Jul 05, 2014 07:53 PM
7827 Views
I am a frequent flier and use Airport taxi services regularly. I usually never opt for Meru, considering my awful past experiences with them all over the country & particularly in Bangalore. Unfortunately, I saw an advertisement of theirs in Times of India last week, downloaded their app and made a booking on 3rd July(booking number- 27675794). Their advt. clearly stated that if booked through their app, a discount of Rs.100 would be given. Note the following facts;
The cab which was sent looked as if it was not cleaned for several months. Worse still, the chauffeur expected me to open the boot and put in the luggage. The boot was very dusty and I was reluctant to put my baggage there.
At the airport where I was dropped, I got a bill which was about Rs.20 more than other cabs-(Mega cabs & KSTDC). I did not mind it, however, I was shocked when I was given a TOLL TICKET of Rs.75 separately(not included in the print out generated by the system). This ticket DOES NOT CARRY A SERIAL NUMBER, CAR'S NUMBER or any kind of Hologram and it is quite evident that MERU IS DOING THIS JUST TO EVADE TAXES TO THE GOVERNMENT.. How is an inward toll justified when it is not pai to the government?
Meru cabs expects the passenger to pay up Rs.115 every time we exit the airport(KIAL airport to the city). This is a common practice of other cabs too. However, what surprises me is the Rs.75 ticket. OTHER CABS LIKE MEGA CABS, OLA AND KSTDC never charge an inward toll.. That too, an unaccounted DTP created document without a serial number, hologram or signature etc. is daylight robbery.
I called up their call center and quizzed them as to why we need to pay inward toll fees when actually the money is not remitted to the NHAI and the Government & also when the out bound passenger always pays the full Toll money in addition to the metered Taxi fare. For this, the agent just said that this is the company rule. When I asked him why this is not included in the master receipt along with the hiring charges, he had no answer and banged the phone down. This clearly shows A MEGA FRAUD BY MERU CABS to cheat the government and the common public of lakhs of rupees. This is a well organized crime!
Finally, the 100 rupees discount was deep fiction. The call center agent told me that I had to mention a Promo code at the time of booking. May Be I had to get this code in my DREAMS which I did not do!
No wonder all other Taxi drivers state that Meru is a big fraud company- they manipulate meters and impose such additional charges despite their pathetic service.
I hope KIAL authorities and the government takes a note of this and they initiate action on this operator.
I will never opt for Meru again.
