Reliable Leisure Holidays - Fraudulent travel agent

We booked our Thailand trip for * families with Reliable Leisure Holidays, Spencer Plaza, Chennai. We communicated Mr MadhuSudhan and Mrs Yogyalakshmi, The Proprietor of Reliable Leisure Holidays (Ph. ***** *****, ***** *****). It was discussed and negotiated for * nights and * days trip for a final cost of Rs.*,**,*** which include a * triple rooms and * double bedroom at Pattaya and Bangkok for travel on April ** to April **, ****. We were insisted by him to the pay the full amount immediately stating triple rooms will be sold out soon. We believed his words and paid the full amount on March **, ****, via IMPS payment. He gave the initial itinerary that rooms will be booked at Ecotel, Bangkok and Bella Express, Pattaya. Post our payment, we were left at dark as he started avoiding our phone calls, SMS, Whatsapp when enquired on hotel confirmation and itinerary. When we met in person we were made a fool by giving all the reasons for not responding to us. We were cornered as our money was stuck with him.

Finally, after so many false promises he sent us the itinerary only on **th April ****. The day before our journey. We were totally shocked seeing it as he changed the hotels as Golden Sea Hotel, Pattaya and Pratunam Pavilion, Bangkok. He did not even have the courtesy to inform us before booking. When asked he gave all lame reasons and also had booked * triple room and * double rooms which deviated from the original plan. He made a mockery of us and asked us to split and sleep in * rooms. He said its a huge king size bed and can accommodate * adults and * kids. But it was not so. We were further infuriated when we stayed in the hotel and that the rooms were tiny and there was no space even to walk freely.

Another hurdle we faced was when we started for our journey on **th April, he called us * hours before and insisted to pay *** USD and no reasons were given. We did not want to pay him without knowing the genuine reason and never paid. But to our agony, on **th night in Pattaya, we were denied cab for return to hotel and information was not given. When we checked the local agent, we were told it was cancelled by the tour agent and only on our payment the service will be provided. Being with family and kids, we did not want to trouble others and we paid it. The tour agent nor the local vendor bothered about us when we were stranded at night for * hours in the streets of Pattaya.

Till date, we were not provided with a correct invoice though we insisted him to give an official proforma invoice. The agent was keen only on getting the money and threatened us when we were helpless on foreign land. Considering the grim situation at night with families and kids, we paid it to the local agent after which the service was provided.

This shows Madhu’s negligence in service and neither was he guilty or ashamed for his activities. He
had made all the bookings only on **th April **** and was enjoying our money for a month. We were stranded in the streets of Thailand and he made us pay additional cost other than the discussed amount originally. Hence, we claim that he is not a good tour operator and like to penalise him for his deficiency in service. We further expect his license may be suspended and claim the additional cost from him for the agony he caused us. Request you to address this issue and seek a claim for us.