BEWARE of Agarwal Packers& Movers(DRS Group)
Complaint
Menon
Country: India
Two months back, I shifted my household items from Bangalore to Chennai thru Agarwal Packers& Movers. As I had many fragile items, I wanted to entrust the job to some reliable people. I chose Agarwal, as they were supposed to be the "best"! And soon I could realize that it was the greatest blunder I had ever done! They initially impressed me with their "manner of talking and packing things" (Anybody will as they carry wooden & plastic boxes to suit their customer's needs!! ) and promised to deliver it on time.
However, it was late night when I received my things, with lots of excuses for delay. And to my shock, most of the crockery and glass panes of my TV trolley were completely broken! And one item had completely gone missing. When contacted, I got the casual reply that I should lodge a complaint and claim for insurance .And that they will search for my lost item.
(As though this is not the first time this is happening and I'm not the first person having such experience!). And unfortunately, that's the fact, I'm not the first person! Now I understand there are so many people like me who had the same bad experience with Agarwal packers. So its my sincere advice to people that DON'T ever go for AGARWAL PACKERS.
However, it was late night when I received my things, with lots of excuses for delay. And to my shock, most of the crockery and glass panes of my TV trolley were completely broken! And one item had completely gone missing. When contacted, I got the casual reply that I should lodge a complaint and claim for insurance .And that they will search for my lost item.
(As though this is not the first time this is happening and I'm not the first person having such experience!). And unfortunately, that's the fact, I'm not the first person! Now I understand there are so many people like me who had the same bad experience with Agarwal packers. So its my sincere advice to people that DON'T ever go for AGARWAL PACKERS.
Comments
Pls do not take DRS Agarwal services. As I had very bad experience with them.
Agarwal had only brand name
With the best packing, loading, moving and unloading facility here Agarwal Packers and Movers in India, where you can find best services. Here you can pack and move your goods with security and safely from one point source to another point destination. Our moving services are available for you with a short period of time and full satisfaction to our customers.
I was told at the time of survey by Mr Anupam Santra that it will take 5-6 days to reach so at max it was expected by 20th of March 2017
I was trying to track the consignment online but its not at all informative.
Being attached to such a big brand I was totally relaxed about the delivery schedule. However I thought of taking an update and got in touch with the customer care.
It was a shock to hear that the consignment has been despatched from Kolkata on 19th of March only, I.e it was at halt in Kolkata for 5 days.
None from heir office bothered to update the customer about this halt and delay. Is that the sense of responsibility in this kind of job where a person has left with his family for a new destination and his household stuff are being handled so carelessly on which his family depends for god knows how many important things.
I had a booking in a guest house for 6 days at Vrindavan and I was being asked to vacate. I din't have any other booking from 22nd onwards.
The customer care officer Ms. Sudipa from Kolkata office asked to cooperate. At that moment should I plan for saving my family from staying on the streets or cooperate with Agarwal Packers for there careless approach.
The company runs on great policies like taking full advance from Customers at the time of loading. Hope the company must be having some suo moto policy to compensate the customer for such kind of serious harassment without bounding the customer to approach the consumer court.
Request Mr Nitesh Sharma who I understand is heading the Kolkata office to respond to my calls in this crisis of mine.
I am sorry but my victimisation did not end here.
The container reached my destination ( Vrindavan) on Monday the 27th day of March 2017 I.e after 12 days of pick up (Kolkata) in the morning around 5.30 am
The unpacking team reached the destination at 11.30 am from Agra.
Astonishingly the team comprised of only 1 professional from the APML and rest three were local tier three labours from Vrindavan who were only coolie material. And the person from APML was carrying only one Wrench in his pocket to carry out the whole unpacking and fitting exercise of 107 items alone which was actually impossible.
Since its my home and my household items, me and one of my neighbour helped out the APML person extensively and somehow we could mange not even 40 % of unpacking and fitting. We released the APML person around 5 PM, since his presence was of no use to us.
This is how APML got rid of the contract.
I reiterate, if there is any policy in your Limca Award winning company which takes care of this kind of victimisation of customer who are bound to make full payment at the time of loading.
Hope to get a reply this time.
The car took even longer.
I had paid 96k, and the team was not ready to even show me if my items are in good condition until i paid the remaining 4k.
They had been demanding this money without bringing my car, and also there was no carpenter to fix the furniture.
During the shipment they have damaged some of my items and important screws of the furniture, I am unable to get the exact fittings and it has damaged my furniture badly.
They sent for surveillance and they say part of the damage is customers responsibility. How can I track and safeguard items they hold with them and bring in after this much delay.
They promised to pay a part of the damage. The amount they quoted is very little for the damage done but still i accepted thinking atleast something is better. I have still not got the credit to my account.
There customer care is irresponsible, They always give false deadlines to which they never abide.
I had made a big mistake in choosing this.
Pls don't go by name of this big group. Previous experience with lesser known movers and packers was good but my mistake went with big name.
Below Email i sent to "info@agarwalpackers.com, hyderabad@agarwalpackers.com, cchead@agarwalpackers.com" on 1st october and also sent follow up emails but they haven't replied yet.
First Email:
I moved from Gurgaon to Hyderabad two weeks back and to move my household items I was looking for good and reputed packers and movers company, on whom I can trust, to move my household items safely And for this, I received multiple quotations from a lot of companies including yours. Where other companies were offering me deal in 20-22k (inclusive tax, insurance). Your company gave me quotation of 26096/-.
