Jul 04, 2008 06:42 PM
4482 Views
When I decided to purchase TATA Indigo Marina car(we like to carry our world with us', the personnel at the dealer company(B U Bhandari) were insisting I take TATA AIG policy. But I chose to have the car insured from HDFC CHHUB as I had got a very good deal and quick service for HDFC Bank Car Loan. IN fact the dealer personnel, rather than showing / giving details about the car were more keen on trying to convince me for TATA AIG indurance, taking loan from ICICI Bank instead of HDFC Bank, more spares and extra body treatment for the car and so on. They were more salesmen for other products(TATA AIG & ICICI BANK) that for TATA cars!
When the insurance policy was to expire next year, I got repeated calls from the dealership offering to renew the policy from TATA AIG. By that time since I had known that HDFC Chhub would close down, I had to get the vehicle insured from some other insurance company. Earlier I had bad experiences with ICICI Lombard and New India. Hence I was planning to go to Alliance Bajaj. But the TATA dealer personnel kept on calling and ultimately offered me:
A free servicing for my car. I told them that my car was already under warranty and I had free serviec coupons. So they offered me a cash discount of Rs 250.
A'surprise gift' from TATA AIG.
So next time I happened to visit the dealer's office in connection with servicing of my car, I got the insurance revewed FROM TATA AIG.
The person who did the insurance took my payment, gave me the receipt. I asked him about the surprise gift. he told me I will get it directly from TATA AIG. I asked him what is the gift. He said it is surprise gift, so I am not supposed to tell you. I also reminded him that I do not want their free servicing coupon and I was assured a cash discount of Rs 250. He said that it will be given aithin one week of getting the policy. I tolf him that I could not go all the wat to their office just to collect Rs 250. He assured me'Don, t worry. I shall come personally to your home and hand over Rs 250 to you.'
As you have guessed correctly, the promised'surprise gift' from TATA AIG never came. Repeated reminders did not help. Instead, a person called me and tried to show off with bombastic English words and talking like a VJ on a TV program or a TV ad, tried to explain to me the policy featrues. I told him I know all the featrures. What I want is the promised free gift. By that time I had received the policy and found that the premium was Rs 59 less than what I had paid. So I saked for the refund. He assured me that he will pass on the requests to the concerned persons.
I got calls from other marketing personnel of TATA AIG wanting to sell other policies - I tolf them I wanted the refund and the promised surprise gift. They either said that they are from other departments or said that they will pass on the message to the'concerned pwersons'. Gradually I was wondering whetehr any one was concerned at all.
As regards the cash discount of Rs 250 - it never came. They sent me the free service coupon valid for three months, which was of no use.
ONE YEAR passed by. No cash discount No surprise gift. No refund of the excess charge. But SEVERAL CALLS from TATA AIG Pune office, Mumbai Office, Maharsahtra office asking me to renew the policy. No action on the refund. No action on the surprise gift. In fact they said there was no such offer. Obviously, I got the insurance renewed from Allianz Bajaj. When I got call from the Manager in Maharshtra Office, I told him'GO TO HELL and do not call me again'.
Now the calls have stopped - because they don't expect any business from me.
