Nerve Endings Firing Away

In a single day, one desi tried to con me while other tried to help me make a few bucks; both using dubious means.

It reminded me of the days in India, grappling with small businesses with a small mind attitude. The day started with a cargo rental van I had to book to move some furniture for Ash. Now, in the stupid attempt to save a few dollars, I drove couple of miles extra to make use of a discount coupon that I realized later had expired. The proprietor was the expected Gujju, complete with an American accent; acting all professional and making me sign all the requisite forms. For a change, I was relieved that he didn’t try to trace out any common linkages as I was in a hurry to beat the traffic. I returned the van within the stipulated time after topping off the fuel tank. Since it was already full when I booked it, I had to fill up merely a gallon as I hadn’t traveled far.

I got the shock of my life when I was slapped with an exorbitant sum of money on my credit card the next day. Instantly I called up the dealer. The lady at the other end in a high-n-mighty tone told me that I hadn’t refueled the van before returned hence the penalty charges. I generally tend to blow my top if someone tries to rip me off but I tried to knock some sense into her by explaining how many miles I had driven and the fact that I had refueled at a gas station virtually next door. The stupid female refused to listen to any logical argument and kept harping about indicator not showing what they would liked to see although the odometer clearly reflected the miles driven. She expected that I would give up if she was adamant enough but I demanded Budget Truck Rentals’ (yeah; they are crooks! Go to UHaul) customer service number which she grudgingly gave me. The customer service representative (might have been a Desi too for all I know) at least seemed sensible and seemed to buy the logic that I needn’t have filled much gas if I had driven only 27 miles. She asked me to fax the gas receipt to their corporate accounts office.

As luck would have it, the gas station hadn’t dispensed a receipt so I had to go back to get a handwritten receipt. The gas station was owned by, of course, a desi too. Upon asking for a receipt, he was more than eager to oblige. “Do you want it for $10?” I was confused. I repeated myself again that I had pumped not more than a gallon few days back and just wanted a receipt for that amount. As if not hearing me but wanting to help me, he said, “So will a receipt for $5-7 do?” Suddenly it dawned on me that he was trying to jack up the amount so that I would get reimbursed for more than what I really owed. I merely smiled and said that I didn’t want the receipt to show more than what I had purchased. Actually if it did, it would be to my detriment. Thankfully, he did the needful without any fuss.

Why make you sit through my “tragic tale” that kept me busy for more than half a day? Well, first I just want to vent out my frustration and give a bad rap to Budget Truck Rentals. Second, I was struck how desis have managed to retain their habit of trying to squeeze out a little more at every opportunity they get. This can be easily classified as a rant and I too have been guilty few times (trying to change it though) of finding loopholes instead of toeing the line. The lady at Budget Rentals office might just have thought that slamming a penalty charge is just a way of making a quick buck while making the customer feel guilty and doubtful — Did I or didn’t I refuel completely? Chances are that not all people have the time and patience to pursue the matter so most of the times, you get by. Little do they realize that short-term gains just cause a dip in their customer service ratings and lead to long-term losses. “Abhi sab theek chal raha hai, nah?” — is the classic bania attitude.

On the other hand, the gas station owner tries to help you make a few bucks. Here too, chances of getting caught are minimal and although the higher-ups are aware of the little scams, they tend to overlook because the cost of pursing such matters is higher. But in the long term, it leads to overall societal loss. And of course, it is unethical too. So is it only an Indian tendency to find loopholes and go for the short term gain? Or I am just too bitter with my recent experience?