Snubbed by South Coast Express, and very displeased!
Published:Saturday | April 27, 2013 | 12:00 AM
THE EDITOR, Sir:
\I would like to bring the public's attention to my plight with South Coast Express, a company promising to provide "affordable luxury" and "offering express and courier service" while taking their customers from Kingston to Negril and back.
On March 29, 2013, I purchased a ticket to Black River, St Elizabeth, and a return ticket back to Kingston. When I purchased both tickets, I was told to be at the bus terminal in Black River at 9:30 a.m. on April 1, 2013 to take the return bus back. However, the bus never came, and I called all of the South Coast Express offices from Kingston to Negril and every stop in-between and was unable to get an answer from any representative, if or when a bus would be coming.
South Coast Express left me stranded. I am not from St Elizabeth - I am not even Jamaican - and here I was, having to fend for myself in the middle of Black River, on a public holiday, and not having any means of returning to Kingston for class the next day.
At this point, it was clear to me that South Coast Express had no intention of honouring the arrangement made with them.
BENEVOLENCE
Eventually, a kind Jamaican family offered to take me back to Kingston, since they were on their way back from visiting family. Upon returning to Kingston, I contacted South Coast Express and spoke to a lady about getting a refund for my ticket since they did not fulfil their obligations. She explained that it would be too complicated to reverse the charge to my card and that a co-worker would provide reimbursement in cash.
After some debate, I agreed to the arrangement and provided her with my contact details via text message. To date, neither worker has contacted me about my refund. I have been calling both parties numerous times since then. Nobody has returned my calls.
I have visited the property at 2 Chelsea Avenue, Kingston and been told by the security guard on duty that it has not been open for business. I have managed to speak with the customer service lady several times since our initial conversation and she has continuously been making empty promises.
South Coast Express was unprofessional. The company has not taken any responsibility for not giving me my refund. While I cannot be duly compensated for my numerous telephone calls in failed attempts at contacting South Coast Express, nor can I be compensated for my time and energy wasted in Black River frantically trying to source transportation back to Kingston, I certainly have not been compensated for my purchased return ticket to Kingston.
SYLVANIE TWEED
Kingston 7