Customer Cries Out to Confront the Escalating Fare Charged for the Airport Travel and Wonders at the Absence of Any Regulation

A customer explains his experience of coming across posts of Ola and such cab services regarding cheating, but has never been the victim before. The individual had to arrive at the Bangalore Airport to catch the early morning flight to Jaipur and had to book the service of Ola cab at 5.15 AM.  The cab service charged “Peak Time Charge” from the customer, which was 3X of the normal fare. He paid INR 2767 for the journey to the airport as there was no option.  He was stunned to find the fare amount, which was clearly a case of cheating and looting. It was plain butchering of customers because of “Peak Time Charges”. He wondered how the cab service could charge “Peak Time Charges” at the early morning hours. He wants to take up the matter to the proper authorities who are empowered to take needful action in the matter. The pickup was made from Koramangala, Banalore.P.P.S and the sad part of the story was that the flight was missed too by Akash.

It is a bare proof of the exploitation carried out by online cab service operators. Cab service operators are charging enormously at free will from customers due to the absence of any kind of rule and regulations restraining them from charging extra money on normal fare. Several people may profess an argument for the high amount of charges of cab operators where customers need to judge whether to accept it or not.  It cannot be accepted as a good reason in favor of the high charges as there ought to be a ceiling limit in profit-making in business ventures, otherwise companies with monopolized character would charge any price from customers, which needs some kind of regulation. In one hand, we argue with auto drivers for ensuring the use of the meter and on the matter of extra charge of even a paltry sum of 10 rupees over the meter charge, but are helpless on the event when cab services charge most unfair prices as “Peak Time Charges”.

Despite charging 2X and sometimes 3X of the regular fare, the standard of services of cab operators are constantly deteriorating.  Mentioned below are some of the general concerns faced by the common consumers including complaints and observations.

• Even after acceptance, drivers do not show up in locations, which are beyond drivers’ choices.
• Many drivers are ill-experienced about directions of destinations causing irritation to users.
• Drivers are keen to accept the ’last ride’ request to earn the incentive , but eventually do not turn up causing harassment to consumers.
• Certain drivers take advantage of per-minute fare system by moving slowly or take longer routes or driving through congested areas.