backwaters SCAM Kollam-Kottayam

dan37_123 · May 23rd, 2005, 16:58

Hi,
I just enquried about a house boat from Kollam to Kottaym, and here is the outrageous answer. Watchout..

Quote:

Thanks for the mail.We are happy to provide 2 bedroom houseboat for 1 night/2 days starting from Kollam to Kottayam for 2 children and 3 adults.Details of houseboat are below :

Houseboat: In 1992 the backwaters of Alleppey woke up to the clarion call of the ‘kettuvallams’. The ATDC had decked up the kettuvalams, the trading boats of yore into the most regal ‘house on oars’. The launch of the houseboat put Alleppey stamp on the world tourism map and the ATDC is leading the race to make Alleppey the backwater capital of the world with its fleet of 15 well-furnished houseboats. The cozy double bedroom, the sit out, the sundeck, the well stocked kitchen and the modern toilette give the guests a feeling of being at home in the lovely waters. The time the houseboat anchors in deepwater gives the guests a chance to experience cloistered comforts in the company of there loved one. One can move through small narrow canals, lakes & lagoons see traditional fishing, farming below sea level etc...., which will help you to catch a brief memorable picture of Kerala backwaters.
Cost : US$ 550 for Non A/c houseboat with all food ( veg and non.veg with kerala typical food)

US$ 750 for A/c houseboat with all food ( veg and non.veg with kerala typical food)

Check in time : 11.00 am and Check out time : 11.00 am

Please intimate which date you are prefering.

For confirmation we request you to transfer the amount WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER in the name of VISWANATHAN NAIR DEVADAS and also the send the secret code number by mail in order to withdraw the money.

Thanking you and assuring you our best services and attention at all times.

Waiting for your reply.....

With best wishes & kind regards

Manoj
A.T.D.C
2nd Floor, Municipal Shopping complex
Alleppey-688013
Kerala state
Ph .no. 0477-2243462
Fax.no.0477-2231145

LaContessa · May 23rd, 2005, 17:07

Is this very expensive? It sounds pretty expensive by Indian standards, but I don't know...?

dan37_123 · May 23rd, 2005, 17:17

Most probably its not the Allepy Tourism Development Corporations website.
Also if you notice, the guys aska for westers union transfer on his personal name.

So i am sure its a SCAM.

Another agency replied with a price of Rs9,000.00 for the same trip.

Also, i read in the thread not to book things over the internet, it seems they just charge list price, as opposed to the real price.

thanks, hope this helps.

dan

chilli · May 23rd, 2005, 17:17

Thats insane !! The most Ive heard of $100 (Australian $$) per night.

gs_uppal · May 23rd, 2005, 17:25

seems to be a fraudster using ATDC name,
same phone no. but different address, the real address of ATDC is -

Alleppey Tourism Development Co-operative Society Ltd. (ATDC)
A-837, Komala Road, Alleppey -13, Kerala, India.
Tel: 91-477-2243462 Fax: 91-477-2243462
Email: info@atdcalleppey.com

It has become very common to have names which have abbreviations which are similar to large known companies and do frauds, people even make bank accounts in these short names and deposit cheques made for the reputed companies and deposit them in their personal accounts opened this way, like it was done in Bihar during the Flood reliefs. Bihar Small Scale Industries Corporation had supplied goods for flood relief and the payment was made in the name of BSSI and got into the account of some Baba Satya Sai Industries (BSSI)

Use these links, these guys are owners of fleet of houseboats -
http://www.somahouseboats.com/
http://www.keralatravels.com/houseboat/coco/

dan37_123 · May 23rd, 2005, 17:47

Thanks GS UPAL,
yes those rates at the websites you pointed out seems reasonable.

thanks, a question, is it really neccessary to book them in advance. I guess its offseason in july as well.

thanks
daniel

gs_uppal · May 23rd, 2005, 17:54

its off season till aug end. you can get one easily when your here and as low as 3000 for NAC.
i havent been to kerala yet, but am doing my search work for a trip post monsoon.

dan37_123 · May 23rd, 2005, 18:04

hi,
just a dumb question what does NAC means. You said it may cost only around rs. 3000 NAC?

Does it mean non-ac?

thanks
daniel

Paagla Dashu · May 23rd, 2005, 18:19

NAC = Non AC.

RIGHT

gs_uppal · May 23rd, 2005, 18:46

that right sorry should have been clearer in my writing - N/AC or NonAC

Send a mail to info@mishaholidays.com, they have houseboats too besides a hotel in munnar. i had received an email from them telling houseboat rates to be 3000, 4000 etc., just try it.

Sunray · May 24th, 2005, 15:16

If someone wants paying via western union and not visa then its pretty much 100% certianty a scam. Thats where most of the money lost on ebay gets lost.

lonelyaztec · May 24th, 2005, 15:36

It cost me Rs. 3500 for a 24 hrs cruise for 2 people before 4 yrs.

LindaK · May 25th, 2005, 03:19

About 5 days ago, I sent an email requesting a houseboat quote to Alleppey Tourist Development Co-operative Society (ATDC) at A-837 Komala Road, Alleppey (according to the website). The request was for 2 people, 24 hours on a houseboat going from Alleppey to Kollam.

The reply I received was virtually identical to the one at the beginning of this thread, and quoted US$475 for non-A/C, US$715 for A/C. If this is a scam, this person has somehow infiltrated the ATDC website / email.

I replied saying that this was well above my budget.

I've since decided to change my itinerary so that I will be spending a night in a houseboat in early March instead of late January. I figured it would be easier in March to just 'show up', look at the available boats, and negotiate on the spot. I would much prefer to do that than book on the internet in advance.

