Happy Endings …

May 7, 2008

This story ended with a happy note

1) Make My Trip refunded all money for second Ticket of higher value

2) Go Air gave gift voucher which can be redemmed within next six months (hope that will happen smoothly

So, monetary harm has been taken care of … However it would be meaningful if they learn their lessons from this and take some steps so that it is not repeated in future. However there is immediate need for following upgrade:

1) Central view of all the communications that happen with the consumer. Be it via mail or on phone or any other mode. Every call center rep should have access to this central updated data. This will save us from repeating our story to every other call center rep. There were instances when i received more than one mail asking for same data which I had already provided. This problem is common to most of these call centers, as is also highlighted by Sachin in this Ezeego Case


Adventure of Travel Packages ….

April 21, 2008

Recently, My friend had a wonderful consumer experience with ezeego1. These Travel sites make sure to make your travel a not-to-forget affair. Can it be more interesting than planning to go to destination A for your honeymoon and after high end  drama you end up going to destination B … Read on what Sachin has to say…

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I Have a similar story to tell with ezeego1.com:

You may publish this as a post:

I booked a package tour on ezeego1.com on 26th March for a holiday trip from 12 Apr to 19 Apr 2008. Ezeego1 happily deducted 27984/- (Package Amount). I was given a booking number: EZR-2008-188647, which was epitaphed in my mind, because I repeated this number to several CSRs in some 25 -30 calls I made to ezeego1.

The Problem:

whenever you book a holiday from a travel website, you need to wait for a confirmation from the website to actually confirm whether you will go on that package or not. This is a timeframe of 48 hrs. as ezeego1 website claims. These were the terms on which i booked the package:

Payment Policy for on Request Bookings.

1. The package that you have selected is currently on request and is subject to confirmation.
2. We will require Pre Authorization of your credit card and the same will not be charged till the package is confirmed.
3. Your credit card would be charged only if we are able to confirm the booking within 24 hours and the terms & conditions associated with this booking would be applicable.
4. In case we are not able to confirm your selection, we will offer you an alternative in a similar Hotel.
5. Only on acceptance of the alternative offer, your credit card will be charged and the terms & conditions associated with this booking would be applicable.

These conditions were flouted blatantly, as I was deducted the said amount real – time, as soon I clicked the submit button. Now, I dont have a confirmed package, and I have been deducted Rs. 27984

Ezeego1 Response:

I think Ezeego1 has a primitive customer care, where no one cares to write case history and never ever a complaint number is generated. As a result, according to the complex Call Centre software algorithm, you always get connected to a different call cetner rep and poor you have to explain your problem every time you called. Imagine my plight, having to call 25 – 30 times and explaining to as many people every time.

Now, the real fun began, on 2nd April, I had this chat with this floor manager of the call center who valiantly fought for ezeego1. He says, Sir, we are very sorry that we could not process your confirmation, but would do by tomorrow. I replied, Can you please reply this via Email? He Says, Sorry Sir, but I Cant write you a mail. But have faith, it will be done by tomorrow. Now, If this guy representing ezzeego1 cant commit/write a mail regarding confirmation on 2nd April, (Ideally, which should have been done in 24/48 hrs. from 26 Mar), How am I, a poor consumer can believe a verbal promise. Especially, when you don’t take money verbally from consumer, but swipe his credit card for the full amount.

I started calling ezeego1 from 29 Mar seeking for confirmation as I had to book Air Tickets as well. The air fares were rising fast, so was our expectations from the Holiday break. Everyday same reply from ezeego1, that it will be confirmed next day, or wait till tomorrow, you will get a call from us.

One, the package was never confirmed. Two, I never got a return call from ezeego1 (except in one instance). Three, Time was running was fast and it did create some disharmony between My wife and me.

The Falllout:

I religiously called ezeego1 several times from 29 Mar to 6 Apr, Finally decided to cancel my trip. This was getting too much as I had already applied for leaves in my office. So had my Wife. This was supposed to our much awaited Honeymoon, 3 months after our marriage in Jan’08. You can understand the emotional value of this holiday for us.

We were on the brink of canceling this Honeymoon when sense prevailed. Finally, my request landed on deaf ears of ezeego1on 6th Apr, and I got a mail saying your money would be refunded in 7 days from now. I booked an alternate holiday, all by myself, not choosing a package this time, for much higher hotel/travel fares, which could have been avoided if ezeego1 had cleared its position much earlier.

Even though the money has been refunded, I was harassed unneccessarily. The situation could very well have been avoided, if Ezeego1 followed their own rules and guidelines.

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Actual story submitted by Sachin Arya