May 04, 2016 11:32 PM
5995 Views
We had to shift from Bangalore to Pune and placed an enquiry online. We started receiving calls and decided to place the order to them because one mr. Aftab kept following up and assured us of their best services. He also claimed that they had an office very close to our destination and it would be very easy for them to unload. This we realised later was a lie as they do not have an office in Pune at all!
We finalised the order at 15000 plus tax. Having faced a lot of problems with Packers and Movers earlier, I decided to clarify everything before placing the order. He told me that 17700 would be the final amount to be paid. After getting all goods packed, these guys started asking for additional Octroi charges and Entry tax totalling an additional 7000. I was shocked and refused to pay as I had not been informed of these additional charges. To confirm, I called up other Packers and Movers who all told me that there were no Octroi charges now and that it was stopped a long time back. I was adamant that I would not pay any additional amount to the amount confirmed by Mr. Aftab. The guys who had loaded the truck went out on the pretext of having tea and to my horror went away with the truck without taking the money. I panicked and called Aftab who said that the goods had already left and kept pushing me to settle at Rs. 22000 and also to deposit the advance 60% amount in his bank the next day. I thought I would visit the Transport office and settle the matter after reaching Pune. I deposited a cheque of 13000 and mailed it immediately as I had very limited time and had to rush to Pune.
After reaching Pune the next morning, I was surprised to receive a call that my goods had reached Pune and it was the lorry driver who asked me keep the remaining amount of Rs. 9000 ready. I told him that I would pay him only after talking to Aftab. I called Aftab and told him that I would only pay the amount decided upon and not the octroi and other charges as they were not applicable. I had already confirmed with other transport guys that octroi was not applicable. Knowing that he was cornered, he told me that now he would only send my goods once I deposited the entire remaining amount in his account. He told me that he was dropping my goods at a godown and that I would have to pay local transport, labour and rent of godown extra. I was furious but tried reasoning with him but he stopped taking my calls and messaged me to put the pending amount of 9000 and only then would he send my goods. I was now going through a mental trauma as the value of goods was much higher than the amount to be paid. Also, banks were closed for 2 days. I had to run from pillar to post as I did not have a transaction facility in my online account.
I spent half the day arranging for online transfer to his account as I thought any legal procedure would take a lot of time and I did not have time with me. After somehow getting it done, I tried calling him but he refused to tke my calls. My family and wife were now panicking as all our furniture was at stake. We spent a sleepless night and the next day too, he did not take our calls. I then requested my friend in Bangalore to contact him and sort out the issue. My friend spoke to him and he then demanded that I also deposit the uncleared cheque amount of 13000 in his account and that I would have to pay an additional 5000 for local transport and labour. My friend negotiated and got him down to 3500 and told me to finish the matter off by paying up.
Finally I had to stop payment to my cheque and arrange online transfer of 13000 to his account. So the order which was placed for 17700 had to be settled at 25500. In addition it caused a huge mental trauma to me and my family. The goods arrived with dents on my refrigerator and a broken dressing table. But I was not in a position to demand my money back as the unloading was done by contract labour and they said they had nothing to do with Union Packers and Movers. I want to tell all you guys that this guy Aftab is a crook and never ever place your order with this company. Do it at your own risk.
BEWARE of this Company.
Pls note - I have recorded conversations for proof of whatever I have claimed.
