Odyssey Elevators Consumer Refund Controversy – Chennai, 29 Sep 2026
A press release dated 29 September 2026, issued under an arrangement with NRDPL and bearing a disclaimer that PTI assumes no editorial responsibility, highlights complaints from retired and elderly homeowners in Chennai who purchased home elevators from Odyssey Elevators and are now seeking refunds.
The co‑founder, identified as Raamkumar, publicly described the product as “India’s First Electric circular elevator” and asserted that the lifts are built with European technology and are 100 % imported from Europe. However, the accompanying documentation classifies the elevator mechanism as drum‑winding technology, a conventional system rather than a novel one. Further scrutiny reveals that Odyssey procures the lifts from a partner named Aresforti, a company based in Turkey. While Turkey has territory in Europe, it is not a member of the European Union, raising questions about the accuracy of the “European” branding.
In an interview, Raamkumar claimed the elevator does not require a pit. Contrarily, the installation manual specifies a 120 mm pit or the need to raise the lift 120 mm above ground level by adding a ramp. This discrepancy has material implications for construction costs and installation expectations for consumers.
The release also notes that the same leadership team is associated with both Odyssey Elevators and Brio Elevators, yet the two brands are presented as independent entities. Customers are demanding transparency regarding the ownership and operational relationship between the two companies.
Retired customers have raised concerns about who is responsible for addressing their refund requests—whether it be the promoters, the technical team, the sales representatives, or the corporate entity itself. They seek clarification on the technical qualifications and experience of the leadership in elevator engineering, the identity of professionals validating the technology claims, and the precise basis for describing the product as a first‑of‑its‑kind electric elevator.
The press release calls for Odyssey and Brio to provide detailed explanations of the technology, disclose any material differences from standard drum‑winding systems, and outline a transparent process for handling refund demands, emphasizing the need for trust and accountability when senior citizens invest their savings in premium‑priced home elevators.