[n_aditya]

Patchyboy, Wish we had more such "souls" around.

Ask him if he would like to be "referred" to others. I find it so cumbersome getting an auto after my pub hops in blore.

[Hurrycane12]

PatchyBoy: You are lucky to meet such a soul;

I think the other Auto fellows out there better get in touch with him and learn what Pride, Honesty and Integrity mean. There are far and few Auto drivers who are Sensitive and Devoted to their customers. I wonder why the the traffic dept does not rewards these kind souls and make them feel proud of their feat; atleast the other will try and emulate them.

[condor]

@Patchyboy, that was one rare honest auto guy. May his tribe increase.

OTOH, is Manipal Motors on Airport Rd 25km away from KSL ? (Delmia to airport is 12, max 13km).

[lohithrao]

Patchyboy, i think you are blessed i think we need to make a directory and have contact details of such auto wallas stored.... will help many aswell the auto driver!

I have had few bad experiences, the one which holds back in my memory is a experience of finding a ric from EGL, intermediate ring road towards marathalli... i have hardly found any ric guy agreeing to come to marathalli from egl!!! once i guess i asked almost 7-8 rics...all of them gave me the same anser - NO..so when i got to hear the same answer from the last guy whom i asked that eve...fed up i asked him back to take where he is comfortable to go he had nothing to say...anyway that dint help me in anyway had to walk back home

[Mission_Safari]

@Patchyway

It feels so nice to read through such an incident.

[prabuddhadg]

Rajan, that is the nicest thing I read today. Its people like these who reinforce one's faith in mankind.

[satish_appasani]

These days in Hyderabad most of the auto guys deny to come if it is anything less than 5 KMS.

Last week i appreciated a guy because of being no nonsense and a safe driver. He couldn't hide his joy from me.

[pjbiju]

Nice story Rajan. I feel we should collect the mobile numbers of such good auto guys and share them. I have often felt like doing this in Pune. I think next time should be a good time to start that.

[dadu]

Thanks patchyboy for sharing such experiences with hard to find people like this auto guy.

[subscrive]

Similar case in Pune.
After that I refused to pay the complete amount.
Told the guy to complain against me if he wishes, in which case, I will take him to consumer court and cross complain, since I have recorded the video of the complete thing on my mobile.

I made him forget the extra money and beg for the actual amount.

It was fun - a sadist pleasure.

[nirmalts]

Originally Posted by nirmalts

Hello all,

It's a known fact that the auto drivers in Bangalore are more of rowdies than drivers. Had a bitter experience today which underlined the fact.

I took an auto from KR Puram station to Outer ring road with family today. I normally avoid the guys at station who come to you offering a ride. Since I was in a hurry, I decided to go with one of them today. He started with 30Rs extra and settled at 10Rs extra. I was around 200mts away from my destination when the meter showed 99Rs. He asked me to note the price and immediately reseted the meter (and it showed 14Rs minimum again). I decided to give him 3Rs extra for the 200mts ride and the original 99Rs (plus 10Rs extra as promised). Since I did not have change I gave him 122Rs and asked for 10Rs balance. He immediately said it is correct. When I asked how, he said I have to pay the minimum of 14Rs again as he reseted the meter and that is the rule. I thought he was joking initially as I never heard of such a rule before. He was about to leave when I stopped him and said I want 10Rs back. He changed his tactic saying I had promised 20Rs extra. I had to change my tone now. He switched back to his initial trick of paying 14Rs min again. I asked him how much I would have to pay if it was a digital meter. He said digital meter will show 100rs plus and there is no need to reset. I asked him why should I pay for he not converting to digital meter. He said I can complain to police if I wish. Luckily (i initialy thought) there were 2 police guys on a bike and I stopped them. They did not understand Hindi or English. The auto guy explained in Kannada and they said he is right. I tried to explain to them why for 200mts I should pay 14Rs again. They got confused and said they are not from traffic and I should go to Adugodi police station (13kms away from where I was at that point). I told the auto guy that we'll go to the station. That moment some samaritans came to the auto wallas help and they soon formed a gang. They started shouting at me and made fun of me. They even used some "words" to provoke me. I decided not to react so that things dont go out of hand. I was sure I will not get any support there. But I sat in the auto demanding two things - either give 10Rs back or go to the station. He offered me 5Rs which I did not accept. He finally gave me 10Rs and pushed my bag out of the auto. I was really controlling myself not to react back.

I called up RTO BDA complex Koramangala to give a complaint. But they said they accept only written complaints. Also the auto belongs to Indiranagar RTO. So I have to go there to place a complaint. I dont know if I will manage to do this. The auto guys know that people will not bother take pains to register complaints and hence they try to cheat us in all ways possible.

Nirmal

A twist in the tale.

Seems like the autoguy was right. I called up RTO again today. I told him the issue. He explained me that this is the situation with analog meters. If it crosses 99.50 the meter needs to be reset and it will show 14rs min again and passenger needs to pay that even if he travels a meter extra. This is a technical problem and he said many passengers are suffering due to this. He said the concern is taken under consideration and in a month an order will come to convert all meters to digital and the problem will be solved. He apologised for the inconvenience caused.

So I was wrong here. Do you think I should find this guy and pay the money? I had paid him 10Rs extra anyways, but had I known this rule, this fight could have been avoided.

Moral of the story is: If you want to travel long distance by auto, find an auto with digital meter of fix the rate before you travel with analog meter for long distances.

Between that, the number I called his 080-22207750. He speaks good English and listened patiently.

Nirmal

[skandyhere]

Regardless of the typically asinine rules we manage to forumlate, it is thoroughly illogical and unnecessary to pay the extra 14 bucks. Just because the meter is incapable of showing three digits doesn't mean you're liable to pay and that the auto guy gets a bonus.

[TrueDreamer]

nirmalts, i still don't feel their explanation is logical. May be he listened patiently. But the first 14 rupees are for first 1.5 Km and not every time he wish to reset the meter at 99.80

BTW you can see some autoguys ask you to inform them when it reaches 99.80 and you can tell them probably after 1 or 2 Kms after reaching 99.80 so you are benefited from that illogical 14 rupees (which is for first and not every time) part. At least i do this thing and i am satisfied that i am not paying more than what i should

[LLL]

Originally Posted by nirmalts

A twist in the tale.

Seems like the autoguy was right. I called up RTO again today. I told him the issue. He explained me that this is the situation with analog meters. If it crosses 99.50 the meter needs to be reset and it will show 14rs min again and passenger needs to pay that even if he travels a meter extra.

I agree that this is stupid and i think passengers loose out in the deal.

When you start a new ride and meter is reset, you would notice that reading does not start to increase immediately but after 1.5 km or so. So basically you are charged at a higher rate for first 1.5 km or so.

So when the meter reaches 99 and it is reset, you end up paying 14 bucks for next 1.5 kms. Had the meter not been reset, you would have paid normal 7-9 bucks for 1.5 kms. So in the end you loose out on 6-8 bucks because of the reset.

[skandyhere]

I'm not sure, but I'd assumed that auto fares are charged at a flat Rs. 7 per km. You pay the minimum fare for the first 2 km, amounting to 14/-. Right or wrong?