Customer alleges Urban Company staff cancelled service when asked to speak in Kannada. Their response

Urban Company responded to the grievance on social media.

A Bengaluru resident recently voiced his dissatisfaction with Urban Company on social media, alleging that the firm cancelled his bathroom cleaning appointment after he requested the staff to communicate in Kannada. The individual recounted that upon the arrival of two workers, he attempted to indicate the area requiring cleaning. However, one worker spoke in a language unfamiliar to him. When he politely requested, "Kannada, please," the worker continued in the same language, leading to a communication impasse.​

To address the situation, the workers contacted a supervisor who spoke Kannada. The supervisor reportedly stated that the workers felt uneasy because the customer insisted on conversing solely in Kannada. This exchange culminated in the cancellation of the cleaning service.

The resident expressed his frustration, questioning why language should pose a barrier for such a straightforward service. He emphasized that in Karnataka, Kannada should be the primary medium of communication. He maintained that he remained courteous throughout the interaction, even remarking in Kannada, "Sir, clean maadakke bhashe yaake beku? Banda kelasa mugisikondu hogi." Despite his efforts, he perceived the workers' demeanor as cold and dismissive.​

Today I learned that knowing a particular language might be necessary even to get basic services like bathroom cleaning in my own home. Thanks for the lesson, @urbancompany_UC@UC_AssistI had booked a bathroom cleaning service via Urban Company. Two people arrived, and I showed
March 23, 2025

The post ignited a flurry of reactions from X users and the comments section was flooded.

"What if the customer is speech impaired? Are these service aggregators/providers equipped to serve in such conditions?" a user questioned.

Another user wrote, "I doubt any Kannadiga will come and clean toilets. May be too much pride. But having said that, bro, those poor fellows came to clean your s**t hole. For once think, what they will be feeling."

"I stopped taking services from @urbancompany_UC for same reason. I find it better to give instructions in Kannada but almost all times I got non-Kannada speaking service provider," a user remarked.

Meanwhile, Urban Company responded to the grievance on social media, stating, "Hi, thank you for reaching out to us. We sincerely apologise for the inconvenience you faced. We would like to assist you with this matter. May we have your registered mobile number or email address via DM to check this further?"

This incident has ignited a broader conversation about language preferences and cultural respect in Bengaluru. Similar disputes have arisen in the city, highlighting tensions between local language speakers and non-Kannada speakers. For instance, a viral video depicted a local confronting a non-Kannada speaker for not learning the language despite residing in Karnataka for 12 years, accusing him of disrespecting the local culture.

Additionally, a social media post by a Bengaluru resident criticizing a food delivery service for its lack of Kannada-speaking delivery agents sparked significant debate. The customer expressed frustration after receiving a delivery from an individual who did not speak Kannada or English.