The start:
It all began on 6th September 2013, my parents aged 71 and 62, finalized on a deal with a guy called "Ravi Kumar" who represented Southern Cargo Packers & Movers.
Up front, everything seemed perfectly okay. Warm, polite courteous individual who promised the SUN and the MOON to my aged parents, who generally fall for anything that seems genuine.
They fix up a date of 8th September 2013 for the whole transaction and Rs. 10, 000/- is paid upfront.
08th September 2013 - The time given to us was 10:00 AM, they were there by 11:30 AM.
Mayur Sharma - A thin chap in mid twenties heading the team of packers walked into our house with full enthusiasm and started the process off swiftly.
By 6:00 PM, we were through with the packing.
Initial experience, interesting however something within me kept giving me the vibes of being skeptical till the time the whole cargo doesn’t get transported from Mumbai(Ghatkopar) till Pondicherry.
They had given us a surety that the cargo will reach Pondicherry in the next 5 days.
The time committed by them was - 12th September 2013 and we paid them a total of Rs. 46, 050/-! up front(which was the worst decision of our lives).
And were promptly promised that in the next 2 days, we’ll be given the contact number of the driver, who will be delivering the consignment.
All was well till the 11th September 2013, when Mr.Mayur Sharma’s father(The Mr. Sharmaji" of - Southern movers and packers) the man responsible behind the whole’SHIFTING’ completely stopped responding to their calls.
Their office land-line - 022-25335147 & mobile - 9320633875 on their professional looking money receipt made a mockery out of us.
After repeated phone calls went unanswered, the phone finally gets picked up by this lady who’never’ reveals her name.
This was the first’reality check’ in the whole’beautifully concocted story’ presented to us.
Secondly, she had ABSOLUTELY NO CLUE ABOUT OUR CONSIGNMENT!
When I heard this, I was TOTALLY taken aback. My heart sank and I requested her to figure out what she was talking.
She then rudely gave away the number of "MR. SHARMAJI" the "HEAD HONCHO" - 9321156650 and asked me to coordinate with him.
This was the second reality check and the biggest mockery in this whole transaction.
The’SO CALLED BOSS’ is NEVER reachable. He doesn’t respond neither does he call back.
Slowly slowly, this dream was already staring in its new avatar of rude reality check.
We were getting restless because of the total unavailability of the staff. We didn’t know what was going on with our consignment.
My wife began following up with them. After almost calling up about 40 to 50 times she again spoke with "MR. SHARMAJI" who finally admitted that, the consignment is about 2 days late because of Ganpati.
RULE 1 OF ANY BUSINESS - In case if you are causing a delay to a "CUSTOMER" you’re supposed to INFORM THEM well in advance. ESPECIALLY after having received the payments.
Southern Cargo Packers & Movers, follows an ABSOLUTELY opposite policy.
They also take the definition of’WE PERSONALLY TAKE CHARGE OF YOUR GOODS.’ to a whole new level of literally treating it as if they own it!
They behave like the baniyas who take YOUR money and treat it like their own!
My wife was spoken to EXTREMELY rudely by the staff. After feeling totally helpless and cheated, we started to panic.
Still there was NO revert from Southern Cargo.
The continuous thought of elderly parents having to go through this ordeal, was making it even worse!
Finally out of sheer desperation, we decided to threaten them of going to the cops.
Again after the routine calling of 45 to 50 times.
This time this woman, who is probably uneducated and absolutely manner-less. has the audacity to tell me wife to GO AHEAD AND FILE THE POLICE COMPLAIN.
And sadistically also tells her to FILE AN ADDITIONAL COMPLAIN OF "GOODS BEING STOLEN!"
CAN YOU IMAGINE HOW IT FELT WHEN WE HEARD THAT?
The sweepers and the watchmen in our building are more knowledgeable and polite than the staff who responds to phone calls.
I now totally lost my cool and tried calling Sharmaji, to my luck I get through to him on the 25th call.
We were then told by "MR. SHARMAJI" who in a TOTALLY FAKE MANNER, apologized for the inconvenience and YET AGAIN, promised us to deliver the goods by 15th September 2013.(This is 3 days behind schedule ALREADY.)
He also promised to call back on 14th September 2013 and follow up with the number of the driver.
Today I stand on the 17th September 2013, the status of my consignment:
1) Phones go unanswered.
2) Mr.Sharmaji’s phone is also unreachable.
3) My aged parents are in Pondicherry without a SINGLE furniture or their necessary goods since 12th September 2013.
I’ve got this huge RAGE within and I personally want to go file a complain against them in the consumer court, which I will.
However, I’m going to give this another 48 hours.
If they DON’T respond, I’m approaching the COPS and the consumer court.
Unfortunately the law and order system in our country is time consuming, but I’ll make sure that these guys pay for their "TAKEN FOR GRANTED ATTITUDE".
Personally I’d urge you TO NEVER USE THESE GUYS. They’re a TOTAL NIGHTMARE!
UPDATE - 20th September 2013 -
The consignment reached on 19th September 2013, about 7 days behind schedule.
Status of the packaging -
ALL the god damn packaging they did, was completely worn off!
The majority portions of our house hold goods, damaged.
Total packages - 45
Total packages delivered - 43!
2 Packages missing and the BLOODY CONS are not responding to our calls.
These guys know EXACTLY how to CON people!
Mistakes we did:
1) Paid the money upfront.
2) Didn’t take the delivery date in writing.
3) They will LIE to you saying your goods are insured and charge you extra money for it.(And on the challan, mention that the liability of goods insurance is on the customer!)
All in all, WHAT A DISASTER we’ve gotten ourselves into by dealing with them.
I can’t even legally get these people to pay for all the torture me and my parents have been through.
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE alert your friends and family, to stay away from these ROGUES! Arvind Rao.