Hospitality firm Tackles Consumer Protection Council  Over Allegations Of Violation Service Code

A hospitality company known as VIP Express Tourism Limited (VIP Express) has not only treated with a wave of hands all the allegations of violation of customer rights levelled against it by Consumer Protection Council (CPC).

It also reminded the Council that the case arising from complaints by its customers, has been pending in a court of competent jurisdiction in Abuja.

This was contained in a press release from the company’s Abuja branch manager, Samuel Owoseni which was made available to journalists in Abuja.

It could be recalled that in a release by CPC’s Deputy Director, Public Relations, Abiodun Obimuyiwa, the Council  ordered the VIP to refund within 30 days of receipt of the letter, over N25 million to 63 aggrieved members or subscribers (consumers) of its holiday packages, due to what it allegedly saw as gross violation of their rights.

The Council however said that it investigated the complaints and found the VIP of contravening it’s customer rights adding that among others, the consumers were pressurised to go into contract which they could not be rescinded, even if not executed. This, the Council said was unethical and exploitive.

However, CPC further ordered the company to within the 30 days of receipt of the letter, remove all the clauses that are detrimental to the consumers in their terms of the contract, forward same to the Council for approval, adding that the company should present a written assurance in line with S.10 of the CPC Act to the Council that it will refrain from continuation of any act that that is detrimental to the interest of the consumers.

Still treating all the allegations with denial and dismissal, VIP Express therefore reminded the Council that since the case is pending in the court of competent jurisdiction and was well served with the court process, the way it has been going about the case was not only affront to the court, but contempt as well.

The Company went further to inform that the Council is a party to the ongoing court case, FHC/ABJ//5/580/2015: VIP Express Tourism Limited and 4 Others v IGP and 62 Others.

The case according to the company was based on infractions on the fundamental rights of the Company and its employees, as a report of the investigation dated November the 30th, 2016 and the order dated December the 1st, 2016 on the Company by the Council.

Speaking on the terms of the contract, the company however said in strong terms that it is parties to a contract that determines its terms.

VIP Express therefore directed the Council to adhere strictly to law in performance of their duties, just as it pointed out that the power of CPC as is enshrined in its Act does not extend to rewriting or invalidating a valid contract between the company and its clients.