Its not an easy cab
We
planned to have a grand family meet after two years. Two families coming from
Delhi, three families coming from Jabalpur, Gwalior, and Mumbai. We planned to
join from Bangalore. Everyone planned this 4 months in advance to travel to a
Bhopal on Rakshabandhan.
Due to Easy Cabs plus Bangalore traffic, we missed our
train and lost around 10, 000.00 as cost of unused tickets.
My complaint with Easy Cab is
that they did not call me up in advance and inform that they will not be able
to provide a cab. They confirmed that taxi is on the way till last minute.
- We booked easy cabs(43434343) in 1 day advance. Given reporting time of 6PM. We had to reach Bangalore City(Majestic) for train departing at 8:20PM
(Rajdhani)
- With so much luggage and 2 small kids I wanted to make sure that
every thing go as per plan. I called up 43434343 at 5:28PM to ensure I have
booking and taxi is coming(I was 8th in queue it too 2-5 mins to get to the
support person). In very assuring voice and words, I was told that "**sir,
please be ensured that will be coming, you have 30 more minutes. You will be
getting call soon**"
- After 15 minutes, I realized that no one has called.
I called Easy Cabs again, again I was on hold for few minutes. person at the
other end of line told me about some problem and asked to hold. Call got disconnected.
- I called up again(its now 6PM), and I was told - "**sorry
due to some technical problem we are unable to dispatch the taxi**". I pleaded
for help, asked to arranging something else, told them I will report to
consumer forum - but nothing helped.
It was drizzling, and 6PM is a busy
business hours for all Taxis and autos folks. I asked my wife to call up all
the taxi numbers we have and I went out to look for autos. Autos refused to
come for Bangalore City JN even when I asked them take extra(or double meter).
Around four taxi companies declined. One taxi from Marathalli(6 kms awa) agreed to provide a taxi in 20
minutes for Rs 400.00. Its 6:30PM, we have around 2 hours, Great! problem is solved, we thought.
The
Marathalli taxi got stuck in ring road traffic and could reach only around
7:15pm. And we reached station at 8:26pm(train departure time was 8:20pm). Without worrying about bargaining we
got 2 coolies and ran towards platform 8 only to
find that train has **already left few minutes back.
*Collie asked for Rs 600.00 but we settled at
Rs 400.00 [ though if you have not traveled to Bangalore this amount may surprise you]
Learning’s:(specially if are not mobile, if you have luggage and small kids,
and you have to travel if peak traffic hours, before long weekend)
- Do not trust a new Cab company,
always rely on your regular and local taxi company. New cab companies have
teething troubles and Bangalore traffic makes it worst.
min to 1 hour in advance even if you have to pay waiting charges.
you get the Taxi drivers mobile number 1 hours in advance. Call and confirm
about taxi directly with taxi driver.
Next day 14-Aug
hours in canceling tickets of missed train. I might get 50% of the amount
- We have booked next days ticket in the same train under Tatkal category,
which is waitlisted. Luggage is still unpacked.
- We need to do most of the
work ourselves as baby sitter, cook, and house maid are not coming. We gave them 5 days leave as we were supposed to be away.
not travel today then we are loosing around Rs 5500.00 more as the RETURN train tickets are
in Tatkal which is only 25% refundable.
Total Cost of missed train (.still
counting.tentative below)
Taxi: 700.00(return trip to station)
Coolie:
400.00
Ticket1: 7260.00(3 passengers, I may get 50% of this in next 90 days)
Ticket2: 5500.00 Extra: 1 day leave Time: 24-48 preparation time
*What I can
change:*
- learn to work through the existing taxi protocols(ask taxis to come
1 hour additional in advance during peak hours
traffic mess)
Thanks