I never imagined a holiday can be very distressing and financially squeezing more pennies out of my pocket even though I never step a foot in abroad till now.
It started this year January when I was looking for a holiday for me and my parents. I saw some deal on internet and find Thomas Cook Europe holiday for 6 N/7D under my budget and also to experience Europe too. I made the booking through online and paid all the money. Since I stay in Patna so I asked Thomas cook executive to transfer the file to near office and he did it to Gurgaon Thomas cook office. After submitting my documents and passports for visa at VFS in New Delhi I was totally assumed that I will get the visa for this tour. I had given all the documents i was asked by Thomas Cook executive.
Finally I got a call from VFS to collect my passports personally because they refused to diver at home or anywhere for some security reasons. I went to Delhi and collected our passports. I was stunned and sadden to see that our visa was refused. I mail the rejection letter to Thomas Cook and asked them to cancel the trip. Since I had coved my holiday with Trip Protection Plan so I was supposed to get maximum refund excluding visa fees and other miscellaneous charges.
After this disappointment I thought to book another holiday to Asia and made call to Thomas Cook to transfer my refund money into new holiday. After discussion with executive we booked again on 3rd May departure. It is been 16 days there is no news from Thomas Cook about refund and also after asking about visa and other queries by me Gurgaon office employee asked my passports and other documents for visa.
Till now nothing is done, last i spoke with employee and he said that it will be done and assured me that I will get visa too within time. I have doubts that it will work out, i have already lost so much money going twice to New Delhi for visa process for last holiday. If this new holiday did not work then i might lose all the money and will not get any refund too because this trip is not insured and employee are not very helpful too. This is worst experience and so distressing for last three months. I believe rather a holiday this has become a nuisance for me and my parents.
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Vineet Kumar
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