Aug 19, 2018 11:15 AM
15748 Views
We just had a trip planned with SOTC( July 19- July 24, 2018) to Bangkok and Pattaya. Everything things went wrong on the trip starting from the booking and the Dates:
1 - We have almost 45 days before booked this package. They promised us the tour will start on July 18th late night or 19th early morning but on July 14th they emailed us and told the tour will start on 20th instead of 19th, that's how we have noticed this company has no time sense and no execution or planning. Their customer service is below par and most of them lied including the supervisor. No one will honor their words and at the end, I forced to start my trip on 20th, for which I have to cancel my other plans, which is not acceptable.
2 - I have also paid the package advance cost for my family initially and they asked me to pay the remaining amount in INR but I insisted to change the start date to 19th as per the initial talk I end up going on 20th itself by paying the remaining balance. Since I am an NRI after paying the full package money they have asked me to pay$560 using my US Credit card and the supervisor promised me to refund the amount in 4-5 days, which happened just 2 hrs before the departure and they forced me to pay the$560.
3 - Since they issued my itinerary and the Air tickets 2 hrs before I didn't have much time to plan for the currency exchange and other things. SOTC didn't tell me to carry the photographs for Visa. They were very poor at guiding the customers except they took care of their money.
Once I reach there I end up paying$20 for 2 photographs and Visa fees almost double paid due to exchanging the currency in Airport for a higher rate. Every bit of my trip SOTC has spoiled.
4 - The tour itinerary has hardly 2-3 places to cover in entire Thailand and everything else has to be done by ourself. Though they itinerary has Alcazar Show they didn't take us and told we have canceled it and instead we are taking you to a temple, which is right opposite to my hotel. Later I have realized they are doing the cost cutting to spend an additional 5000 INR for us on Alcazar show tickets.this is completely ridiculous.
5 - Finally we have finished the trip. Once I reach India I got to call 5-6 times a day to know the status of my refund. They keep on postponed the refund and they keep saying my accounting department is looking into it. They have totally spent 20+ days to issue the refund after I sent multiple emails and multiple calls. The supervisors are least bother to answer their phones are responses to my emails. Since the trip is over, they have least bothered to issue the refund.
All in all, we went through a hell with this company .please do not book your tour with SOTC. Star tours are the best one to book any international tour.
Trust me with this one. I want to save you from at least this trouble.
