sanket

Dear @Uber_India I had the most nightmarish experience with Uber driver GAUTAM tonight. I booked an intercity ride at 835 pm from Pune airport for Chinmaya Vibhooti Centre which is about 52 kms from the airport. It was a long ride. Driver Gautam remained so busy talking in an agitated manner on the phone for large part of the journey that he did not even register if i asked a question about the ride. Luckily i chose not to disturb him even tho UBER protocol forbids drivers to have long phone conversations. So during the ride there was no interaction or cause for a tiff. As we reached the Chinmaya Mission Centre a little aftee 10 30 pm, Gautam very rudely told me that hia job was limited to dropping me at the main gate. And that i should find my own way. This was shocking I was carrying a suitcase and a backpack. The campus is huge and spread over several acres. I told him this is my first visit to the place. Therefore, i insisted that he drop me at the location suggested by the security guard at the main entrance to the campus. He grumbled angrily saying that is not his job. Anyway, he drove to the location suggested by the guard. I picked up my room key and we were told that the actual building where i had to stay is just a 100 odd meters from there. Gautam started yelling at me saying it is not his job and that i should find my own way. Fuming and frothing he drove me to the nearby building. But came to the wrong one. He again insisted i shpuld get off and find my own way and he was not going to waste any more time. I pleaded with folded hands but he was almost abusive and nasty beyond words. It took no more than two minutes to find the right building. I went in to find a security guard since the place looked deserted. I came back within minutes. By this time he was yelling loudly at me. Hearing this fracas, some staff members of the Chinmaya Mission came out.They offered to guide me to my room and let go of the cab. But Gautam refused to open the trunk to get my suitcase out till i paid him. My hosts told him you give her the suitcase and take the money, she is more than willing to pay you. But he yelled at them also. And drove away with the suitcase saying he was going to the police station to compalin about non payment if fare. We were all stunned at the bizarre turn of events. However, one of the staff members had the presence of mind to call the Security Guard at the main gate and hold the cab there. Since he could not exit the campus, Gautam called me and asked in furious tone. are you giving the money or not? I told him payment was never an issue. My hosts took the phone and told him to come right back or else they would take action. Gautam came back fuming and frothing but again insisted on payment before he took out my suitcase. In utter helpnessness, I sat in the cab and asked him to present the QR Code. I told him i will get off from the cab only after he took out the suitcase. The bill came to Rs 1693. But he had asked for 1700 rs which i readily paid. Had he not misbehaved in the most bizarre fashion, I would have gladly given him a good tip. But the entire episode left me in a state of shock. What would I have done if the people from Chinmaya Mission were not available at that late hour to help me? Worse still, long parts of the route from airport were through uninhabited areas on the highway. The road was pitch dark. What if he had taken needless offence at XYZ such as my telling him not to be on the phone talking in an agitated manner to someone for long duration while he was driving on the highway late at night? What if he had forced me to get out of the cab in the dead of night on the poorly lit highway and drove away with my luggage? Dear @Uber_India @Uber_Support, Gautam is in need of psychiatric treatment. His behaviour was very abnormal. Please take serious note of his mental health. Else he could get you into serious trouble!