So called wrong Air ticket issued
SHEKHAR CHATTERJEE
(Querist) 13 February 2017
This query is : Resolved
Dear Sir / Madam,
I was working with a reputed Travel organisation for last 11 years. I have resigned from that organisation on 13th Nov 2016. I was working in the Night Division at a sretch for almost 4 years till my last working day.
On 4th Oct night shift i received an reminder email from one of our bonafied Client from the USA,requesting for a specific travel itinerary involving a specific called Monterry in the country Mexico, and agreed he has mentioned the applicable three letter city code, MTY , in his query.
Owing to work pressure and as the query was apparently lying unattended from around 2:30 in the afternoon in hurry i reverted back with an option involving a different city Monterry in California, USA (MRY). At the same time i had requested him to check the flight details and approve for ticket issuance if okay. Now to mention that these 2 cities pronunciation sounds exactly same.
He reverted back with his approval for ticket issuance, and i issued the ticket around 12:10 in the night. The travel was on 8th Oct.
The air ticket was emailed to him immediately by me.
He didn't check the air ticket once during the next 72 hours, went to the Airport to find that it was a wrong Air ticket. He got it reissued at the Airport by the Airlines against a� additional charge of USD 3400 approx.
Now, during my Full & Final settlement, my previous employer is asking me to pay this amount.
My query is am i at fault, solely /partially /not at all?
Kindly consider the gravity of the situation and advice . My email address, tutun332003@yahoo.co.in
Regards,
SC
Guest
(Expert) 13 February 2017
It Obviously confirms your Carelessness which had lead to the Costly Mistake.Better to Plead and Place an Humble Request to consider your Issue with your Management and the Client also.
SHEKHAR CHATTERJEE
(Querist) 13 February 2017
I would sincerely request for 1 or 2 further advice.
Kumar Doab
(Expert) 13 February 2017
You have posted that:
"he has mentioned the applicable three letter city code, MTY , in his query...................i reverted back with an option involving a different city Monterry in California, USA (MRY)...............Now to mention that these 2 cities pronunciation sounds exactly same.'
These 2 cities pronunciation does not sound exactly same!
Kumar Doab
(Expert) 13 February 2017
You have posted that:
"Now, during my Full & Final settlement, my previous employer is asking me to pay this amount...................................He got it reissued at the Airport by the Airlines against a� additional charge of USD 3400 approx."
Did customer lodge any complaint in writing?
Was any memo,SCN issued to you?
Did you reply? If yes; what was your reply?
How is employer asking to you pay; verbally or in writing?
What are the T&C (signed/agreed upon) for customers for such tickets and errors?
What are the T&C (signed/agreed upon) for employees for such instances and errors?
Has customer sued the employer?
Has employer compensated the customer?
It shall be better if you can resolve amicably.
Did you try?
SHEKHAR CHATTERJEE
(Querist) 13 February 2017
I replied in a very submissive note not at all any adamant tone requesting for some time.
Employer have written an email to me mentioning this mistake and have also mentioned that they are going to send a 'Recovery Letter'.
The Client belongs to the that very Company who is my previous Employer's Parent & Financing Company.
The Passenger is that Company's staff employed in the USA who have claimed this amount towards Reimbursement and in turn it has been debited to my previous Employer who in turn have debited the amount to me.
SHEKHAR CHATTERJEE
(Querist) 13 February 2017
In both cases the T&C by Employer & Client is that the issuing Person will pay, means the staff is always at fault and pay the penalty first.
This is how the Travel Industry works
Kumar Doab
(Expert) 13 February 2017
Do you mean to say from your post: "Employer & Client is that the issuing Person will pay, means the staff is always at fault and pay the penalty first.".......
that the T&C is in writing and accepted by you?
You have posted that client is imp and influential in a sense.
SHEKHAR CHATTERJEE
(Querist) 13 February 2017
Sir, that is the unwritten law for the Travel Industry as i have seen in my last 20 years experience.
Sir, yes this Gentleman is in a Senior position in our Parent Company.
