I availed three policies from TATA AIG General Insurance in the month of MAY '08. The executive over the phone was as usual boasted about the uniqueness of their product, Health Care Plus, which sadly turned out to be another run of the mill product. If you go to any nationalized insurer you may get it for far less than what i paid.

However this is not a concern as both TATA and AIG are trusted names in the their fields, and anyone would like to believe their genuineness. The executive at the time of purchase informed me that the total amount Rs 8463.00 would be deducted on an EMI basis, which was one of factors that led me to buy it from TATA AIG.

A credit card transaction was to be done and you would be insured... voila... not all things come so easy. I was happy as i purchased it for myself and my parents. The main issue arose when the credit card statement came. The Insurance company had charged the entire amount of Rs 8463 in the first month itself against its claims of deducting through an EMI.

I was naturally shocked as I am a salaried employee and have no other sources of income. The EMI seemed to be a decent option as I could manage it on a month on month basis. I followed up with the bank for checking for any errors if any was done from their side, which turned out to be negative. I was told to contact the insurer.

Now this is an interesting part. The customer care assured me on 24/06/08 that they would convert the transactions to EMI as stated during the sales call and provided a reference no for the same. I was also supposed to receive a call back from the company which never happened. My due dates for payment is approaching so I decided to contact them once more. To my dismay and surprise the customer care executives say that they cannot convert the transactions into EMI and I need to pay the entire amount or get the policy canceled. This time to they said the entire amount would be refunded which i strongly doubt (reference the first experience). Few questions and learning I would like to share with the forum.

1) How can a company like TATA AIG employ cheats like those(sales and customer care)?
2) Why the customer care people are so clueless? Give them some training about the working of the company.

Suggestion to the company:

Pls check out for such people who are out in the market to tarnish the image which TATA and AIG has built over centuries. Its nice to be aggressive but at the same time should guard the interests of the customers on whose trust companies are built. For anyone reading this and is looking for an insurance plan for your family, pls do your homework well in advance, or get cheated like me.

Regards,
Sunil Kumar
9967047194.