January 24, 2012
Rating
Unfortunate was the moment when I planned to book my weekend trip with Just Travel to Pondicherry & Mahabalipuram. The gravity of the matter can be understood from the fact that the driver of the Taxi KA-04B- 3374 threatened to push us along with our luggage 200Km from Bangalore on the way back if we didnât pay the extra amount. Driver (Wasim) even threatened to take us to the police station, when we said lets go, he started driving so rashly that we were scared of our lives. The Tour Operator told the driver not to drop us in our home in Bangalore unless we clear off all his balance dues (500/-) plus 1000/- extra. If we failed to pay take the taxi to the tour operatorâs home. Since we had ladies with us, we had to pay and didnât want any trouble mid-night.
The total amount agreed was 11,000/- with Taxi, Toll, entry fee, hotel stay charges. We paid 5,000/- as advance. Just out of Bangalore driver asked for 1200/- for entry fees and tolls. Once we entered Tamil Nadu he asked money for Diesel and we paid 1500/-. Couple of hours into the journey driver was feeling sleepy and requested he canât go on and need sleep for half an hour and we obliged. We were told that you will reach 6am in Pondicherry and we reached 7.30. When we reached the hotel (ANANDHAM RESIDENCY in Pondicherry) we were shocked to see the rooms. It was unhygienic to say the least; torn beddings, dirty rooms, Pan spitted all over, alcoholic smell. We told that we wonât check-in in the hotel as we had asked for a good & clean room. Travel agent (Just Travel, Syed) told us that room will cost 1800/- while the voucher mentioned it to be 1250/-. After an hours trouble we somehow managed to get another hotel; though the driver tried his best that we donât get any room. Language problem added to our problems since we are from North India. Even before check â in driver asked for 2000/- more advance. We told that this is more than what we need to pay (11000-5000 (Advance)- 2700 (Diesel/Toll/Permits) â 1800/- (Room) = 1,500 (Balance)). We told him that trip has yet not started & we have already paid 90% of the amount; we will pay balance in Bangalore.
Finally after check-in to a different hotel for which we paid almost twice the amount (on-spot booking on weekend) we asked the driver to be ready in an hour. At this, driver said he needs to sleep and will go out only after 3-4 hours. We finally agreed to move after 2 hours. Then he told he doesnât know any tourist place in Pondicherry & Mahabalipuram while we were told driver will be driver cum guide. Luckily we had done some google search & had some print-out we managed to see the places. Mental torture was to begin now as Travel agent told the driver to collect full amount plus 1000/- as cancellation charges for room. We went to the Cancelled hotel to check the truth. One of the person on reception said no cancellation charges will be levied while the other person close aide of Just Travel said 1000/- will be charged (speaking the same words as Syed, Just Travel, Travel agent).
Second morning, driver was told to report at 6 am to go out as we missed few places. He came at 7.30 after several calls saying that car had some starting problem. âDriver-cum-Guideâ never told of the tourist places to visit, timings, Vegetarian food restaurants etc. It seemed he was on a holiday & we were at his mercy (praying for our lives as he was driving). On the way back to Bangalore; we told him we are in no hurry & drive slowly- he told he is in a hurry as his mother is admitted to hospital. After 30 minutes he stopped the car and told that pay the money then only he will move- which shows he was lying to us. Finally when we paid, he took us back to Bangalore. We could not sleep all the way due to his rash driving and also due to the fact that he seemed to be in sleep; so we need to keep him awake.
On reaching Bangalore, we simply asked (via e-mail) for receipt of balance amount paid to the driver which the travel agency never responded back.