Kumar Doab
(Expert) 13 February 2017
Choice is yours, to accept:
--unwritten things/practices as law.
--respond to email of employer.
--respond to Recovery Letter.
--accept everything and pay.
Or contest the recovery.
SHEKHAR CHATTERJEE
(Querist) 13 February 2017
Sir, i just want to request your opinion that if i contest also, is there any merit at all in my favor?
I am an LIG person and obviously do not want to get entangled in a losing Legal Battle out of Ego.
SHEKHAR CHATTERJEE
(Querist) 13 February 2017
Sir, wanted to added Client's approval email is with me, that even after cheking the incorrect itinerary he have approved it for ticket issuance.
Kumar Doab
(Expert) 13 February 2017
Merit can not be ascertained on anything that is: gossip, rumor, hearsay or trend or practice as you say in your trade.
So far in any post I have not asked you to jump into litigation.
Asking for published version of policy/rule is not litigation.
You have spent 20 years in this trade and rules/policies applicable to your employment/establishment/such errors are known to you like back of your hand.
You are the one that is supposed to have, should have, and should provide all published version of all rules/policies/conduct and discipline rules that apply to you/establishment.
SHEKHAR CHATTERJEE
(Querist) 13 February 2017
Sir,
Sincere thanks for your kind cooperation.
I got some idea on the issue.
Regards,
Kumar Doab
(Expert) 13 February 2017
I am happy that you discussed gracefully.
Take help of seasoned employee's/trade unions leaders, competent and experienced well wishers, colleagues,a very able counsel specializing in Labor/service matters.
Some incentives/commission are probably paid on such tickets.
Some tasks are risky;even if the carrot in the shape of incentives/commission are attached to allure.
First thing that is important is; Salary and employment for employee.
One should learn to defend the principle before falling falling for interest.
The argument that; you were sleepy and made a mistake may not have proper force in it.
Had you been working on machine in night shift and feeling sleepy then you should have stayed away from machine to avoid accident.
These are hazards of employment.
Avoid acting on your own.
Consult before you act.
Wish you the best.
Guest
(Expert) 13 February 2017
Good, if you have got some idea on the issue. But, the question arises, who should bear the cost of the serious mistake that would have put the goodwill of the company at stake, whether you or the company?
There is no merit in contesting the case, as that may clearly go against you.
Amicable settlement with the company is advisable, as the responsibility of misinterpretation of the requirement of the client rests solely on you, when you have not tried even to get clarification, if in doubt or being unaware of the existence of some other similar sounding name of the city.
Rajendra K Goyal
(Expert) 13 February 2017
May proceed as advised by the expert Kumar Doab.
Guest
(Expert) 13 February 2017
Well Agreed by Mrs/Mr/Ms Rajendra K Goyal (NO Personal disclosures Posted in Profile)
Rajendra K Goyal
(Expert) 13 February 2017
It would be better if the expert would have posted / contributed for the thread rather to go on posting just to satisfy his ego / irritation / frustration.
Guest
(Expert) 13 February 2017
Please confirm and Post it in your Profile in Detail
Guest
(Expert) 13 February 2017
Dear Shekhar,
You have two options, (1) make up your mind for amicable settlement of the issue in order to buy mental peace once for all, or (2) to adopt a longer and perplexing route by acting on a confusing advice of Mr. Doab, as advised by Mr. Rajendra K Goyal. He has advised you to "Consult before you act," but whom to consult, has not been clarified. If his advice aims at consulting some lawyer, you should also be ready to adopt some expensive route in addition to the longer and perplexing route along with the agony of losing your mental peace for the time the case is lingered on in litigation process or by adopting dilly dally efforts on which the company stance can get hardened.
BUT, rest assured, the result will be the same to bear the additional cost of ticket, as you have already stated about your awareness about the rule, i.e., "the staff is always at fault and pay the penalty first."
There seems no escape, except amicable settlement with the company maintaining a goodwill gesture on both the sides.
