Court rap for resort chain

KOLKATA: Binod Chhajer, a directorwith Vikram Alloys & Forgings Pvt Ltd, was quite impressed to see thebrochure of the leading resort chain. It was offering an array of facilities tothe members who want to spend the weekends away from the stressful citylife.And all for a one-time fee of Rs 60,000.The offerwas too good to resist: Food court, three speciality restaurants, health cluband spa, bowling alley, pool tables and video games parlour, squash courts,tennis courts and water sports of different kinds. Chhajer didn’t hesitateto fill up the membership form and pay Rs 60,000 to the club. This was inSeptember, 2000.But he was in for a rude shock. After a few visitsto the club, the senior executive found that many of the facilities mentioned inthe brochure were missing, and those that had been provided were of very poorquality.In February, 2001, Chhajer shot off a series of letters tothe club authorities pointing out these discrepancies.The clubassured the aggrieved member that the facilities would be made available to him,but failed to come good on their word.Chhajer then filed a complaintwith the Kolkata district consumer disputes redressal unit I, seeking a refundof Rs 60,000 (the membership fee) and Rs 50,000 as compensation.Theforum, after going through the facts, concluded that the complainant wasentitled to some compensation under the provisions of the Consumer ProtectionAct, 1986. The club authorities did not bother to appear before the forum, nordid they offer an argument in their defence. In an order dated April 23, 2004,the forum directed the resort chain to pay Chhajer Rs 60,000 as refund of themembership fee and Rs 20,000 as compensation for causing needlessharassment.