I have been one of the many unfortunate souls to have dealt with Modi
Hyundai when I booked a Santro Xing this March. Little did I know what was in
store for me over the next month and a half.
We had already decided to go in for a Santro Xing, so right from the start, our
discussions with the dealer rep. (Mr. Jeetesh Lulla) hovered around finance,
discounts etc. He was also offering a free teflon coating of Rs. 3000.
When the deal was finalizing he calls up (or maybe pretends to) his RTA rep.,
and tells to us that we have to pay up Rs. 3000 extra as bribe to RTA officials
since we were not residents of Mumbai. I insisted that I had spoken to many
dealers and they all said that the lease agreement of my rented house was an acceptable
residence proof. But he convinced us that all those dealers were trying to fool
us and would have asked us to pay the bribe amount on the day of delivery.
So, believing him, we agreed to the deal, and paid the booking amount.
I did a lot of running around that day to collect all the documents required
like salary slip, bank account statement etc etc. He also needed 6 post dated
cheques. Which I told him I did not have at that point of time. We asked him to
come and collect it from us the next day. [By then, I’d mentally calculated
another day’s delay in delivery. So Thursday now.]
Mr. Jeetesh came to us the next day to collect the post dated cheques. He asked
me not to write the amount since it is possible that the scheme might change
last minute. He promised us that he would adjust the difference in his
discounts if it happened. Again, believing him, we gave him blank signed, cross
cheques in the name of ICICI Bank. *
This is where the story of my troubles begins*
I patiently waited for the following Thursday-the day we were promised delivery
and called him up. He said becos we gave the cheques 1 day late the whole
process got delayed, and we could take delivery only next Monday.*
The Cheques: Part 1*
When asked about my post dated cheques he said they had been submitted to the
bank. I insisted he send me cheques by fax. I received the scanned copies
immediately. **To my horror.. the last cheque (which is supposed to bear the
entire loan amount, read Rs. 5 lac something which was much more than the cost
of the car itself!** I immediately notified him about the error. He said he
would check with the bank and get it rectified. *
Teflon Coating Eyewash*
I’d got bad reviews about teflon so I asked for Rs. 3000 cash discount instead
of the coating. He flatly refused. I then suggested that he could adjust the
amount in other accessories, since I was really not interested in it. After
much argument**, he confessed that the actual cost of a teflon coating is only
Rs. 800, and that the rest is "Labor Charges" **which is why they
are able to give it free. What cheats!*
The wait continues...*
By then, it was already 10 days since booking. No news from any Modi rep.. I
called up Jeetesh on the 12th day. Car still not ready. I completely lost my
cool. Reminded him that he’d promised delivery on the 4th day itself and now it
was nearing 2 weeks. As always he apologized.
On the 16th day, when the car was still not ready, I gave him an ultimatum
saying that if the car is not ready for delivery on day 18, I would cancel the
deal. He warned me that it would attract a penalty of Rs. 4000 on the booking
amount.
I then went to other dealers in the hope that they will absorb the Rs. 4000 I’d
lose with Modi. I found Phoenix
was giving fabulous discounts and their staff was extremely nice.
The very next day, I called up Jeetesh saying that I’m willing to forego that
Rs. 4000 towards cancellation. I just wanted my booking amount back.The smart
dude tells me that they have already paid the Octroi for my car &
now I cannot do anything. **This inspite of telling him last time to hold on
since I want to cancel the deal.** I had no option now but to bear with his
delay tactics. *
Finally... the day of delivery*
Day 30. Exactly a month after I booked the car I’m called for delivery of the
much awaited car. I was called at 5pm. I landed by 6pm... and
waited...waited...waited more. Finally, at around 7pm, the car was ready. I
checked and found everything in order. (seemingly in order atleast!)
The cheques Part 2
Before leaving, I asked him to get me faxed copies of the final cheques which
they have put on file from ICICI Bank. Just to confirm that the 5lac goofup was
rectified.
Why was I even surprized! The cheques ICICI Bank sent looked very different
from what Jeetesh had sent me almost a month back. Both bore my signature, had
the same numbers... but the amounts were different. I questioned him as to how
they managed to change the amount without my endorsement? **He confessed that
earlier he had taken xerox copies of my cheques. Filled in the amounts on
the xerox copies of the cheques and it was those copies which were faxed to me
then. **I was dumbfounded. Atleast this fax was original since it came
from ICICI Bank (I hope) I told him that this amounts to fraud. I could take
him to court with this issue since I had both the faxes. He apologized
profusely.
The RTO Bribe
Not wanting to let him go scot free... I insisted on a bill for the extra Rs.
3000 I paid him towards RTO official bribe. The leeches wanted Rs. 1000 more
for the bill. I obliged, since I really needed this proof, if I decided to go
to consumer court with these issues.
*Home at last
*Finally, I took possession of my first car and did not forget to tell him
that he had managed to make the most memorable moment of my life the most
unforgettable, for all the wrong reasons. He maaroed some senti. I drove off.
*When with Modi Troubles just never end
On my way back I realized he had tore off the Rs. 500 free petrol
voucher from the service booklet. **I abused him profusely in my mind but did
not wish to go back for Rs. 500 and face that fraud dealer again.
After a few days I was caught by a police man on a traffic junction. Confident
that everything was in order, I pulled over. He told me that I am not
authorized to drive that car since it is not registered. I showed him the temp.
registration certificates. He asked me to get off the car and compare the
number pasted on my number plate with the certificate. To my horror they did
not match! I explained whatever had happened: that **it was the dealer who put
the wrong number plate.** But why would the policeman let go of his
prize-catch just because it was the dealer’s fault. I paid up the fine and
drove off.
My car was grounded for nearly 15 days till I got the registration complete.
Modi reps as always were very apologetic about the goof-up. They said the
number had got exchanged with another car delivered that day. Wow! Another guy
is paying up a hefty fine somewhere in Mumbai, for no fault of his.
*Moral of the story:
1) Never pay booking amount
2) Modi Hyundai is a fraud!