I am a retired military officer. Wanted to share my terrible experience with these people recently. They are big-time cheats! I don’t think they have anything to do with the Army or the military. They are just using the ‘Sainik’ name to cheat the public, exploiting the trust we all have in the fauj! I got trapped for the same reason. I didn’t bother to check much thinking that they were from the military background.
I had to move my household stuff from Bangalore to Kerala in March. I contacted these people, even spoke with the ‘boss’, who calls himself Colonel Manoj Rathore. One salesperson visited my house to assess and gave a quote. I paid an advance amount and they send me an SMS, confirming the order. The movement was for 27th March 20.
But the lockdown was announced a couple of days before. When I checked with them about my luggage movement, since goods movement was still being permitted, I was told that all the staff was going to their villages in Rajasthan because the situation - hence not in a position to pick up my luggage, as planned, even though they had confirmed the order for 27th March. Even though this excuse surprised me as something very unprofessional, I waited through the lockdown period trusting that they would take up the work as soon as the situation permitted.
I contacted them again in early May when the govt permitted goods movement as part of the unlock process. I spoke to this ‘Colonel’ and he confirmed 15th May as the new date for the luggage packing and movement. Accordingly, I applied for the government passes for the movements and my travel for 15th May.
When I contacted him 13th May just for last-minute reconfirmation, he dropped a bombshell. He demanded an additional big amount on top of what was confirmed originally, quoting some flimsy reasons. It took me some time to realize that I was being trapped at the last moment since I had all the movement passes approved for 15th May. When I explained my inability to pay that additional amount, he told me that I was free to make my own arrangement in such a case and he would return the advance I had paid.
It was a nightmare situation for me! I somehow managed to find another truck and got all the packing done by myself with the help of some friends, in the next two days, working day and nights, and moved on the 15th of May since I knew that I would be stuck if I didn’t use those passes!
Subsequently, when I contacted this ‘Colonel’ for the agreed refund of the advance amount, he changed the whole story that I “canceled” the order from my side, and “cancellation charges” would apply! I was shocked to hear this after all the troubles they gave me!
After many phone calls and messages, I received a refund minus the “cancellation charges” after two months.
I told him that it was not acceptable to me. And, I have decided to take them to the Consumer Court for this unfair act plus damages caused to me, including mental trauma, through their unprofessional conduct.
So, please don’t go anywhere near these people. They are big-time CHEATS, posing in fauji dress!
Now, on 20th August, they have returned the amount they had taken as the "Cancellation" charges.
Within 2 days, i.e. 22nd Aug, I received a message from the boss asking me to remove the review. Otherwise, he would be "sending his team to my house" on Monday, 24th Aug, he said!
I have kept the local police informed, anyways!