Sign up with GoogleWe all know how time consuming and frustrating obtaining a K53 license can be. This, coupled with the fact that I had no clue as to what the test is about, lead me to call Bumpercars (Reuben) after hearing a lot about the great service that Bumpercars and Reuben provide. Im sure that this is true and my case is probably an isolated case, but something I thought I’d share.
I called Reuben around the end of June and expressed my intention to use their services to assist me in obtaining my K53 bike license. Reuben was a little busy and asked me to call a lady at Bumpecars by the name of Angelique. I did so during the first or second week of July and we agreed that I would forward my details via e mail. Details were forwarded around the 7 July 2009 and it was confirmed that Bumpercars would:
• Make an appointment and pay for the booking on my behalf (Time saving benefit from my side )
• Complete all required forms on my behalf (time saving benefit from my side , I would however be present at the testing station for an eye test)
• Provide a training session in Roodepoort during a weekend prior to the test (Really needed).
• Assist me on the day of the test and pay for the test if I would pass.
All this was included in the quoted price of R1000.
I then contacted Angelique on the 8 July (Wednesday) to confirm preferences of venue and timing. I paid a deposit of R500 via electronic transfer (which I was told was necessary as many ppl request services and then don’t pitch up which caused reputational damage to Bumpercars.)
Called Angelique on the 10 July (Friday) to enquire about the booking. Angelique promised to e mail me with details of the booking later that day which I did not receive.
I called Angelique again on the 13 as I had not yet received any communication.
Angelique was busy and promised to reply via e mail later that day. In this time, I was very curious to see how long it would actually take me to make a booking and called the JHB call centre. (Ten minutes and a booking within two weeks).
E mail received from Angelique around lunchtime confirming a date for the booking. I confirmed via e mail that this was in order and requested information relating to the training. No further information was received.
I then contacted Angelique on Wednesday (at this point I am beginning to get frustrated as I feel I am not receiving any information unless I call – and we all know how expensive calls are) to enquire when we should meet. Angelique sez that I should met her on Thursday morning at the testing centre at 7:00 and bring with me the rest of the money. Only after I requested if anything else was required, did she mention the ID photos and copies of learners and ID (What if I didn’t ask?). We also agreed to do the training in Roodepoort on Saturday the 18 July. Call home to ask wifey if I have any ID photos available, luckily I did have some from learners booking.
So, Thursday morning, I’m at the testing centre at 7: 10 am, temperature gauge fluctuating between -3 and 2 degrees or so. I find out that the centre opens at 8, and call Angelique. Phone off. I try again ten minutes later …. Phone off. I’m getting worried now as work starts at eight. Call Angelique again. She was under the impression that she sed we would meet at the testing station on Friday. Now im already at the station and we agree that that I might as well confirm and pay for the appointment myself as I was third in the queue and doing it again will be very time consuming (defeating the purpose of using their services). Angelique apologises for not being there and sez that I rather keep the rest of the money (R500) and we call our arrangement “quits”. That would mean that I paid bumper cars a deposit of R500 for making one phone call which in all likelihood took no longer than 10 minutes. I explain this to Angelique and she asks me to send my bank details and she will refund a portion of the money that I deposited. Did this on Thursday morning (16 July).
I think that a refund of R450 is a fair amount as all that Angelique did, was call the call centre and send me one or two e mails.
Called Angelique (17/07) - “Will discuss refund amount with Reuben and Get back to me.”
Called Reuben (18/07) – “Will discuss refund amount with Angelique and get back to me”.
Called Angelique - “Busy, will call me later in the afternoon”. No call received.
Send letter of demand Bumpercars (23/07). Angelique calls later in the evening and promises payment at the end of the month.
3 August 2009 - Send E mail and call Angelique who promises to refund the money by the 4th
4 August 2009 - Call Angelique twice (also tried calling Reuben) and she promises to refund the money that afternoon. She calls me later that evening and says she couldn’t make it to the bank but money will be deposited first thing on the morning of the 5th. STILL NO REFUND!!!!
