THE Johor Consumer Claims Tribunal has ordered a tour company in Johor Baru to refund RM9,000 to a paramedic officer who was deceived in buying a holiday package to Europe.
Tribunal president Hafez Zalkapli ordered the respondent to refund the money to the claimant within two weeks.
On June 11, R. Puvanasvary, 52, from Johor Baru’s Taman Larkin, was approached by a representative of the tour company in Jalan Ungku Puan, Johor Baru. The company has an office in Solaris Mont Kiara, Kuala Lumpur.
She was offered a 10D/8N European tour to France, the Netherlands, Italy and Norway at a discounted price of RM9,000 for two.
Puvanasvary said something was amiss when the travel company only booked a one-way ticket to Bangkok instead of a return trip.
The representative handed over a coupon for Puvanasvary, who works in Singapore, to fill her personal particulars including her mobile number.
A few days later, the claimant received a call informing her that she was lucky to have been chosen for a holiday package to Europe for two.
“My husband and I went to a hotel at Jalan Ngee Heng on June 21. There were many others there too,” Puvanasvary said when met outside the Johor Consumer Claims Tribunal at Menara Ansar in Johor Baru.
Puvanasvary and her husband chose the 10D/8N trip with the departure date in January 2025.
“I transferred RM5,000 and RM4,000 on June 21, and received a toaster as a gift,” she said.
She added that the company claimed that a similar trip to these four European countries would easily cost them RM14,000.
Puvanasvary said that on top of the attractive pricing, the company also gave them a complimentary 4D/3N trip to Bangkok, Thailand, with the departure date in June.
She was convinced that the company was genuine as her friend and her husband were holidaying in Vietnam at the time.
“They were given the complimentary trip for signing on for the 18D/16N South India trip for RM11,000 with the same tour company and made a video call in front of the company’s representative at the hotel,” she said.
However, Puvansavary said she and her husband started to sense something was wrong when the company only booked a one-way ticket to Bangkok with no hotel bookings and travel itineraries.
“Another thing which did not make sense to us is that the company told us our European trip was valid for five years, which we found strange,” she added.
Later, the claimant found out from her friend who went on the complimentary trip to Vietnam that the company had deducted RM7,000 from their RM11,000 for the Vietnam holiday.
“They knew that they were cheated as a 4D/3N package to Vietnam normally cost below RM2,000 per person inclusive of airfares, accommodation and entrance tickets to places of interest,” said Puvanasvary.
Those needing assistance regarding tribunal matters can call 07-227 1755 or 07-227 1766.
