I have travelled quite a number of time in KPN and experience have been farely good. The general thumb rule with them is " try to avoid the Drivers/Cleaners like plague ". If you happen to end up talking to them, they will make sure you burn .
I had booked two tickets from Nagercoil to Bangalore and while I was boarding the bus. The driver asked me what are in the boxes I was carrying and asked me to pay RS 150. I had two paperboard cartons which were not heavier than 10 KGs together. As per the KPN site a passenger can carry upto 15 KGS which entitles me to 30 KGs. I asked the driver what is the permitted weight per ticket, he says this is not a parcel service to carry cartons. Only suitcase are allowed. I found this funny, as he was not judging it by weight but by the type of packaging. Which shows his level of education. I told him I have already paid a premium to board this bus and I am not paying him anything extra. For that he again repeated himself saying this is not a parcel service and you can’t carry cartons. This pissed me off and I told him I dont have suitcases at home and I carry my stuffs in cartons only. He realized that I am not going to pay him he kept quite and I boarded the bus with my wife.
Around 3:30 AM when everyone is in deep sleep, he suddenly played the music very loud to purposefully wake up all the passengers. I almost woke up with a mini heart attack as the damn speaker was just over my seat and it was very loud. I thought of asking to the driver why he plays the music , I took me two minutes for me to find and wear my footwear. Driver had already gone to the loo. I went to the loo too and while I was entering the loo I saw the driver coming out. I took a pee and came out the bus was gone. I panicked and started searching the whole area. I asked one of the bus driver if he knows where the bus was. To my relief he told me that the bus was parked outside the area. I ran outside and climbed the bus. The stupid driver doesnt have even the slightest courtesy to inform the passengers where the bus will be parked. It seems it was the KPN Petrol bunk near Salem and they park the bus outside after filling it with diesel.
I came back and tried to get sleep, as I had paid more than 900 rs per seat to have a comfortable and effortless journey. My ordeal was not over yet.. Before hosur around 6 in the morning he started playing the damn music loud again. The place where I have to get down is still good 1 1/2 hours. He didn’t stop the music till the end. I totally lost my peace and had a severe headache because of all these. Finally we reached lalbag gate and while I was getting down, again he tried to rip me by asking me 100 RS for the luggage. I climbed down the bus and kept one bag and he closed the door, while my wife and other luggage were still inside the bus. I shouted him to open the door, when he did I got them down and now I was really furious and totally wanted to rip this guy off. I screamed at him at top of my voice, and for the third class guy he is. He threatened me saying, he shouldn’t have let me board the bus at first place.
Oh Yes, I paid 1980 RS for a sleeper coach in which I couldn’t sleep. Damn you KPN, I am so done with your pathetic service. KPN will be my last option, and would also discourage others from using them. With such Knuckle head drivers/cleaners who treat themselves are owners of KPN. It is only matter of time, you will be out of business.
Quoting from there website:
" From a humble beginning, it has grown to become one of the leading bus operators with an expanding fleet of buses in the country. Offering excellent service with its well-maintained coaches and courteous staff " - Joke of the Century!
Few more jokes can be found here : kpntravels.in/ou/whykpn.aspx