I still decided to go with Agarwal Packers & Movers even after high price because your company is one of the old and reputed companies which ensure the safety of all items and deliver on time. After discussion with Parveen, I agreed to pay 80% payment 20800/- in advance which I made through Cheque No. 007824 and also received a paper receipt from APML executive Pawan(Without Company name). and remaining 20% amount 5296/- agreed to pay at the time of delivery. Parveen gave me a commitment that APML team will ensure the safety of my all items and good quality and waterproof packing material will be used and Container truck or fully covered truck will be used for transportation. And he also confirmed me that all items will normally reach to my destination in 10-12 days and they can hold for maximum 5 days without any extra cost so we agreed on 1st October delivery date.
But now I seriously think this was my biggest mistake choosing APML because I faced a lot of issues during pickup and mostly on delivery time. I reached on your helpline number multiple times on 29th and 30th but I didn't receive a proper response till now. All I received till now are few more contact numbers which no one is answering. Sharing all issue details which i faced till now:
1) On 14th of September, 4 persons including Supervisor came from APML, in APML uniform which really made a good impression on me, to pack and load all items but I was surprised to see the small and open truck for transportation. I was also sure that my all items will not fit properly in this small truck But after discussion, they were able to convince me that all items will fit properly and this truck will be used to transport all items to the warehouse only and container truck will be used to transport to Hyderabad. But I was still worried about rain during transportation from my home to your warehouse.
2) APML team used cardboard boxes and foam to pack all my items and I was really happy to see the way the packing is done by your team. However, instead of full waterproof packing, they used plastic wrap layer on my few items only like AC, Shelf, Carpet but it was missing on other items like mattress, Washing Machine, RO, boxes, etc. when I asked about this with your team they confirmed me that they will do another layer of waterproof packing in a warehouse while loading items in a container truck. During packing, I gave them only two but special instructions to not bend more copper pipes of Samsung AC as Samsung team already packed both copper pipes very carefully and gave me special instruction not to bend more otherwise pipes will be damaged. APML Gurgaon team followed my instructions properly and didn’t touch copper pipe and loaded properly in the truck. But While loading all items in the truck, as expected there was no more space to load Bicycle, Inverter battery, Cardboard Box. Unfortunately, I had to rush to my office to finish some pending work so not sure how they managed. But I was still sure that they will somehow manage this and will deliver all items safely and properly. But your Hyderabad and transport team proved me totally wrong.
3) On 23rd I got a call from APML Hyderabad team and they confirmed me that my shipment has arrived and I have to accept delivery today only otherwise I will be charged on per day basis. I was totally surprised on this because the commitment was to deliver this on 1st October. I tried to reach Praveen for clarification multiple times but he didn't answer any of my calls. Same thing I communicated to HYD team and told them to check internally. After that, I didn't receive any call from HYD team but got a call from Praveen after few hours and he confirmed me that delivery date will remain same i.e 1st October. On 28th When I called HYD team to share my HYD delivery address and to deliver my items on 29th instead of 1st October, They again started the same thing that I have to pay the extra amount. THIS WAS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE. Again I tried to reach to reach Praveen but as usual, he didn't answer any call. I refused to pay any extra amount and after some arguments, they confirmed me that they will check with Praveen on this. After checking with Parveen they didn't charge me any extra amount. but this type of miscommunication was not expected from APML. There was definitely communication GAP between both GGN and HYD team. and because of this GAP, your customer faced mentally harassment.
4) On the day of delivery 29th September, the worst day started. Where I was earlier happy to see your team before time But I soon got disappointed to see the only driver and two persons without APML uniform. I was also surprised to see the behavior and the way they were speaking, they were totally looking immature in handling this stuff. No supervisor from APML came to ensure delivery of my items. HYD team didn’t bother to call me to check the delivery status. Driver asked for remaining amount 5296/- which was already in my hand but I asked for a receipt of payment, As he was just a driver, No one gave him any kind of receipt. Same thing I checked with HYD team and Mr. V K(Delhi Office). Where HYD team, instead of providing me payment receipt, they starting blaming me stating I didn’t inform earlier to HYD team if I need a receipt. And Mr. V K gave me another statement instead of checking anything with the team, they told me that this is an automatic process and I will get my receipt on email soon and also confirmed me that company doesn’t provide any kind of manual receipt. After some discussion, I handed over remaining amount cheque 5296/-(Cheque Number 007825) to the driver. And they started unloading all items. But as they were immature I didn’t ask them to unpack everything Because I didn’t want any more damage. I just verified all my items.
5) After unloading of all items I was surprised and disappointed to see AC Copper pipes, They were damaged during transport. I clearly gave an instruction not to bend anymore but your team tried to bend it more and damaged both pipes. All my other items were roughly handled and most of the cardboard boxes were damaged during transport. Also, no waterproof packing was there on any of the items which your team committed. My washing machine, Mattress, 5-6 Cardboard boxes, RO Purifier, Sony Home Theater Sound Systems were packed without waterproof material. And just to add I already had company boxes for Washing machine, RO, Home Theater so your team just had to do waterproof packing but they didn't. One side of my mattress is wet and damaged because of no waterproof packing and I don’t think I will be able to use this.
2nd Email:
I am really disappointed with APML service. After discussion with Chandar Bhushan i thought my issue will be resolved quickly. But it's more than 2 weeks now and still I don't have the status of my complaint. Even I am not sure whether you guys are even working on my complaint or not. A person from APML came on 5th October for inspection of damaged items, after escalating this issue to Chandar Bhushan but I haven't heard back from neither from Chandar Bhushan nor from your team yet. I checked with Customer care multiple times, but didn't receive status of my complaint single time. Even I tried to reach Chandar Bhushan several times, but he is not answering my calls. I am running out of patience now. Please let me know if your team can help me on this or not? Otherwise, I have to go on social media and consumer court to get your attention.
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I will suggest everyone not to go with AGPL as after receiving payment they will not hear anything from your and will stop answering your calls.
Akansha kaushik