Their paratransit service (LantaVan, which is operated by Easton Coach) is the worst in the world! We have been pushed over one too many times! They tell you to be ready at least 15 minutes before and after your pick up time, which we always are but they aren't! One example of many for us was back in July. My husband's appt was for 3:50pm today and his pick up time was 2:40pm with a drop off time of 3:30pm in Walnutport. The driver showed up around 3:05pm and told my husband he wouldn't get him to walnutport until 4:30 because he has to pick someone up in New Tripoli first. I asked the driver why he couldn't drop him off in Walnutport first and then do his other pick up in New Tripoli. Especially since Walnutport is literally 12 minutes from my house and can be taken that way to get to New Tripoli! He said because he is already running late for that pick up. So i don't understand why another pick up is more important than at least getting one of your riders to their destination on time? Instead, now you have TWO that are going to be late! The driver left my house and I immediately called their dispatch. Spoke to an Eric, explained what happened and he said he needed to get off the phone so he could contact the driver to see what he could do. I waited 10 min and no call. Called dispatch again, asked for Eric and the guy who answered asked why. I explained my situation AGAIN! He put me on hold, came back on and said he was transferring me to Eric. Guess what! I got a voice message! I called back and had to explain my problem AGAIN! This guy, I believe his name was Dan, basically told me there was nothing they could do because once a driver leaves your house there is no calling them back to the house. The driver was literally a block down the road!!!! I asked to speak to a Supervisor. Guess what! Got a voice message! This is the 2nd time LantaVan (operated by Easton Coach) has done this to us! Many times in the past, they ran SOOOO late picking him back up, that i had to leave work to go get him. I don't understand how anyone can make appointments when using LantaVan to get there?!?!!! They are not reliable.
UPDATE, since my last posting, we had to cancel yet another doctor's appointment because of their service. Again, they were running late! They loaded my husband onto the van, took his ticket, and as the driver proceeded to leave he decided at this point to tell my husband he was going to be late. He immediately told the driver to turn around and take him back home. The driver did so, but refused to give him his ticket back. He claimed that once a ticket is taken it cannot be given back. I placed a complaint on Lanta's site and received a response in the mail with a returned ticket. At least we got it back, but a month later! What bull pucky!!!!
We always try to schedule with extra time, but I will only schedule 1 hour in advance for his appointment because of his illness. These people that ride the van cannot just sit around and wait for their appointments. Some have special needs that do not allow for them to just hang around. I believe 1 hour prior to an appointment time should be VERY sufficient, but yet doesn't always work that way with this paratransit company! Now that their prices were increased, I hope they get better schedulers and provide better phone etiquette to their customers. Their scheduling department REALLY needs an overhaul! read more