Umrah deal that’s too good to be true

WHILE dining in Pasir Gudang with his family, an electrical engineer saw a banner advertising umrah pilgrimage promotional packages.

“After comparing the prices, we found the advertised package prices to be cheaper,” Asharrudin Hamzah told the Johor Baru Consumer Claims Tribunal in Menara Ansar.

The 43-year-old claimant said the prices offered by the operator for the 12-day/10-night packages were between RM500 and RM1,000 cheaper per person compared to other offers.

Prior to booking, Asharrudin said he checked the Facebook page of the Petaling Jaya-based tour operator.

He said he had seen reviews purportedly by former customers, who wrote that they were satisfied with the services in Mecca and Medina.

Asharrudin booked packages for six persons including himself, his wife and sister-in-law.

Bookings were also made for the couple’s three children.

“The price for an adult was RM8,190 each and for a child below 12 years old was RM7,371 so the total sum for six persons was RM47,502,” said Asharrudin.

The first payment of RM6,000 was made on Dec 3 last year, followed by second payment of RM29,502 on Dec 19 while the final payment of RM12,000 was made on Dec 20.

“We were supposed to fly to Saudi Arabia from the KL International Airport and perform the umrah from Feb 8 to 19 this year.”

Asharrudin said the company created a WhatsApp group for 38 people from all over the country who had bought umrah packages for that period.

He said the company did not update them on whether their umrah visas had been approved, even three days before the departure date.

“Later, we found no tickets were issued under our names.

“The company had then requested for us to accept rescheduling the umrah to either March or April but we all declined.”

A company representative told the tribunal that money paid by the participants had been given to a third party to make ground arrangements.

She said these included flight tickets to Saudi Arabia, accommodation in Mecca and Medina, meals and transportation.

“But the third party failed to deliver.”

Tribunal president Mohd Zahirullah Mohd Tahir said the contract was between the respondent and the claimant, not with the third party.

“As the operator, you failed to inform the claimant that the ground arrangements were being handled by a third party.”

Mohd Zahirullah ordered the respondent to return RM47,502 to the claimant within two weeks.

Those seeking tribunal assistance in Johor, can call 07-227 1755/1766.