Thorn Tree travel forum

Tibet Budget Tour Travel Agency-Beware !

Tibet Budget Tour Travel Agency-Beware !

Hello ,
I just want to tell you a bad experience of mine . I have travelled in Tibet using the services of a travel agency located near Traffic Hotel in Chengdu . This travel agency is called "Tibet tour budget Travel ". Though the hotel and its staff prove to be competent , its travel agency organizing permits to Tibet proved itself to be unreliable and not trustworthy to the least. Here's my story ( I'm sorry it's a long one ):
I paid 1950 Yuan to get the permit for Tibet. I asked to get a copy of the permit from the agency as a proof I paid the money in case I need to show it to the authorities . I have asked for it at least three to four times . The man in the office told me I don't need it. I asked for some receipt to prove I paid the money for the tour. The man in the office told me I don't need it. I paid four days in advance . I was told to wait at 5:50 am on the day of my flight . A taxi-driver was supposed to wait for me . The taxi fee was included on the total sum of money I paid in advance. Furthermore , I was told that a represantative of the company would wait for me at the airport.
The day of my flight arrived. As instructed , I waited on time . No taxi . Suddenly a taxi arrived . The driver didn't have any faint idea where I was going to . I was told to pay the taxi-fee. Since I was tight on time , I paid the money .
I arrived to the airport . No represantative waited for me . I went to the check-in to hand over my luggage . The officer sitting in front of the counter asked me : " Where is your permit ? " . I told him the whole story . I told him I paid the money to the agency located near Traffic Hotel . But the man sitting in front of the check-in counter refused to let me on board of plane . I was refused to take the flight to Tibet.
I felt very angry and desperate . I took a taxi back to Traffic Hotel . I paid full special price to the taxi-driver . When I arrived to the hotel , I realized that the taxi which had to take me at 5:50 on the same morning , didn't arrive on time .
I took a wrong taxi and that's why the driver had'nt had any faint clue where I was going to .
I called the lady in charge of the agency . I was furious. I told her the whole story . I explained her the company's faults. I told her I want the money I paid for the taxi . She refused to give the money I paid for the taxi and said " Sorry , it's your mistake , not mine " .
Finally , the company's taxi took me to the airport . Of course I didn't have to pay money this time .
Resuming , I asked for a permit ( at least 3-4 times )or any official documents . I got nothing and it caused me a lot of problems.
Secondly, I waited exactly at 5:50 a.m as instructed. The company's taxi didn't arrive at all. I took a wrong one WHICH I INNOCENTLY THOUGHT WAS THE COMPANY'S . IT WAS NEAR THE HOTEL AT ABOUT 6:00. AS A RATIONAL PERSON, WHAT WAS I SUPPOSED TO THINK ???? THAT THE TAXI WHICH WAITED NEAR THE HOTEL WAS NOT MINE ???. IT SEEMED SO OBVIOUS THAT A TAXI WAITING NEAR THE HOTEL TEN MINUTES AFTER THE DECIDED TIME SHOULD BE MINE !! The woman on the Traffic's hotel reception desk even instructed me to take it...what a confusion
Thirdly , I didn't get the money I paid for the taxi since it was my "fault".
Once again , this company is located near Traffic Hotel (just beside the hotel's entrance ). DON'T USE THE SERVICES OF THIS UNRELIABLE COMPANY !
Thanks