 |
|
|
|
|
Jago Grahak Jago: A Respite from 'Hidden Charges' |
| |
| Public Interest Information from Daijiworld Media Network |
| |
April 18, 2011
You were expecting your monthly mobile phone bill to be not more than Rs 500, but when you get the bill, it reads Rs 800 in the 'due' column. When you read further, you come across a list of 'services' and 'taxes' you had no idea even existed.
Sounds familiar? Those who regularly deal with banks, insurance and stock companies and other finance-related setups and even mobile phone operators, may have often come across what is popularly called 'hidden fees' or 'hidden charges' imposed by such companies.
When a representative of a bank or an insurance company comes to your door, he/she will explain to you only the merits of the scheme, but never disclose its risks or demerits. At that point of time, hidden charges stay hidden, and no sales or insurance representative will speak of it. In fact, they will deny such charges outright, and some may even use the line 'no hidden charges' as an ad campaign, only to fool the customer until the time comes to collect the booty.
Our readers may have many such experiences to share and to create awareness among fellow readers. Those interested are most welcome to pen your experience, so that others may be careful.
In a positive step towards eliminating or at least alleviating this problem, the union ministry of consumer affairs recently launched a public forum to help people who are duped using so-called 'hidden charges' by banks, insurance companies, stock exchange companies and mobile operators.
If you are charged with any 'unwarranted' fees, you may do the following:
Log on to www.ccccore.co.in to lodge an online complaint. It provides you not only a forum to seek redress, but also gives details of recent judgements, information about consumer related acts and rules, news and other information.
Or, call 18001804566 (toll free) to register a complaint over the phone.
There are also other options:
For banking related issues: RBI - www.rbi.org.in
Insurance services: IRDA - www.irda.gov.in
Stock related affair: SEBE - www.sebi.gov.in
Contact number for National Consumer Helpline : 1800-11-4000 (toll free) / 011 - 27662955 / 56/ 57/ 58 (normal call charges applicable). From 9.30 am to 5.30 pm (Monday to Saturday). |
|
|
| |
|
READ 'Tips for life ARCHIVES'
|
| |
|
| Comments on this article |
| Shankar, Bangalore | Monday, January 16, 2012 |
|
Hi,
You can also submit your complaint on below consumer court :
http://www.consumer-court.in/index.php?action=submit |
|
|
|
| SVG Krishna & Smt S Radha devi, Hyderabad | Wednesday, December 14, 2011 |
|
| M/s Coxand kings ltd, Hyderabad while we return from Losangels for two persons they charged excess air fare from LosAngel(LAX)to Delhi via Minneapolis(MNP) Newyork(JFK),Dubai to Delhi by INR 41450/-(additional charges levied Rs4998/- over the actual ticket fare Deviation charges Rs5000/- ,Supplementry charges 15000/- Fare difference Losangels to Newyork 16452/-,not taken into account).Latest Notice dated17-11-2011 addressed to sri mohan narayan,Asst vice president, Hyderabad is ignored.The tour package to USA was booked on 16-12-2010 (6 months in advance) schduled departure on 3-7-2011 ex Delhi, While we reside at Hyderabad,but at the last minute the tour was twice postponed and cancelled Maxican cruise. Asum of USD1324 paid for cruise is not refuned till date. Due to short notice and July being Summer period the train tkts were not available. Hence we claimed notional Air fare from Hyderabad to Delhi. we also claimed a compensation of Rs1,00,000/- for mental harrasment and inconveniance caused. The company is maintaining stoic silence and wants to convert USD1324 paid (after purchase from SBI)into INR WITH out my consent @47/-per dollar. |
|
|
|
| Judith L, Mumbai | Wednesday, April 20, 2011 |
|
| Thanx Daiji for the information. I will definitely take the assistance of the website and call centre numbers. I have bad experience of Bajaj Allianze life Insurance in which over the past 3 yrs I have paid yearly installments of Rs.12,000 x 3 = Rs.36,000/- but my net asset value shows only only Rs.24,000/- First of all it is difficult to get Bajaj customer services and even if they come on line sometimes after 20-25 mins they give vague answers similar case is with Kotak Mahindra Mutual Fund which has not d dividend for last 4 years and also NAV has fallen down from Rs.15.35 to current Rs.11.33 |
|
|
|
| Ivan J Saldanha., Mangalore | Tuesday, April 19, 2011 |
|
Good information Thanks Daiji!!
At this point consumers also include aged sick people / children & students, who live their days in institutions paying hefty fees and contributions.They get a bare minimum in return and face a lot of injustice by way of rules and instructions!!!The fear that they will be turned out and have no shelter and disability stops them from any action. It will be grand if NGOs' or concerned groups or the Consumer helpline make a survey and so on and improve the regulations and conditions in such institutions around them. Thanks! Bye! |
|
|
|
| BONIFACE, MANGALORE/AUH | Tuesday, April 19, 2011 |
|
I have similar experience with HDFC life insurance. Insurance agent only introduced about its huge benefits. However, later it was discovered that the company is deducting their administration charges and other charges every month. This means they are playing with the investors money. Similarly other private insurance companies are doing this.
To highlight more on the issue, recently one agent introduced me about the PACL. This company agent says that, it is a insurance company, wherein u can deposit certain amount and take it back after certain time. Option is also there for payment on monthly/quarterly/half yearly/yearly or onetime payment.
As per the agent, PACL will invest the public money in property.
Having said, the company will refund only after the completion of policy and if you want reclaim middle of this period (say after 3 years if the policy is for 5 ½ years) company will not entertain your request.
As we have recently seen many frauds in Mangalore city, my concern is that, did RBI given necessary permissions to this company to collect the funds from public as an investment.
|
|
|
|
| Dave, Mangalore | Monday, April 18, 2011 |
|
Thank U Daiji for publishing this article which might save many peoples hard earned money if they exercise some restraints & precuations after reading this.
Many of the stock broking firms situated in Mangalore(famous) take investors for a ride, they will very happily offer their services to deal in share broking. They will gain whether u earn or loose-but they will let u know through phone that your deals have taken place, most of the time when you are travelling & becuase of the noise you donot know whether u have gained or lost-but in the end you will recieve reciepts letting u know -you have lost capital as well as profit if any you have gained in previous deals. So don't believe in their lies as most of them are not trained properly or inexperienced to be sitting at the dealing rooms with authority to see that customers don't suffer continuous losses which might in most cases bring them on road without a penny.
JAGO GRAHAK JAGO. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
