Extortionists, as you know are the people who charge excessively or exorbitantly or use their position illegally!
And I had the misfortune of meeting and dealing with not just one Extortionist but a whole brigade of them, during the recent shifting of our base from Jammu to Jaipur.
This whole thing of packing and then unpacking and settling is one long process. And during this process you meet the various categories of Extortionists.
1. The Sophisticated Suckers: These are the guys who install the ACs, LCD TV with Home Theatre System, Aquaguard, Tata Sky, Geysers etc in your home. And I prefer to use the services of authorised company service centres for installing the various gadgets. Reasons… they are professional and also you have Annual Maintenance Contracts for the products.
Though their charges are fixed as per the company policy still they’d find ways and means of charging a bit extra. How? They have this unique trait of finding faults in the existing wires, plugs, cables, faucets etc and readily ‘assist’ you in making the decision by taking out the said new part from their workbags. Since, these fixtures/spare parts are not from the company and they had purchased the same from the local Electric/Hardware store, so they ‘inform’ you of the price which is always more than the MRP. And since you are…
- amidst a sea of cartons and a mass of organised mess
- a zillion things away from a settled home
- also you are in a hurry to get everything fixed
- and you don’t have the time and energy to go to the local store and get the said part yourself.
Hence, you ask them to use the ‘needed’ part and pay for whatever they ask! These are the Sophisticated Extortionists.
2. The Soft Stealers: The maids, dhobhis, drivers and car cleaners are the Soft Extortionists. You ask them their charges and it’s always more than the current going rate. Since you have already checked with the neighbours while chatting with them in the lift, you tell these fellows the current rate and they readily agree to work on that price without a word. But if you are not well informed, you are susceptible to their claims and demands.
3. The Ludicrous Looters : These are the electricians, plumbers, carpenters (for polishing the furniture which gets a bit damaged in transit and drilling work for hanging the various things). And these are guys who charge exorbitantly as compared to the labour they put in. One fellow took the entire day’s pay (Rs. 300 as per daily wages) for just an hour of work. While the drilling guy took Rs. 1200 for 3 hours of work!! It was so shocking and there is no arguing with them.
And before they start the work, they ask for the money to buy the raw material. So you give them whatever amount they ask and also ask them to get the bill for the same. It’s a rule, they’d get the bill for the entire amount and will never ever return even a rupee from that. Also it’s always a temporary bill!!
4 The Creepy Corrupts: Here, I had the mostest baddest luck to meet 2 guys. One was the delivery guy who had come to deliver a new piece of furniture that we bought from a show room. The show room guy told me pay him the delivery charges. I asked him the amount and he told me that the delivery man will tell me the same. After asking the delivery man and not getting any amount from him, I gave Rs. 100 to him (The furniture had come from half a kilometre distance from our home) and it was so shocking that he threw the money down with contempt and started hurling abuses. I was rooted to the spot for a few seconds and when the initial shock subsided, gave him Rs. 100 more and just asked him to GET LOST in the most nastiest voice I could muster! GOD! I can never forget this! Such a creep he was!
And the second one was the Sweeper. Once we had organised everything, all cartons discarded, all installations and fixtures done, it was time to clean the house thoroughly. We asked a maid to do the same, she agreed but never turned up on the given time. All efforts to find another one were falling flat and then somebody suggested that we ask the building sweeper to clean the home. He came and I asked him about his charge for doing the sweeping and mopping the floor. He coolly says Rs. 200. I reasoned with him that a maid takes Rs. 500 for the entire month (which works out to Rs. 17 per day) and he should be taking a max of Rs. 50 for the job. And he turned back to wear his shoes!! I tried next for Rs. 100 and he didn’t even say a word. And since, the cleaning had to be done that day, so I agreed to give him Rs. 200 for just sweeping and mopping the floor and that too in a very unclean way!
Have moved so many times and I have always got these jobs done myself but this time the ulcers, the stress and the amount spend was way too much!
What’s your take on this, “Frown or crib” or simply say, ““Heck, what’s a little extortion among ‘friends’?”!!
19 Responses
How come you left out the auto wallahs?
I have been a victim myself. Their style of operation is so sly that you believe them. Crib yes…what else can we do?
Be smart and strict with such people. And yes, talking to them and setting expectations much earlier is best
I liked your categories a lot 😀
Gosh, that is just so disillusioning!!! I wonder how people manage to become so crude and brazen. Makes us feel like not doing anything good at times, no? And I was shocked to read about the guy who threw the Rs.100 note!!!! Man o man!!!
I have been a victim too, moving to so many places because of my husband’s tranferable job. But one thing I must say that I did not experience such things in the UK and Brazil. But Africa was even worse.
Do we have any choice left other than putting up with all this when you are in a strange country.
OMG! That’s atrocious! People have realised that they are in high demand, and so increase the money!
Loved your style of naming!
Most of us have gone through such experiences because the system of “franchising”is not yet settled in India.Nor is their any legislation on minimum wages for unskilled labour.
Serious–My wife is intelligent.Instead of spending money on such expenses, she insists I do “fixing” jobs at home. I DO(reluctantly)
This happens. But there is other side to the story. Most of the people who are from unorganized sector, do not have Bonus, Paid Leave etc. So, they try to get as much money when there is a possibility.
The other side is that most extortionists are insecure and therefore, are reluctant to let go of a single money-making opportunity.
You have yet to meet the extortionists of Kerala with whom rests the sole right to unload and load your things (whether you like it or not) when you move, and who have to be paid atrocious sums in return for this ‘magnanimous’ gesture of theirs.
I meet them all the time. Bus conductor who doesn’t give tickets and doesn’t return change. Office boy at college who demands money to give my mark sheet. Auto drivers who charges thrice the normal fare and many more… It’s very irritating. 🙁
oh man! tell me about the “faulty” parts of electronics! such people are pathetic trust me..and they are everywhere ready to suck your blood!
congrats for the spicy pick btw 😀
Its a jungle isnt it?
I can understand… I just shifted to Noida a few months back. Lots of haggling and wastage aside, the amount of money I lost in cold, hard cash was mind boggling. 🙁
BTW you missed one of the sleaziest of extortionists you meet when you shift cities: the Property Dealers. They have a cool way of pocketing thousands for a work which requires a few tenners.
Maybe they should see the ‘Incredible India’ campaign more often. There are only a few honest men/women left in this world…phew!
Congrats for getting picked by Blogadda 🙂
I faced the same thing when I moved to Mumbai..thankfully most people are quite professional in Mumbai unlike other cities so it was not so bad for me…
Ulcers? Hope you feel better soon…
Thats so horrible! I have come across such extortionists aplenty..Delhi is an adda of such creeps :D. Whats more annoying is the attitude with which they talk..as though its their ‘right’ to extort! The minute they know we are in dire need of their services, they take full advantage of our need of the hour!
Pertinent post, Shilpa! Congrats on the blog adda pick 🙂
Can understand ur plight but wt 2 do sometimes we need 2 compromise my dad does most of the fixing part wen we shift houses so its easier tat way 🙂
oh have met all sorts of them.. and all these extortionists extract way too much in US and you cant even haggle with them.. they will just say pay me this much else I am going.. thankfully in India, we can atleast haggle with them else we are doomed 🙂 Loved the list!
Congratulations on the Spicy Pick!
All of us would have come into contact with these expert extortionists, some time or the other.
It feels worse when we are in position to walk away. We have to go with them, however much we might want to ask them to disappear 🙁
After our experience in India, we have always been worried about people like this, but so far in the UK – we have found people much more honest. They agree before hand what they will do, and most of the time, the rates are very decent.
omg! thanks for making me aware of all this!!