Bad Service by VRL

[Simba]

Hey guys,

I have been planning to start this thread for quite a while. Only today, did I get the time to do so.

Just take it with a pinch of salt!!! There might be a lot of guys/ gals who would want to transfer goods from place to place within India. I too wanted to send my bike to Bangalore and had a horrible experience.

VRL is known for bad customer service everywhere but this is TERRIBLE!! I thought I could save about 1000 Rs by not sending my Kinetic thro Movers & Packers. So, I sent my bike thro VRL (Vijayanand Travels) which costed me around 870 bux. It was supposed to be transeferred in 4 days & it reached Bangalore after 10 days

When my friend went to pick it up, all he saw was a mass of junk. My poor bike was so manhandled that I am so UPSET ... U see these guys are so careless that though they had charged me to get it packed, the job done was very bad. Already we have spent close to 1200 odd Rs on that servicing... Sadly the front part is so messed up that it will cost another 1000 bux more!!! All this to save a few pennies!!

And my friend said that when he went to pick up the bike, he saw some household goods that were almost broken beyond recognition. He said he didnt dare to wait for the guy who would come to collect THAT!! On enquiring the manager had the audacity to say that the Bike was carried only on owners risk. Nothing was guranteed. Also, he said, he would give a letter for damage that can be claimed from insurance... Such heartless, hopeless jerks!!!

Is there some way I can claim for damages???

So, junta, if anybody have had better service, then U are lucky!! Others, BEWARE!!

If this post atleast saves somebody from going thro such situations, then its worth it

Cheers,
Simba

[zango]

sorry to read of your bad experience

when i was transferring my bike (bullet - yay! ) from nasik to blr, i went to a transport guy - he asked me to avoid shipping using the transport service offered and go by rail instead. he told me that it will turn out to be cheaper as well as better service. I did that and even tho i had my doubts, the bike turned up in blr, 4 days later, all safe and sound.

Surprisingly the public service system (in this case) does work - will recommend it to others in the future - you need to get it packed yourself - and ensure that you empty the petrol tank (to the last drop!) else you will end up paying Rs 500 as fine.

[cioccolata]

hey simba, u really want to claim damages?
bcos if u want to u cn..

[puneet]

simba , hopefully ur bike is insured ... then u can ask the transporter company for the letter towards ur insurance stating the damage and clearly mentioning the damage occured while transporting the vehicle ... i dont know but as u have the bike in another city , ull have to convince the insurance agency regarding verification of the damages in that city for the claim.

[Simba]

Originally Posted by neha_chhabra

hey simba, u really want to claim damages?
bcos if u want to u cn..

I can, but how??? I am here & the bike is with my mom in Bangalore. And I dont think we have the time to chase these guys!! Do we have to run around courts etc etc.. Sorry but I am pretty unaware of the procedures!!

Originally Posted by puneet

simba , hopefully ur bike is insured ... then u can ask the transporter company for the letter towards ur insurance stating the damage and clearly mentioning the damage occured while transporting the vehicle ... i dont know but as u have the bike in another city , ull have to convince the insurance agency regarding verification of the damages in that city for the claim.

Hey Puneet, u see my bike has third party insurance that is the thing which can be claimed only in accidents. I dont think that will cover me for these kinda transport damages. Do u think it will?? U see my bike is originally from Bangalore. I was just using it for a while in Mumbai.. It had a NOC... Now, I have sent it back!!! So, how will this scheme work???

Simbaaa

[Psychodementia]

Okay, Simba, let me tell u the bad news first. There is just too much of hassle involved in the legal case. Firstly, all these transporters are clever enough to clearly mention a clause that they are not responsible for any damage that might be caused during transport.

Now a general insurance won't help in this case. There are 2 special kind of insurances for such transportation. First is something comprehensive which includes damages caused due to transport. But most insurance companies hardly give any compensation hence this is not something preferred. The second is something called Marine insurance (beats me why its named so) which covers incase the transport vehicle (train/truck) meets with an accident.

I know now none of this is going to help you. I reckon you forget about the court thingy and pursue this matter in a consumer court. Ask your mom to call up the numbers given here :

http://www.bangalorenet.com/redalert/Emergency.asp

Tell them the situation and ask them to assess what best can be done.

I think what is important for you is not the couple of 1000 bucks but to make sure that this guy pays for his attitude and realizes that consumers cannot be taken for a ride.

HTH,

Arun

[Simba]

Originally Posted by Psychodementia

Ask your mom to call up the numbers given here :

http://www.bangalorenet.com/redalert/Emergency.asp

Tell them the situation and ask them to assess what best can be done.

Finally some hope... . Arun, thanks for that useful suggestion. I will def ask her to talk to these guys ASAP. Shall keep u all posted on that!!!

I think what is important for you is not the couple of 1000 bucks but to make sure that this guy pays for his attitude and realizes that consumers cannot be taken for a ride.

Precisely Arun!!! I dont care about a couple of 1000 bux but their attitude in all SUX. If they cannot do justice to this, then why should they carry these goods at all. whats the big deal!!! And more or less, I want everybody to be wary about the kind of atrocious service & sickening attitude of VRL folks!! I hope this thread turns up in google search.... More ppl are aware of such things, the better for geneal public!!

Simba

[cioccolata]

well ur right, going to the courts is gonna b a big lengthy process.. but consumer courts r better in many ways,wont take so much time there. Also as far as i noe its not necessary to engage a lawyer, u cn go and argue your own case there.If u actually go ahead with this u cn ask me fr any help or advice u need.. im nt a lawyer yet, still in the process of becoming 1 but iv got friends who r .. so mayb i cn help u out!

[mik]

A private company doing such a thing is never heard of before.

Govt. organisations behaving in this rude manner is heard of...but PRIVATE??? naaah never.

As mentioned,even the furniture(shud i call it now?) was/is broken,why do ppl use VRL service?

I mean if VRL cannot trnasport any damn thing in SINGLE piece....hjow come the company is still existing??

Sympathy with SIMBA,dats all i can do form here mate.

Take care
mik

[zango]

Originally Posted by mik @ Fri Sep 17, 2004 6:09 pm

A private company doing such a thing is never heard of before.

Govt. organisations behaving in this rude manner is heard of...but PRIVATE??? naaah never.

Read what I said in my post - the Indian railways' transport service is exceptionally good - also - they asked me to pay up extra - based on my bike's value - some 1% of the total cost - as insurance - so that i may be able to claim damages if something went wrong. I opted for the insurance - but since my bike got to blr safe and sound - didn't have to make use of it.
On the other hand, the transport guy I had taken my bike to first asked me to not go the truck transport route but go to indian railways as my bike would be safer in their hands.

(Also, the transport people were very professionaly with their job and didn't take me more than a 1/2 of an hour to load my bike in nasik and another 1/2 an hour to fetch it out of the storeroom facility in blr).