I use the Delhi Noida Direct (DND) Flyway everyday to go to work and come back home. A few weeks ago, their system mal-functioned and it was not able to deduct the requisite amount of money from the balance of the prepaid cards issued by them, though they were able to register the usage of the card. Since the balances were not reflecting correctly, the DND authorities let people pass even if their actual balances were in the negative (though the reflected balance was positive).
People were aware of this and also there were instructions on the card puching machine that the balances are incorrect. Once the system was corrected, the actual balances started reflecting (with huge amounts being accounted for and deducted on a single day) and a lot of people went down to negative balances.
Now when it came to renewing the cards, there was a big commotion. There was one old lady, who was speaking very fluent english, looked like someone who belongs to a upper middle class family abusing the DND staff over the negative balance questioning how will they ever allow people to go down to negative balances. A few more people joined in. Interesting to note was the fact that out of the 5 people whose cards showed negative balances, none of them renewed it for the fear of the negative balances being deducted from their fresh recharge.
There was a gentleman showing off all his 10-12 credit cards in a decorated wallet who also added fuel to fire… dont know why. If he can afford 5-10 lacs of credit limits on his cards, can he not pay the paltry Rs. 200-300 which the DND authorities are rightfully demanding.
When people were enjoying the free services, I dont think any of the ones who were making such a huge hue and cry about their system, would have gone to customer care and told them that they are being allowed to pass through the toll plaza for free… but when they have to pay for the same free goods later, it became an issue with them, they called the DND people cheats, alleging that they are being fleeced by them and so on and so forth…
The population I talked about above were car owners, well dressed, flashing expensive wallets, purses and credit cards, expensive sun glasses but unwilling to pay Rs. 200 odd which they rightfully owe to the DND authorities.
Dont know how they can sleep at night after doing such things.
Harinder Chhabra's Weblog 