I booked a online ticket from Bangalore to Chennai. I got the confirmation message with seat details. when I went to board the bus at madivala, to my surprise the bus arrived 5 mins before time (which usually never happens. ), but this excitement was soon marred, when I was asked to sit on the helpers seat, beside drivers seat!! while the seat I had chosen online was a window seat in the middle of bus.
While I was discussing with one of the national travels person, the conductor took out my luggage, kept it on the road and the bus left in front of me!! I called the customer care numbers, they all kept me giving each others no and each one kept saying talk to the other one. I had to catch train from Chennai so I shouted at the local manager I think they are always well prepared for that.
After all shouting and threatening (which both know is just words :), after about an hour a was boarded on a different bus of low quality. Fortunately I had kept the buffer timing, just reached the station 15 mins before departure.
Can’t express how terrible the mental pressure is at these times, and shamelessly they offers your the money back!! I went to their office on return. Finally came to know that, there are some buses from Mumbai to Chennai, going from Bangalore. they book tickets for those buses (which is not theirs), the clash happens when the original bus operator has a booking at the last moment.
So please do not trust this National travels, you might end up having a vague ticket. I don’t know what can be done in these cases and how responsive would the consumer court be!!