So basically I have lost, R500 + another R30 - R 100 (worth of phonecalls). I did not want it to come to this (publishing this letter) but I feel I am being taken for a ride (no pun intended).
I called Reuben around the end of June and expressed my intention to use their services to assist me in obtaining my K53 bike license. Reuben was a little busy and asked me to call a lady at Bumpecars by the name of Angelique. I did so during the first or second week of July and we agreed that I would forward my details via e mail. Details were forwarded around the 7 July 2009 and it was confirmed that Bumpercars would:
• Make an appointment and pay for the booking on my behalf (Time saving benefit from my side )
• Complete all required forms on my behalf (time saving benefit from my side , I would however be present at the testing station for an eye test)
• Provide a training session in Roodepoort during a weekend prior to the test (Really needed).
• Assist me on the day of the test and pay for the test if I would pass.
All this was included in the quoted price of R1000.
I then contacted Angelique on the 8 July (Wednesday) to confirm preferences of venue and timing. I paid a deposit of R500 via electronic transfer (which I was told was necessary as many ppl request services and then don’t pitch up which caused reputational damage to Bumpercars.)
Called Angelique on the 10 July (Friday) to enquire about the booking. Angelique promised to e mail me with details of the booking later that day which I did not receive.
I called Angelique again on the 13 as I had not yet received any communication.
Angelique was busy and promised to reply via e mail later that day. In this time, I was very curious to see how long it would actually take me to make a booking and called the JHB call centre. (Ten minutes and a booking within two weeks).
E mail received from Angelique around lunchtime confirming a date for the booking. I confirmed via e mail that this was in order and requested information relating to the training. No further information was received.
I then contacted Angelique on Wednesday (at this point I am beginning to get frustrated as I feel I am not receiving any information unless I call – and we all know how expensive calls are) to enquire when we should meet. Angelique sez that I should met her on Thursday morning at the testing centre at 7:00 and bring with me the rest of the money. Only after I requested if anything else was required, did she mention the ID photos and copies of learners and ID (What if I didn’t ask?). We also agreed to do the training in Roodepoort on Saturday the 18 July. Call home to ask wifey if I have any ID photos available, luckily I did have some from learners booking.
So, Thursday morning, I’m at the testing centre at 7: 10 am, temperature gauge fluctuating between -3 and 2 degrees or so. I find out that the centre opens at 8, and call Angelique. Phone off. I try again ten minutes later …. Phone off. I’m getting worried now as work starts at eight. Call Angelique again. She was under the impression that she sed we would meet at the testing station on Friday. Now im already at the station and we agree that that I might as well confirm and pay for the appointment myself as I was third in the queue and doing it again will be very time consuming (defeating the purpose of using their services). Angelique apologises for not being there and sez that I rather keep the rest of the money (R500) and we call our arrangement “quits”. That would mean that I paid bumper cars a deposit of R500 for making one phone call which in all likelihood took no longer than 10 minutes. I explain this to Angelique and she asks me to send my bank details and she will refund a portion of the money that I deposited. Did this on Thursday morning (16 July).
I think that a refund of R450 is a fair amount as all that Angelique did, was call the call centre and send me one or two e mails.
Called Angelique (17/07) - “Will discuss refund amount with Reuben and Get back to me.”
Called Reuben (18/07) – “Will discuss refund amount with Angelique and get back to me”.
Called Angelique - “Busy, will call me later in the afternoon”. No call received.
Send letter of demand Bumpercars (23/07). Angelique calls later in the evening and promises payment at the end of the month.
3 August 2009 - Send E mail and call Angelique who promises to refund the money by the 4th
4 August 2009 - Call Angelique twice (also tried calling Reuben) and she promises to refund the money that afternoon. She calls me later that evening and says she couldn’t make it to the bank but money will be deposited first thing on the morning of the 5th. STILL NO REFUND!!!!
So basically I have lost, R500 + another R30 - R 100 (worth of phonecalls). I did not want it to come to this (publishing this letter) but I feel I am being taken for a ride (no pun intended).