Greyhound — greyhound - trip from hell!

I left Phoenix, AZ Friday, April 6 2007. Arriving at Flagstaff at 3AM, the bus cleaners helped themselves to over $300 from my wallet, which had fallen onto my seat when disembarking in order for the bus to be "serviced". When I protested to staff and driver, police were summoned and told "I was drunk". First, I do not drink. I am a diabetic, and was simply extremely agitated at the indifference of the Greyhound employees at the theft of my money. Second, I was not even allowed to remain in the terminal, and escorted by said police to a $75 motel room that I used for about 5 hours until I would be allowed on the next bus out. (By the way, "public drunkenness" is an arrestable offense in Flagstaff, yet, it seem mighty curious that I wasn't arrested... perhaps the cop gets a kick-back from the motel!).

Much later that day (almost midnight on the 7th), was I "bumped" from an overbooked bus in Amarillo, TX by an extremely abusive and foul-mouthed driver, along with 2 other passengers who were heading to my destination as well (Albany, NY). At this time, the foul-mouthed and abusive baggage handlers refused to remove our luggage, which all 3 of us had actually seen being loaded, and "assured" us that it would be "waiting for us at our destination" (The exact same answer we got the next 7 times we inquired about our bags along the way!). Police were called again, this time by us, and told us that they could do nothing. We waited in an utterly filthy terminal for over 6 hours for a replacement bus. On arrival in Tulsa OK, their filthy terminal's food court was closed and the food vending machines were broken. Since it was Easter Sunday, we were told by employees that absolutely nothing was open anywhere around the terminal to purchase food. Finally (near starvation), when leaving for St. Louis, MO after yet another 6 hour "layover" (bus was over 2 hours late), we passed THREE open food stores within 2 blocks of the terminal! I could go on about the next 4 or 5 stops, but you already have the picture.

Our printed "itineraries" were absolute fiction. Connections were missed, every terminal we stopped at with the exception of Pittsburgh PA was WAY beyond filthy, and all drivers save 2 were at BEST rude. Ticket agents lying, telephones not answered, drivers swearing and abusive, equipment and terminals disgusting and/or breaking down, and an average "layover" time anywhere between 3 to 6 hours at each of the next 7 stops until finally getting to Albany, almost 84 hours after leaving Phoenix on our "joyride".

Upon arrival at Albany, STILL no luggage for the 3 of us, even though by this time it had had 24 hours to arrive AHEAD of us! The customer "service" agent in Albany, NY laconically informed us that: "they usually show up after a few days." Now, over 48 hours after our arrival, still with no luggage, the answer from customer "service" is "Well, I guess you better come in and file a claim". This can be and was done online, whereby you are informed after entering your information that: "You will be notified within 7-14 days"! You get the same disclaimer anywhere ELSE you file information on their website, and there is NO customer "service" page anywhere on that site (nor do they even list a customer "service" telephone number.

I have been a loyal and frequent Greyhound customer for over 40 years, but I can guarantee you that I will NEVER patronize that company again! If I sound a little "agitated", I can assure you that it is because I've been wearing the same clothes for 7 days in a row now; and cannot even afford to replace any, since Greyhound was responsible for "relieving" me of over $375 back in Flagstaff. What I CAN afford however, is to contact the Public Service Commission, the Interstate Commerce Commission and the U.S. Department of Transportation. Greyhound has not only broken customer trust; but along this "trip from hell", I made careful note of at least 20 violations of national transportation law and regulations. "Go Greyhound" apparently means "Go [censored] Yourself"!!!