A recent social media post highlighted an unpleasant travel experience a family had while touring the temple towns of South India. The ordeal, recounted by a family member, highlights allegations of overcharging and poor service from a local travel agency in Chennai.
He said, “My family (12 PPL and 2 infants) was planning to tour the southern temple towns (Madurai, Tirunelveli, Thiruchendur), so we hired a 13 seater Force Tempo traveler from an agency local travel guide in Chennai. » Initially, rental fees were agreed, with emphasis placed on the requirement for a well-maintained vehicle.
Despite an amiable start with the driver, suspicions arose when the vehicle consistently maintained a speed below 50 km/h as it approached its destination. Despite initial reservations, the family shrugged off these concerns, attributing them to the darkness of the roads. The man posted this entire incident on Reddit.
However, their misfortune seemed to intensify on the return journey near Ulundurpet when the vehicle’s gearbox jammed, leaving them stuck in 4th gear at 8 p.m. Although frustrated, they chose not to blame the driver for the unexpected mechanical problem.
Their troubles didn’t end there. After contacting the agency for a replacement vehicle, they were disappointed as the replacement vehicle provided was also in poor condition. Despite this, they chose not to change vehicles.
Upon their late arrival home at 2 a.m., tensions flared when the driver demanded immediate payment of the remaining expenses, despite the family’s exhaustion. Things got worse when the driver resorted to verbal abuse and confrontation.
The family attempted to resolve the situation by contacting the agency owner, expressing their exhaustion and the need to review expenses before making payments. However, their pleas fell on deaf ears as the owner insisted on immediate payment to the driver even without the toll charges report.
Ultimately, the family felt obligated to pay the remaining expenses without receiving any concessions from the agency, citing its priority of ensuring a safe return.
The social media post detailing the ordeal sparked widespread discussion among netizens, with many expressing solidarity with the family and condemning the alleged mistreatment by the travel company.
