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My parents received a call from the marketing department to come and have a look and they visited the office of Highland Holiday Homes. There my parents were given an overview of this holiday package where one can pay Rs. 35, 000 and get several benefits. The package was for holidays where it gives free stay at any place in India for 5 trips in 5 years, for 5 people.
The marketing guys gave a very rosy picture of the entire package and kept persuading my parents to buy this package. My parents were also about to leave since Rs. 35, 000 is a big amount for us. However, they kept pestering and said the amount will be charged in installments on the credit card.
Slowly, we kept learning that whatever promises were made verbally before registration are not all correct. Some examples are given below:
1. The stay at the hotels is not free; but a minimum of 500 to 800 needs to be paid. This is the amount we pay when we visited earlier on our own, since we cannot afford to stay in luxury hotels costlier than this anyways.
2. We were told that the travel i.e. the train journey will get some concessions. However denied later.
3. We were also told that if we don’t use the facilities, an amount of Rs. 21, 000 would be returned back. However, later the authorities denied this.
4. Most importantly, the credit card was supposed to be charged in installments of Rs. 2000 or some amount around that but we were charged entire Rs. 35, 000 in the first shot itself.
5. It was promised that all family members enrolled will get a free membership in Poona Club. Now when I called Poona club, they are not even aware and they say there is no membership since years and more.
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The sad thing is none of the above promises are in writing but the things that were told verbally, none of them are true. Since we dont have anything in writing, nothing can be done legally as well. We have lost our hard earned money of Rs 35, 000 for which they are not even allowing a cancellation (even with cancellation charges).
I agree some part of this was our mistake but Highland is making money cheating others like this of their hard earned money. I hope publishing this will atleast warn a few others.
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
Dear sir!
I'm totally fet up with your customer service, what is the point of having customer service not helping the customer.
2 months back i applied for a credit card. Because of the delay i checked with the customer service
and got a reply that my card has beed temporarily stopped b'coz my date of birth is not matching, were
i given all the proofs. I understand my date of birth was wrongly updated by your staffs and the fault is on your side. I again posted a date of birth proof with a covering letter in egmore atm branch but till now my status remins the same. Please kindly let me know how to proceed to get my credit card.
And i did not receive any letter from your side for the same..
nalini
My family is... actually 'was' the victim of the same scam! We got a call for the seminar near to our house in Thane, Maharashtra. The seminar was held in a very good hotel call Tip-Top Plaza Hotel. In one of the halls we (my family) entered. As we knew that that these type of seminars are total scams but you do get a free gift! So we thought that we will go and listen to the yapping, get the gift and come back. It was a simple and straight forward plan.
However, what was not expected by us in that seminar was that the deals/ schemes which were explained to us will be all lies! We listened to and we started to question all the things explained to us about the scheme. We got good aswers which were convincing (only if you don't think they were lies). :(
We really thought it was a good deal and finally though we should go for it. Our reasons to by were as follows:
1. We were there as a family together so making a decision together was possible.
2. The schemes sold to us had membership to Australian, UK and USA gyms. And I was going to go next year for studies. Even if half of the things they explained were not included it was still a good deal for us.
3. Nearby club called 'Golden Swann Club' mebership was included. That was a very good club with expensive membership otherwise.
4. And you get holidays every year!
5. You also get part payment in 'National Saving Certificates' which over a loooong time doubles
6. After 2/3 years you can withdraw the remaining years of payment and get the refund if you are not happy or sell it to someone else!
7. And lastly we also had a little bit more money with us after having a long hard middle class life for some time :)
In the end with everybody around us buying these schemes we also bought into the idea of this scheme like innocent fools without any checks. Please note that then we did not have smart phone to check company credentials online or in the media.
