I feel so bad about the experience with these jokers that for the first time on mouthshut am feeling there should be a provision for negative star rating!
The Trap: 02 April.
Agent comes to your door-step and offers swift renewal of your policy with free service coupons and telling you stories about various tie-ups. Makes a loose claim that their premium will be the lowest. People have the tendency to trust when someone tells you such things face to face. I did too, and opted for their policy.
Policy Issuance: 01 May
A courier comes (dated 22 April) a good one month later stating that one document is missing and they cannot issue a policy. Am wondering why they charged my card on 04 April if they cannot issue a policy! And the missing document? Proof from Automobile Association that a Ford Fiesta has anti-theft central locking. Now, unless I take the trouble to pull all that out, the vehicle by default comes with all that. If they are trying to me funny, am not all that amused.
Meanwhile, my insurance had expired on 23 April and hence called up their call center to say am not interested in proceeding and will be taking the insurance elsewhere. Made a request for refund too. Couple of hours and a few clicks later I printed out an insurance policy from ICICI Lombard (where I previously had it insured). Interestingly, the premium there was a good 600 rupees less.
The follow-up: 02 May - ongoing.
The trouble now is that these people are not ready to take any online request to refund money. No courier, no fax, no e-mail. Only way to request refund is to visit a branch personally.
"But why did you charge my card in the first place if you cannot issue a policy?".
- That is how our process is, sir.
"If charging before issuance is in your process, shouldn’t refund be there too in that process?"
- Sorry sir, that is not part of process.
The branch is a good 25 km from where I live and works only Mon-Fri.
"So you are telling me I should take leave for a day and visit your branch and ask for a refund of money that you charged me illegally?"
- We understand your situation sir, but yes.
Am not seeing much of a hope to settle this any other way than visiting their branch. Going by the experience so far, what awaits at the branch could be worse.
Am remembering what a friend told me recently regarding a claim. The surveyor said the dent on the side of her front bumper and drivers door is not from the same accident (obviously expecting a bribe which she was not ready to pay). In vain she was trying to explain "I don’t know how I managed it but it surely is from one incident". He maintained his stand and she finally decided it is better to forget about the claim altogether.
Bad products coupled with the worst customer service and surveyors is the last thing you want on a motor vehicle insurance. Avoid TATA AIG.