Clear Car Rental — Overcharging drivers, reckless driving, unhelpful support

Address:	Mumbai City, Maharashtra, 400016
Website:	www.clearcarrental.com

I am aware, that this is an Indian Forum for Indian travelers – nevertheless I would like to share my experience on Clear Car Rental. After all I booked for altogether almost over 1000 km outstation drop-off (i.e. paid for 2000 km) in 4 stretches 1. Planning and organization: Things were fine. A Mr. Pathare and a Mr. Rupesh made international payment possible and installed confidence in the service that was to be expected. (3 Stars worth) 2. Stretch 1 (Bangalore to Hampi): The driver picked us up at Bangalore Airport almost on time (1 hour late – I had received an Email, that the pickup time was corrected from 10 to 9 am, we passed immigration at 9:45 am but no driver information by Clear Car Rental. This had been emailed only long after I left Germany). Normally this would not have worried me, yet the fact, that the Service phone number was not reachable via my German mobile phone (“…this number is not available for you, please contact us via the internet or per email” or the like was the automated answere) and we had just been on the got for 9000 km by plane and 20some hours. Thankfully Emirates staff helped and the driver arrived after another 15 minutes (10:10 am), i.e. only 10 min. after the initially agreed time. Drivingstyle: disturbingly reckless, especially the overtaking maneuvers, despite us asking to drive more carefully. It got better, after we had passed a severe accident involving two trucks. Orientation: He had no clue, where he was going Payment: Clear Car Rental was not reachable either for us, nor for the driver. He calculated the distance right but demanded a Driver Bata despite the same being included in the agreed price and I had this as a printout – he said, he could not read it. (English) (1 Star worth!) 3. Stretch 2 (Hampi to Kemmanagundi): No driver information by Clear Car Rental before we left! The driver was well on time – did not speak a single word of English! He knew where he was going and drove very considerate! However, he dropped us in the middle of nowhere and another driver picked us up. He again sort of knew where he was going. It was agreed to visit Harihar Temple on the way and Amruteshvara Temple. He did stop at Harihar – but not at Amruteshvara, pretended not to understand, when we asked. As our homestay was quite remote, the owner came to greet us 6 km from there. Thus our driver did not have any problems on the last stretch. On the premises, unfortunately there was no mobile connectivity and no internet access. The driver demanded 2300 Rupies more, than previously agreed despite he did not drive the distance indicated! PLUS he again demanded a driver Bata (supposedly for the way back) this was 2600 Rupies = almost 1/3 more, than the initial price by visiting 50 % less of the sights on the way! (0 Star worth) 4. Stretch 3 (Kemmanagundi to Masinagudi) was the worst of all: I had received the driver information long before our trip. The owner of the homestay had called the driver to give him directions – he would not listen at all, insisted he knew everything. He arrived 1 ½ hours late – to Clear Car Rental he passed the information, that it was due to bad roads. This is garbage! When the landlord called him that morning (1/2 hour after scheduled departure), he had not even reached the bad last 4 km! It took him one more hour to arrive! Upon arrival I informed the driver, that I had arranged lunch, drivers lunch and guarded parking at the Royal Orchid Hotel at Brindavan Garden/Mysore. To be on the safe side, I also had our Kannada-speaking Landlord tell it to him in his language. He nodded and signaled, he had understood. He refused to look on the map we provided and on the google maps route printouts but claimed, he knew the way. The first maybe 50 km he constantly talked on his mobile phone and despite best road conditions due to this he drove extremely slow. When talked to, he reacted obnoxiously. He did not take the route we had suggested, but went via Hassan – after more than 4 hours, we were not even close to Mysore. He tried to drop us at some shaggy hotel for lunch (I had arranged everthing at Brindavan Garden!!!) and when we insisted upon having lunch at the Royal Orchid Hotel, he simply stopped elsewhere for his own lunch, then elswhere for tea and well took his time … And when I told him we were worried about the time, he said, it would only be not even 1 hour from Mysore to Masinagudi (NO WAY!!!) At Krishnarajanagara we tried to tell him to take the route via Kantenahalli. He pretended dea[censored] After 5 hours we reached the outskirts of Mysore from the West on Route NH 275 – Brindavan is located in the North-West! From there it should have been 30 Min. to Brindavan Gardens (NH 275 north until Hebbal industrial Estate, 3.1 km, left turn, right turn (1, 5 km), left on KRS Rd., onto KRS-Pandavapura Main Rd, 11 km, turn left for Brindavan Gardens) Now it turned out, that he did not have the faintest idea, where he was supposed to go! And once more he WOULD NOR LISTEN. After driving in circles in some industrial area of Mysore for more than one hour without being anywhere near Brindavan Gardens, we gave up. Hence I never got to see Brindavan gardens nor did we have lunch at the Royal Orchid Hotel. We returned to the point we had turned off the mainroad (this took 6 ½ minutes!!! - showing we had not gone anywhere) and from there it was another 3 hours (!!!) to Masinagudi! Despite the fact, that he started speeding dangerously inside Bandipur Wildlife Sanctuary! Again he demanded the Driver Bata, that should have been included in the arranged price and tried to make us pay MUCH more than agreed. Here however Clear Car Rental could be reached and the homestays Secretary was SO helpful in helping us to avoid this. (less than 0 Star worth) 5. Stretch 4 (Masinagudi to Nedumbassery/Kochin Airport) … It is the merit of this driver, that Clear Car Rental gets 2 Stars instead of 0! He was absolutely on time, friendly, courteous, a considerate and safe driver! He stopped as agreed at Nilambur Teak Museum. I was a little worried, as he would not have any lunch on the way, that we would have paid for him gladly, but he managed! We arrived safely at our hotel and he only asked for exactly the amount due! Needless to say, that we were happy to reward his services and behavior with a generous tip! 6. After the trip: Already from Masinagudy I informed Clear Car rental on behalf of the overpayment for stretch 2 and the inadequate demand for Driver Bata on Stretch 1, 2 and 3. Two days later I got an Email apologizing for the inconvenience and asking for my banking details … I provided them as soon as I had a secured and safe Email connection - This was 8 days ago --- and I have not heard from them since. 7. Summasummarum I would rather try to book cars in the future again through my accommodation, where I know, that they take care everything is working fine!