Long storey short we paid the amount on credit card and finally started realising that none of the promises made to us were true. Now We called them back to realise that the so called executives were boys and girls from low income areas (slums/ chawls and other areas). and they won't give our money back. We also had our executive's mobile which we finally rang and he said that its a scam and the only way you can get the money back is by going in the same hotel where these seminars are held and make noise there so that they won't sell any of these hoax schemes.
After a long month old battle we got 37, 000 back out of 45, 000 paid by us. I mean we got a really bad quality electric oven but we got most of it back after making noise during there seminars and constantly calling their Bandra office and also a few times in their Chennai office. So if these cheats are still in business then please be aware and if you want your money back above is my storey. Please be aware that they may also have goons, you never know. In my case nothings happened to us after making noise in the seminars but make your own judgement!
We have had a really bad experience with these company and pls don't fall pray for these guys lies!
Please call Sanjay Bajaj his number is [protected]
Dear all if u want any body's contact number please let me know
Membership sold based on false information
We were at Goa. One Person Name Sagot has given us voucher for promotional offers, in that we got an Holiday Package. Then he told us we need to visit the Highland Holiday Office to attend a company presentation to avail it, we were glad and went their office. They presented their membership scheme for a holiday timeshare system with lot of other benefits. We found the membership scheme quite beneficial based on their information and opted for a 5 years, 8days per year membership, costing Rs. 50, 000/- ( Rs. Five Thousand Only). We later came to know that all the information provided was false and the company had cheated us into buying the membership.
The following false information was given in the presentation.
1) We had purchased the membership on a 12 months EMI plan, using HDFC credit card(35, 000/-) and Citibank (15, 000/-). The sales person claimed that the company has a tie-up with HDFC and Citibank, the payment would be converted EMIs, and the interest, service charges and service tax would be borne by Highland Holiday Homes. On inquiring with HDFC and Citibank, we were informed that there is no such scheme available and they have no tie up with Highland Holiday Homes.
2) I have been also informed in presentation by Mr. Zayed Shaikh (Manger, Goa) that, if I am not satisfied with the offer in feature, within time span of 12 months I can cancel my membership.
-- But that was all fake, today I called them (Lisa - [protected]) saying, I am not happy with your services about the EMI, I want to cancel my membership, then she clearly said please read out your document there is written that you cannot cancel the membership, I was shock to hear that, I requested them, they said you can sell your membership to some there, but I said not I cant who will buy from me.
Then She was very arrogant and said do whatever you want do, will not cancel your policy, regrading EMI will refund you interest rate, but I said whats guarantee and every month I have to ask for refund and if not paid i am not sure of this, after hearing all the lie from them.
3) For document part they said one more lie that, what we say will be completed documented, but I am sure what they say is not documented (we trusted them that was big mistake, I am very upset companies in India doing such fraud).
They took sign on paper involving us in lite chat, generally we trust them and also they create such an atmosphere that hardly who not visited them refuse the membership. Kind of Hypnotism.
4) If they give any assurances in feature will not believe on them, I know they do that.
Team, I need my 50, 000/- back please help me, me and my wife are very much in tension. I am not the only one whose suffering, many of them are suffering from this.
I am not sure but, as per Consumer curt also its written that we do not use their services and utility we have right to cancel the policy.
Please help me.
--
Regards,
Mayur Sharma,
Pune
[protected]
Guys,
After a lot of struggle and patience, finally I got my money back - though it is not a full refund.
Let me know if you need any help.
Setu Shah
M: [protected]
Hi all
this is very shame that now days also company like this exits in market i think we should teach this guys a lesson
I know each and every person where they stay and what they do
Abida Golandas -- MD of the Company stays at Santacruz
Sanjay bajaj -- Stay at Chennai
Shugun Dos -- Stay at Chembur
If you guys want their number i can give to you let ### their happiness
HIGHLAND HOLIDAY HOMES are cheaters! we should take some strong action against them!
i was also cheated in the exact same way in october 2010.
