India Today Book Club (ITBC) was sold there goods by luring me cash prizes. They insisted me to buy there product by offering me the cash prize. They use to call on my mobile or landline phone, then they offer various products to choose and once we choose a product then they offer cash reward along with it and insist us to buy the product. The promised reward is so enticing that I can not ignore the offer.

I was received several calls from ITBC executives to insist me for to buy the product. So finally I give up on 4th March, 2010 and made first purchase of Samsung Omnia (Pro B7320) Mobile phone for Rs 13,998=00 and paid by ICICI Bank credit card through there secure telephone payment system (as they said) because the executive has been promised me that I will get rewarded of Rs.10,000=00. It was so sweet and sour deal. The executive has been provided booking ID number ********0 and before finish the talk she said that I will receive a call for prize confirmation. So, very next day I received a call from ITBC executive and confirmed that you have been rewarded Rs 10,000. There after, I received the purchased product on time and thought that the promised reward may sent letter on. So, I have no reason to doubt at that time.

On 23rd March, 2010 I was received a call around 13 hours from ITBC executive to insist me to buy a Blackberry Bold 9000 mobile phone for Rs. 29,999=00 and he said that if I made it this purchase then he will give me a guaranteed reward of Rs.25000. So, I paid up without any explanation. Its Booking ID was ********8.

I have received one more call on 7th April, 2010 from ITBC and insist me to buy one more Blackberry Bold 9000 mobile phone for Rs. 29,999=00 and he said that if I made it this purchase then I will get guaranteed reward of Rs.2,00,000=00 (Two Lakh). So, I paid up without any hesitation. Its Booking ID was ********1.

Within few days of every purchase, ITBC sales executive again and again called up to lure me higher amounts of prizes and insist me to buy the products! So, step by step they made me to buy 12 more products by offering cash prizes. The products were Samsung Mobile phones, Whirlpool water purifiers, Whirlpool Microwave oven, Aptech & Samsung cameracorders, Philips home-theatres and Microsoft gaming consoles etc. Those promised rewards are so enticing that I could not stop to buy those 15 products worth for Rs. 2,10,153=00 (Two lakh ten thousand one hundred and fifty three) because they said that I have won a cash prize of Rs.10,21,000=00 (Ten lakh twenty one thousand) and voucher worth Rs.70,000. I paid all those payment by credit card through there secure telephone payment system. I was receiving all the booked products on time so I don’t feel any suspicious in this.

On 27th April, 2010, I have received a call from Mr. Rajeev Sharma, who himself introduced as a Sr. ITBC executives from the upper department that, “I have won a cash prize cheque amounted to Rs.10,21,000=00 and along with Rs.70,000 vouchers (dell laptop and some products). He also stated that I have to pay the taxes of the winning amount. After paying, I will receive the cheque and its locking ID details. Unfortunately my credit card was empty so I used friend credit cards to pay. After paid up he has been provided locking id, which he said that I need this to receive the cheque at the function and stated it is necessary to receive the prize. He has been also provided the Axis bank cheque number, dated 31st March, 2010 of Rs.10,21,000=00 (Ten Lakh Twenty One Thousand). He also said that the function which may held at Delhi or Bangalore, on 31st May, 2010 and I will be receive five star hotel stay and air tickets for the entire family to attend the function.

Again, on 31st May, 2010 Mr. Ravi Ranjan, who himself introduced as a Sr. ITBC executives from upper department called up and confirmed that the prize cheque amounted Rs.10,21,000=00 and Rs.70,000 vouchers are with us and will be received at the function which is now held at Delhi on 30th June 2010. He clearly said that I will receive winning amount at the function only. He said that to attend the function I will receive the five star hotel stay and air tickets for the entire family very soon.

In between I was writing them by e-mails regarding various developments at feedback@indiatodaybookclub.com and asked them for the details but I am in vain. After all those purchases they revealed in there e-mail that there is no such confirmation that I won any cash prize. They are running online portal at http://www.bagittoday.com & http://www.indiatodaybookclub.com. Now, whenever I write them they are requesting me for the further enquire at:- offers@bagittoday.com or orders@bagittoday.com or inform me to call us on there Helpline Number (011-40502424, 9:30 AM to 6:30 PM, and all 7 days).

I have received all the calls for the above said from: -
011 – 30818200 011 – 30818600 011 – 41704695 0120 – 4605900 0120 - 3310700

So far I have made purchases worth Rs. 2, 10,153=00 through the credit cards. I have received all the products along with Invoice cum delivery note. In some products I have not received any Octroi slip. I feel they may have been evaded Maharashtra Octroi also! I have a doubt whether they may not paid other taxes also.

This is a trap to lure buyers with the offering huge prizes. So, this is all a BIG cheating! I am in big financial loss. I came to know that I was duped by some trickster. I lost my money + valuable time + mental agony!


NATURE OF COMPLAINT:
1. False representation : Their intension is to sell there products by offering promises of the prizes. (They made me to buy by luring prizes).
2. Cheating by giving false promises – There sales team convinced me to buy those unwanted products worth Rs. 2,10,153=00 by saying and offering a cheque amounted to Rs.10,21000=00 with Rs 70,000 vouchers, which they have not provided.
3. Not abiding by warranty clause – Most of the products are refurbished/unlocked. Like Blackberry mobiles phones are with At&T tag and At&T is used in western countries only. All the above stated products are without any Guarantee or warranty of its any kind.
4. Any other factors that affected the consumer – Since I have been paid through Credit cards to buy above said and they haven’t provided any proper answer. Neither, they have been provided the above said winning amount and the interest is mounted very high. Its very difficult to repay. So, I have been borrowed a loan on very high interests, which is killing me. I want the offered assured money with the appropriate interest.

Vijay Ahire
vijayahire1973@yahoo.co.in