Shut Down Eldo Coaches Please!!!

I only have negative words to describe my experience with this bus service. I'm so appalled, I want to cry.

I booked a bus for my son yesterday ( Date:29-MAY-2022 09:53 Total Paid:R 280 Ref No:B5E4UP80 Paid Via:EFT) from PMB to JHB... As per the Computicket website, the bus was set to depart at 14:30 to arrive at 22:00 same day.

At 10:53 same day, my son alerted me that he just received an apology text to say that the 14:30 bus is no longer available, now he has 3 new options: 21:00, 21:30 and 22:00. I tried the call the bus contact centre to get an understanding as to why, unfortunately I waited first in line until I depleted my airtime.

Alright, we moved with the times and adapted to this new change. We opted for the 21:00 bus with no set arrival time now but estimated at around 04:00am.

Due to transport constraints on my son's side, he arrived 3hours early for the bus. That was ok, we has no choice now. I kid you not, the bus didn't arrive until 22:55pm. At some point, I got hold of someone from the number I got on their website around 21:45 and he assured me that the bus would be there in the next 15 - 30 min... N we estimated 22:10. But unfortunately I suppose he meant the next 50 min 🤷🏽♀️

According to my very patient and understanding son, the bus condition was not conducive, he sat near a broken window or it wouldn't close properly, again he could have carried a blanket, we'll let that one go. Then passengers were arguing with the driver and he stops the bus in the middle of nowhere and threaten to kick people off the bus. Now I'm getting heated because of my son's safety.

Alright the bus continues... I requested for my son to put his GPS on and send me his live location. According to GPS, the bus was going to arrive at 04:4630/05/'22... But it seemed the bus got slower by the kilometer... When I called my son around a time closer to that, he said no mom we are still far. Then he sends a new live location which shows estimate arrival time as 05:50am 30/05/'22... I suppose j had to accommodate the bus time stop. At 5:15, I leave my house in Roodepoort so I'm just on time.

I arrived at Park station at 5:45 (parking ticket time). I went straight to their counter to enquire if the bus has arrived and where I would go to fetch my son. The lady at the counter with no name tag on was not very helpful, she said "I have not seen any buses come in" "please go to gate 5 to ask the other Eldo people there" "mina I just arrived"... I said thank you and left her. I get to the gate, there's no one except for the station security officer who also said he hasn't seen any buses. He directed me to gate 9 where I was meant to chat with another lady security officer who was meant to grant me access to inside where the buses park at arrival. I needed to go in because my son had a lot of luggage. The lady security officer was very kind n I expressed to her my frustration, but that I was glad it's almost over.

I then called my son to ask where bus is now, my son said we just passed the last toll gate (Vaal) I believe. That meant another hour waiting. The security lady asked me to go n check with at the counter again ask the lady to track the bus for me. Now I'm livid hey, because this counter lady with orange eyeshadow is being rude to me after I asked why she sent me to the gate whereas she could check for me. She answered me with such attitude even after I told her that I'm frustrated because the bus is super late and she told me she has nothing to do with Eldo KZN as she's in JHB, no empathy no remorse... But she was done with me 🙌🏽

The bus eventually arrived at 08:26 😔

Unemployment rate is very high in our country yet we have service deliverers that are tardy and rude. We have services that don't consider the consumer because the consumer is not protected. It is appalling how the Eldo staff handled their passengers last night and their loved ones. I didn't choose that bus because I had financial constraints, I chose that bus because it was the only one arriving at that time after the 10am buses we couldn't make due to church commitments. I would have never chosen that bus if Intercape were available. Because my mother years ago had terrible service from them.

If they cannot deliver the service, they must leave it to those who can and do. They are not allowed to disrespect peoples monies and time like that. And if I were the president of bus services (if there's such), I would order them to shut it down, they have failed. That time I'm on 2 family experiences, I can't imagine those that have had this experience more than that.

No apology will give my time back. My son missed school, I missed a very important meeting...

I will never use Eldo coaches and whoever is associated with them ever again, I feel sorry for Greyhound because word has it that they bought them. I won't be using Greyhound as well n I liked Greyhound, my family really enjoyed the Sleepliner.

Ta, An Appalled Client