Kanchan Kadam, Pune
[protected]
kanchanopk@yahoo.co.in
Thank you Nidhee Ji, for sharing your experience. It is useful.
I'll also give it a try once more. I did talk to ICICI Credit Card but they said that we can't do anything as the payment is already made. Also, Highland sales persons did't tell us anything about the processing fees and service charge for installments. And somehow bank also converted the amount to EMIs even without my consent, which they shouldn't have.
Shouldn't we all come together and get this company closed for good? It may take some time, effort and even money, but I feel this will be a good social work to get such a cheater company closed. Also, please lets spread more and more awareness about this to all in our circles.
Piyush Singh
+[protected]
piyushps@yahoo.co.uk
We were cheated in the same way in october 2010. We got into their trap and got a 2 year 9700 Rs package. on coming back home we checked for its reviewes and found that they are cheating their customers. As we had paid by credit card we called our bank and asked them to put the transaction on dispute ""Disputed the transaction" (initially the bank refused it cannot be done but we persisted). Along with it we faxed the details of our whole conversation along with link below to the bank
http://www.sebi.gov.in/satorders/Highland.html
We called Highland the next working day and asked them to cancel our registration but as usual they told you have to come down personally and you need to talk to our manager. Our manager cannot come over call as she is busy.
Their way of talking is very pathetic and the lady starts shouting on you if you persist.
We didnt go to their office in bangalore. But we faxed their chennai office to cancel our registration.
We faxed this letter copy again to the bank making sure that we had asked them to cancel our registration but they arent cancelling it. We also mentioned that we had just registered and havent used any of their services
Initially the bank told it will take 1 month to solve but later on changed it to 6 more months. we finally received a credit last week from the bank. :)
Disputing a transaction means, intially the bank will give a credit to whom we have made payment but will check for our concern and revert the credit in case the dispute comes in our favour.
I'm cheated yesterday only. I paid Rs. 15000/- by Credit Card for a membership of 3 years. My wife was very reluctant to take this but then I took under the extreme pressure that they created.
Can we do something together to fight this?
Piyush,
+[protected] (Pune)
Hi,
We are also BIGGEST victims of this fraud that has duped me for 25K inApril' 2010. We have also gone through same process like asking three questions then declaring as winner and asked us to visit their office along with my wife and explained about their packages for 1 hour by some trained MBA students. Then we took the membership for 5 years and they have asked us to pay through credit cards then convert the same amount into EMIs we will refund the interest charged by the bank .
We did the same and produced the Credit card statements after converting the so called amount to EMIs to this fraud company. Then the really story get begun. They started arguing that they would refund only 7% of the total amount. I had to fight, abuse and threaten for amost a month month and
finally after that I received the Cheque.
The Sales rep also informed me that in case I want to go out on a holiday and if I call in for a booking 15 days before my journey date I shall get a confirmed booking, which is not at all true. I had to travel to Lonavala and Mahabaleshwar on 28th may and 1st june respectively, I called them and asked to do the bookings for the same. The reply i received was all the bookings are full.
The sales rep told me that over and above the membership charges I had to pay some utitity charges to which I asked her "What if I do not use the utilities? Will I still have to pay the charges?" she said no... Later When I tried booking the resort I was informed that thos were manditory charges. So I asked what are the Utility charges... she informed me that for Domestic its Rs 500 per day for 4 persons in thier own resorts and Rs. 650 in affiliated resorts... again this proved to be false information as the lonavala resort which is their own... I was informed that I had to pay Rs 1000 as utilty charges per day and in Mahabaleshwar I had o pay Rs 3000 per day.Hence I did not utlise their services.
I am trying to cancel the membership but as per their dirty terms & conditions it’s not been cancelled. Guys why dont we come together and file a case againt Highland Holidays in the Consumer court.
Regards,
Jayesh Rathod
+91- [protected]
Yes!
even i am victim of the same. Highland Holiday Homes are trying to make money by cheating people. Very sad:(