Sep 23, 2018 01:57 PM
20683 Views
(Updated Sep 23, 2018 02:00 PM)
I was looking for a honeymoon tour package of Europe. One of my friends suggested SOTC. I talked to SOTC's sales representative in detail regarding my travel time, the type of tour I am looking for, etc.
He assured me that they are going to provide me the best in the market. I specifically told them that this is a honeymoon package and I am not flexible with my travel dates. I was assured by them that I will be provided a well customized tour according to my needs and that they will take special care regarding that I am not flexible with dates. I confirmed this point at least 5 times with them.
After getting due assurance from them and looking at the provided itinerary and quotation, I decided to go ahead with SOTC. The worst decision ever taken by me! I paid them the booking amount.
Before paying booking amount, they were calling me twice everyday, but after paying, I did not receive any call from them for 2 days. I had to call them to ask the status of my booking. They think that they have received the payment and their work is done. Cheaters!
After asking status of booking, I asked them whether they have started the visa process as we require Schengen visa for travelling to Europe. It was after I called them several times and told them to start the visa process, they started process of visa application. It was such an irritating experience.
After few days I got a call from them and they told me to prepare all documents required for visa. I prepared all documents. And let me tell you that the list of documents required for schengen visa application is quite long and it takes time and money to get all these prepared. Still I got these prepared readily, hoping that they will submit my application as soon as my documents are completed. But NO. They are a bunch of lazy persons. I called multiple times to tell them to submit my application as the date of my marriage was getting nearer and the visa embassy also takes time to process visa.
But then a shock came. One fine Saturday afternoon, I received a mail from them stating that they have cancelled my booking. I was busy shopping then, and I tried calling them many times. I called the sales representative whom I was in touch with during booking, but he did not receive my call. I called the person who was assigned my visa application related tasks many times, but he did not receive my calls. Then I called their customer care number and asked them to connect me with the aforementioned sales person, but my call was put on hold and after being on hold for good 23 minutes when nobody replied, I had to disconnect. It was such a shocking thing to know as my travelling date was just 20 days away and I am being told that my honeymoon booking has been cancelled.
The next day I tried calling them again. This time the visa application processing guy picked up. Upon asking he told me that the reason for cancellation is not properly known to him as this has been told to him by the management team. But on asking again and again he finally said that this is common in SOTC that they keep cancelling or rescheduling the bookings. Shocking again! I asked him that I was assured by the sales team that as it is a honeymoon package and I am not flexible with dates, they will take special care and such thing thing would not happen. Then he started laughing and disconnected.
I was in a big loss because of two things:
1.My money was stuck with SOTC. I had no idea when they were going to refund it and how. Also, they were not replying to my mails and calls. And it was a big amount because of Europe trip.
Also, I spend quite some money on getting all the documents prepared for Visa. That's also waste.
2.And the biggest and most important thing, my honeymoon plan was ruined. All because of SOTC cheaters. In just 20 days left, wherever I asked for a booking, everywhere it was too costly. I was about to get married and my mood was totally off. I do not know how to teach these SOTC people a lesson. I hope karma will take care.