Any opinions on that? Is it 'quiet' enough in early March to take this approach?

gipsi47 · May 25th, 2005, 04:46

There are literally hundreds of houseboats docked in Alleppy and you can book them the day before you go at many places. The going rate is around 4500 rupees for one night, 2 days and all the food you want,although the two days is more like one 24 hour day. You leave at 10 or 11am and return by 11 am the next day mostly. There is a lot of competition so you can usually make a deal. Go to the riverside where the boats all dock and talk to a few people for prices and check out the boats.

dani · May 25th, 2005, 04:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by lonelyaztec

It cost me Rs. 3500 for a 24 hrs cruise for 2 people before 4 yrs.

for me the same, in sempember 04

May 24th, 2005, 15:36	#12
lonelyaztec Maha Guru Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,408	It cost me Rs. 3500 for a 24 hrs cruise for 2 people before 4 yrs. __________________ Aztec My photoblog

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May 23rd, 2005, 17:07	#2
LaContessa Diabla Supreme Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 122	Is this very expensive? It sounds pretty expensive by Indian standards, but I don't know...?

May 23rd, 2005, 17:17	#3
dan37_123 Senior Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Europe Posts: 404	Most probably its not the Allepy Tourism Development Corporations website. Also if you notice, the guys aska for westers union transfer on his personal name. So i am sure its a SCAM. Another agency replied with a price of Rs9,000.00 for the same trip. Also, i read in the thread not to book things over the internet, it seems they just charge list price, as opposed to the real price. thanks, hope this helps. dan

May 23rd, 2005, 17:17	#4
chilli chilli Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: melbourne, australia Posts: 55	Thats insane !! The most Ive heard of $100 (Australian $$) per night.

May 23rd, 2005, 17:25	#5
gs_uppal Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Mumbai Posts: 392	seems to be a fraudster using ATDC name, same phone no. but different address, the real address of ATDC is - Alleppey Tourism Development Co-operative Society Ltd. (ATDC) A-837, Komala Road, Alleppey -13, Kerala, India. Tel: 91-477-2243462 Fax: 91-477-2243462 Email: info@atdcalleppey.com It has become very common to have names which have abbreviations which are similar to large known companies and do frauds, people even make bank accounts in these short names and deposit cheques made for the reputed companies and deposit them in their personal accounts opened this way, like it was done in Bihar during the Flood reliefs. Bihar Small Scale Industries Corporation had supplied goods for flood relief and the payment was made in the name of BSSI and got into the account of some Baba Satya Sai Industries (BSSI) Use these links, these guys are owners of fleet of houseboats - http://www.somahouseboats.com/ http://www.keralatravels.com/houseboat/coco/

May 23rd, 2005, 17:47	#6
dan37_123 Senior Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Europe Posts: 404	Thanks GS UPAL, yes those rates at the websites you pointed out seems reasonable. thanks, a question, is it really neccessary to book them in advance. I guess its offseason in july as well. thanks daniel

May 23rd, 2005, 17:54	#7
gs_uppal Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Mumbai Posts: 392	its off season till aug end. you can get one easily when your here and as low as 3000 for NAC. i havent been to kerala yet, but am doing my search work for a trip post monsoon.

May 23rd, 2005, 18:04	#8
dan37_123 Senior Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Europe Posts: 404	hi, just a dumb question what does NAC means. You said it may cost only around rs. 3000 NAC? Does it mean non-ac? thanks daniel

May 23rd, 2005, 18:19	#9
Paagla Dashu Unreasonably Unreasonable Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Where They Wear Clogs Posts: 1,222	NAC = Non AC. RIGHT

May 23rd, 2005, 18:46	#10
gs_uppal Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Mumbai Posts: 392	that right sorry should have been clearer in my writing - N/AC or NonAC Send a mail to info@mishaholidays.com, they have houseboats too besides a hotel in munnar. i had received an email from them telling houseboat rates to be 3000, 4000 etc., just try it.

May 24th, 2005, 15:16	#11
Sunray Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: North India Posts: 140	If someone wants paying via western union and not visa then its pretty much 100% certianty a scam. Thats where most of the money lost on ebay gets lost.

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May 25th, 2005, 03:19	#13
LindaK Senior Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Toronto Posts: 132	About 5 days ago, I sent an email requesting a houseboat quote to Alleppey Tourist Development Co-operative Society (ATDC) at A-837 Komala Road, Alleppey (according to the website). The request was for 2 people, 24 hours on a houseboat going from Alleppey to Kollam. The reply I received was virtually identical to the one at the beginning of this thread, and quoted US$475 for non-A/C, US$715 for A/C. If this is a scam, this person has somehow infiltrated the ATDC website / email. I replied saying that this was well above my budget. I've since decided to change my itinerary so that I will be spending a night in a houseboat in early March instead of late January. I figured it would be easier in March to just 'show up', look at the available boats, and negotiate on the spot. I would much prefer to do that than book on the internet in advance. Any opinions on that? Is it 'quiet' enough in early March to take this approach?

May 25th, 2005, 04:46	#14
gipsi47 bulleteergoa Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Patnem Beach,Goa India Posts: 51	There are literally hundreds of houseboats docked in Alleppy and you can book them the day before you go at many places. The going rate is around 4500 rupees for one night, 2 days and all the food you want,although the two days is more like one 24 hour day. You leave at 10 or 11am and return by 11 am the next day mostly. There is a lot of competition so you can usually make a deal. Go to the riverside where the boats all dock and talk to a few people for prices and check out the boats.