"Shameless/scammer Ola CEO @bhash! It’s been over 22 days, and my scooter won’t charge. The battery is completely drained now. If it can’t be repaired, I want to return this scooter!"Ola Electric claimed it has successfully resolved 99.1% of the 10,644 complaints filed with the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA). But comedian Kunal Kamra isn't ready to let them ride off just yet. In a cheeky post on X (formerly Twitter), Kamra quipped, "99% consumer complaints solved means 99% bikes are moving? Hard to believe. If you're part of the 1%, leave your story below."
What's Driving the Controversy?
The CCPA issued a show cause notice to Ola Electric on October 7, 2024, citing concerns about misleading advertisements, unfair trade practices, and violation of consumer rights. The company was given 15 days to respond. Later, Ola confirmed in a regulatory filing that it has provided clarifications to the authority in response to the notice.
Ola emphasised that their robust redressal mechanism ensures complaints are resolved to the “complete satisfaction of customers.”
A war of words: Kunal Kamra vs. Bhavish Aggarwal
The spat between Kunal Kamra and Ola's founder, Bhavish Aggarwal, ignited on social media after Kamra raised concerns about the company's after-sales service. Several customers had expressed dissatisfaction with service delays, unresponsive support, and scooter issues, making the comedian’s remarks hit close to home for some users.
Kamra's playful jab—suggesting that unresolved complaints might imply non-functioning scooters—quickly resonated with others who had vented frustrations online about their experiences with Ola Electric's service.
Netizens weigh in: Broken promises, unreliable service
Kamra’s post on X (formerly Twitter) sparked a wave of responses, with several customers narrating harrowing experiences of faulty scooters, unresponsive support, and delayed repairs.
One user shared his frustration, stating, "99% issues are addressed by closing old tickets without any resolution and opening new ones. They even deleted the entire history of previous tickets."
"Shameless/scammer Ola CEO @bhash! It’s been over 22 days, and my scooter won’t charge. The battery is completely drained now. If it can’t be repaired, I want to return this scooter!"
Another customer recounted a more detailed ordeal:
"I parked my @OlaElectric scooter, and it never turned on again. Despite raising 15+ support tickets and booking roadside assistance, I was told the service center couldn't take it due to ‘no space.’ Two service visits were promised, but no one showed up.
I rely on this scooter for crucial tasks—dropping my child at school, commuting to the hospital for my wife’s delivery, and traveling to teach digital marketing. What if this had happened during an emergency?
Now, even though I’m still paying EMIs, I refuse to send it to their ‘scrap workshop,’ where it could sit idle for 2-6 months! Are government authorities just issuing notices for show? It feels like they’re manipulating data to make it appear complaints are resolved. I expected more from @nitin_gadkari ji, but consumer protection in the EV space seems nonexistent."
The customer also revealed that despite approaching Delhi Police to file an FIR, no progress was made:
"Even after writing to the Commissioner of Police, all I got was an acknowledgment. Fortunately, the consumer court has accepted my case—let’s see what happens there. But Ola’s 99.1% resolution rate feels like a complete farce when real customers are being stranded."
