I recently had an opportunity of using www.makemytrip.om website to book a flight ticket from Kochi to Doha & Back. I have used their services a few times before without any problem, though normally I prefer booking directly on the airline site so as to save a few bucks.
This time though the airline which I planned to use, our very own Air India Express were having there own website problems. Due to the problems I had to use Makemytrip website.
On the final lap on their rather lengthy format I finally managed to reach the point where I had to give my card number. On first attempt I got a message that my Card has been declined, please contact your issuing Bank. I Tried a second time; same message. Now at the edge of my nerves I contacted my trusted HDFC bank, who informed me that there is no problem with my card. When on the third attempt also I got the same message I got the same message I tore my hair and took deep breathes before trying my luck with Air India Express website again. Lo & Behold, I got my booking in the very first attempt.
The problem was noticed few days later, when I checked my statement and saw three debits in the name of makemytrip.com….. Bloody hell, the guys are pure thiefs. Three times my card was declined and still my account got debited all three times. I immediately shot of a mail to their contact mail id.
Two of the debits were reversed after a couple of days, but the third one remained. On further enquiries I was told that actually one of the booking was successful and I have a valid ticket from transaction which was declined !!!. So now I ended up havng two seats on the same sector.
The saga does not end here. On trying to contact any customer service for refunding the amount I suffered following insults.
1. Go through tedious IVR menu, and when you get a guy/ girl, the persons pretend as if they do not understand the problem. After spending 10-15 minutes explaining them the issue, either the call will be dropped or they will place you on hold indefinitely.
2. If you call them again, and ask for the person whom you have spoken with earlier, they will not transfer the line. You again explain the issue to a different person, who will give another mail id, on which if you send an email, you will get another complaint registration number, but never a response or a solution.
3. After all this if you still have some stamina left and ask for senior persons mail id phone number, they will flatly refuse.
SInce I landed up with two tickets on the same sector, I cancelled the one fraudulently booked by makemytrip and ended up with a loss of Rs. 2500.00 on cancellation charges.
You would think that the guys lose money if you cancel the trip. Dont kid yourself, they have their own cancellation charges of Rs. 500.00, which is more than the commission airline pays them.
The web is full of complaints of their shoddy treatment of customers. Reader can visit http://www.mouthshut.com/product-reviews/MakeMyTrip-com-925031929 for further tales of woes.
I had great respect for Deep Kalra, how he made millions out of online travel business. Now I know, where acutually the Millions came from.
The best way to use their site is as a comparator. You will get the relative fares and timings of all the airlines on one page, and then you can visit the respective airline site and book the ticket. Even the humble Air India Express did not debit me for a failed transaction, which these crooks did.
Unlimited Memories….Indeed, who can forget a ripped pocket.
Recent Comments