Taxiforsure — My scary and horrible experience at Udaipur

Address:

Mumbai City, Maharashtra

This is to bring to your notice a terrible and horrifying experience I had with your driver/service while I was in Udaipur on 1st Of June 2015. I had booked a taxi for 2PM for Udaipur airport via mobile app on the morning of 1st June. The driver called at around 2 to confirm the address and we started at around 2.15 from my pickup address. The driver’s number that showed up on my mobile is [protected] and the caller name showed up as Vivek. I was surprised when he asked me where did I want to go. I said you must know that I have booked the taxi for airport. He was disappointed and made a face. After we reached around Celebration mall he took a wrong turn and I immediately asked him why was he not taking the bypass road to the airport, which is shortest and fastest approach to airport. He said “are sahib kuchh fark nahi padta hai, ye road bhi achha hai. Since I am not a local and not familiar with road, I took his word for granted. I realized a little later that the road that he took passed through congested small lanes. By now I started worrying about my flight time. He said he said some work on the way and that it will take only 2 minutes. I was surprised and knew by then that this guy is taking me for a royal ride. This driver was continuously talking to someone on phone and driving carelessly. He almost hit a tanker from behind but I was alert and alerted him by shouting. He said “ aap fikar mat karo, aapko airport pahuncha dunga” A little later this driver banged in to a riksha and his side view mirror broke. He got down and started an argument with the riksha driver. I was really worried now. After a while, he came over and asked me to leave the taxi and go to airport on my own. I was aghast. I told him that this is not possible and its your duty to drop me to airport in time. He called up someone and then asked me to pay for the damage or leave the taxi. I flatly refused and almost seething with anger. Then he showed me his mobile and said” company ki taraf se aapki booking cancel ho gayi hai seedhe se utar jaaiye.” I refused and told him that I have not canceled any booking and this is not true. I almost pleaded with him with folded hands to take me to airport immediately as it was already 2.40 pm (my flight was at 3.45 and airport was still about 20kms away!. He insisted that I get down and arrange for another cad which he coolly said “2 minute mein aa jaayegi”. I was in no position to get down in the middle of the road in the sweltering heat at 2.40pm in Udaipur!. He very reluctantly and cursing me sat down and started to drive very slowly and said ‘ ab toh aapko flight milegi nahi abhi to airport 23 km dur hai”. He spotted another “Taxi for sure” parked on the other side of the road took a U turn and said “aap ye taxi le lijiye”. He BANGED the bumper of that car and stopped. I got down and he started to run away. In the hurry he did not bother about another speeding bus that came from behind and hit his car. To my surprise he continued to drive and ran away. I hunted for the driver of this other cab and very thankfully agreed to drop me. I reached the airport at 3.05 pm and since the flight was delayed by 20 minutes, I was able to check in. Unfortunately I forgot to note down the number of this obliging driver. I paid him whatever he asked for. I got an sms from TFS thanking me for the ride and asked for my feedback!. I got a mail from TFS later in the day along with a receipt which I never paid. I am attaching a copy of the receipt that I received along with a snap showing number of the taxi. The receipt carries name of the driver (It’s NOT Vivek!) and the name of the owner. I reside in Mumbai and a registered customer of TFS. I would be in Udaipur again on 17/18th June and request you as following: 1. I request that you give me an appointment for 17/18th June so that I can meet you face to face to present my case. I also request that you summon the driver and the owner at the same time. 2. That you assist me in filing a police complaint against the driver/owner of the taxi. 3. I request that you assist me in lodging a complaint with the local road transport authority with a request to impound driver’s license. Please not that I am not interested in any compensation or apology either from you or from the driver/owner. I believe this driver is a threat to the traffic and to the life of the pedestrians and is not fit to drive and as such he should not be allowed to operate/drive. I am sure you will understand that such cases need to be taken seriously by all o[censored]s and guilty need to be taken to task. I just want to do my bit to ensure that we live in a better, polite and safe civil society. I am positive that you will not bin this letter but respond positively and take concrete steps. Thanking you, Yours faithfully, Sudhir Banthia Sudhir.[protected]@gmail.com [protected]