The following is a letter written by the disgruntled and extremely annoyed part that was present in each and every one of the thousands of people who filled up the Prometric powered CAT 09 online form on the 9th of September 2009.
Dear sir,
I had purchased a voucher for CAT 2009 on the 9th of September and filled the online form on the same day. However, I made the mistake of not checking the tick boxes for SSC & HSC because of which I was not prompted to enter the details pertaining to the same. I only realized my mistake after I had submitted everything and booked a slot as well! In fact, I had even printed the hall ticket!
Worried, I inquired if anybody had made a similar mistake and was pleasantly surprised to know that there was a little nation of people who had done the same folly. When I inquired about what is to be done from someone else, he had told me that he was bluntly told to buy a new voucher and do the whole thing all over! I was flabbergasted at the insensitivity with which the issue was dealt with. I do accept that there is a fault from our side too and am deeply apologetic for that. But, I really think it is necessary to enlighten you about the root of the whole problem and illustrate the logical and logistical implications of the solution given by the helpline executive for the problem at hand.
1. The SSC and HSC details are mandatory for the IIMs to short list candidates after CAT. And I totally fail to see the logic behind expecting students to explicitly check HSC and SSC tick boxes for the system to prompt data entry. Who in the world can complete graduation without completing the earlier two degrees!
2. Even in the case of some brainless daft head like me and my fellow lesser intelligent beings making the mistake of not checking them, how can the system complete the procedure without that data!
3. Now, regarding the brilliant idea given by your helpline executive. I believe he was right when he gave that advice based on the FAQs which say that one is expected to buy a new voucher and apply again in case of a mistake in data entry. However, this is in total contradiction to another FAQ which clearly states a student can register only once. We would really appreciate if you can throw light on these lacunae.
4. This is the first time this application procedure is being used. So, mistakes during data entry are bound to arise. However, there is absolutely no provision to edit data once it is entered. Other online based applications for exams like XAT which have been around for a while still have that provision. We would really like to know the source of this supreme confidence in the system and faith in the common exam applicant.
5. Now comes the clincher, every person who has committed an error in data entry is as per your rules expected to register again. This would mean close to 20,000 (This is the estimated number) applicants fill in a new slot and the exam slots booked under their previous faulty profiles stand empty as there is no way to cancel them. Such sheer waste of time and man power is simply mindless!
Bottom-line: The system designed is unnecessarily complicated and rigid and gives unnecessary attention to details like privacy policies and doesn’t emphasize the more important ones like the education and test details. The support isn’t any smarter and there are many contradictory answers to the FAQs which reflect poorly on the entire team involved.
Now, before you dismiss this mail as junk, I have just one thing to say. It is very important that Prometric comes out of the bubble it is currently in and realize the gravity of the situation. These mistakes are not isolated incidents but something which are happening with many applicants. Hope you consider and respond appropriately.
Regards,
A CAT 2009 Prometric victim
Dear sir,
I had purchased a voucher for CAT 2009 on the 9th of September and filled the online form on the same day. However, I made the mistake of not checking the tick boxes for SSC & HSC because of which I was not prompted to enter the details pertaining to the same. I only realized my mistake after I had submitted everything and booked a slot as well! In fact, I had even printed the hall ticket!
Worried, I inquired if anybody had made a similar mistake and was pleasantly surprised to know that there was a little nation of people who had done the same folly. When I inquired about what is to be done from someone else, he had told me that he was bluntly told to buy a new voucher and do the whole thing all over! I was flabbergasted at the insensitivity with which the issue was dealt with. I do accept that there is a fault from our side too and am deeply apologetic for that. But, I really think it is necessary to enlighten you about the root of the whole problem and illustrate the logical and logistical implications of the solution given by the helpline executive for the problem at hand.
1. The SSC and HSC details are mandatory for the IIMs to short list candidates after CAT. And I totally fail to see the logic behind expecting students to explicitly check HSC and SSC tick boxes for the system to prompt data entry. Who in the world can complete graduation without completing the earlier two degrees!
2. Even in the case of some brainless daft head like me and my fellow lesser intelligent beings making the mistake of not checking them, how can the system complete the procedure without that data!
3. Now, regarding the brilliant idea given by your helpline executive. I believe he was right when he gave that advice based on the FAQs which say that one is expected to buy a new voucher and apply again in case of a mistake in data entry. However, this is in total contradiction to another FAQ which clearly states a student can register only once. We would really appreciate if you can throw light on these lacunae.
4. This is the first time this application procedure is being used. So, mistakes during data entry are bound to arise. However, there is absolutely no provision to edit data once it is entered. Other online based applications for exams like XAT which have been around for a while still have that provision. We would really like to know the source of this supreme confidence in the system and faith in the common exam applicant.
5. Now comes the clincher, every person who has committed an error in data entry is as per your rules expected to register again. This would mean close to 20,000 (This is the estimated number) applicants fill in a new slot and the exam slots booked under their previous faulty profiles stand empty as there is no way to cancel them. Such sheer waste of time and man power is simply mindless!
Bottom-line: The system designed is unnecessarily complicated and rigid and gives unnecessary attention to details like privacy policies and doesn’t emphasize the more important ones like the education and test details. The support isn’t any smarter and there are many contradictory answers to the FAQs which reflect poorly on the entire team involved.
Now, before you dismiss this mail as junk, I have just one thing to say. It is very important that Prometric comes out of the bubble it is currently in and realize the gravity of the situation. These mistakes are not isolated incidents but something which are happening with many applicants. Hope you consider and respond appropriately.
Regards,
A CAT 2009 Prometric victim
1 comment:
A woeful yet hilarious experience. :D
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