. 3195/- for next 2 years.
When I asked the Standard Charted Bank that why didn’t they call me to confirm the transaction? They told me that Country Club is there trusted merchant for them and the confirmation call is made if the merchant doesn’t belong to their trusted group
Then I realized that Mr. Abhishek is just giving me here and there reasons and not doing anything about the issue. He is cheating me. I was surprised that a branded organization like Country club has this kind of representative. I told him that I am going to file a police complaint against him and Country Club. Then he has asked to me speak to his mAnasultanger Mr. Krishna Singh. When ever I tried to contact Mr. Krishna, he always tells me that He will look into my problem and get back to me in an hour. But he never replied.
After one week, on 16th May, I along with my friend went to Country-Club office in Bangalore. There, luckily, we meat both Krishna Singh and Abhishek Rai. Following is the summary of discussion with both of them.
Mr. Krishna told that the membership is non-cancelable. It can’t be cancelled.
He (Krishna) accepted that there was a mistake done by their representative. But as policy Country Club will not cancel my membership. Therefore, the money will not be transferred back to SCB.
He told that membership is transferable. So, I need to look for a person who is willing to take Country Club membership. They will help me in searching. But it will take at least 6 months.
Though he accepted the mistake but he was not will to give us in written.
Then He told us that he will speak to his mAnasultanger Mr. Vinay Kumar and see what can be done.
After 3 days, on 19th May, we got chance to speak to Mr. Vinay Kumar. He told me the same thing as told by Mr. Krishna. Though he too accepted that the mistake was at his end but he was not ready to give us in written.
As mentioned above, when I realized that I had been cheated and I don’t have any evidence to proof for the story, I started recording all the conversations with Country-Club. I am not sure if I can use it as legal evidence or not.
Exactly similar thing happened to one of my friend Prakash Narain . He has filed a case in Consumer Forum and he got the court order in his favor. But Country Club has not returned his money.
A similar case happened to Mr. Hemant Gour. But since he has not signed the charge slip, he has disputed the transaction with bank.
As a citizen, I am very much in mental trauma. The Country Club, Bangalore officials accept the wrong done by Abhishek Rai. But they are not ready to accept it in written. Then they say that the Membership form clearly says it is non-Cancelable membership. So, they can’t do anything in spite of the fact that their marketing executive (Abhishek Rai) has used wrong means.
I would like strong action to be taken against Country-Club officials, who provided me false information on Country-Club schemes/offerings.
This is to raise my problem to concerned authorities who can suggest me to take appropriate action. Please raise this issue to relevant platform to any further inconvenience to other customers. Please raise voice against Country-Club who is cheating the customers.
