I applied for a Singapore tourist Visa through them. The application was submitted on 3rd May, 2011, for a travel on 13th May, 2011
I am based out of Bangalore and travelling from Chennai.
My documents, including the Passport, were collected by a lady called Ms Apsara. On that day itself, she came across as an "incompetent, callous and useless". She could not even handle the documents properly.
She actually put my pics and authorisation letter in someone else’s passport. Couldnt even make out the difference in Passport pics and mine?
I was informed that it will take 5 working days. Some other queries that I addressed to her elicited vague or no response at all.
Come 9th May, 2011: I called up her superior, Mr Xavier to inquire about my application status. He informed me that he will find out and let me know. His ending words were: "It is surprising that you have got no communication from us since submitting the application"
Action from Mr Xavier: NOTHING
Evening: I tried calling and was put on hold for a good 20 - 25 mins. After that, when Ms Apsara finally obliged me by taking my call, she had no clue about my application, leave alone the status of the same.
Her ending remarks: "I will call you in 10 minutes and update you"
Action: NOTHING
10th May, morning: Again after making me wait on the call for a good 20 - 25 mins, she obliged me to come and take my call. Her side of conversation "I have talked to my counterparts in Chennai and your application is submitted. We are expecting your Visa and Passport on Thursday"
A conversation with their manager Mr Avinash Nayak **did not yield any better results. His ending remarks "Give me 5 minutes, 5 minutes exactly and I will call you back."
Thursday: 12th May, 2011. Travel Date: 13th May, 2011 from Chennai. I leave for Chennai on 13th May morning(Friday morning)
I dont understand why a simple process, which should take 5 days, is getting dragged like this.
On top of it, there is a whole army of callous, ir-responsible and useless fellows employees in the Thomas Cook, MG Road Branch, Bangalore: *Mr Avinash Nayak, Mr Xavier and Ms Apsara
No level of responsibility, no accountability that too in a Service industry will not really go well for a firm like Thomas Cook.