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We have always maintained the position that buying insurance from the US is much better compared to buying from India. We in fact have a big article also at https://www.insubuy.com/visitors-ins...ia-comparison/ regarding this same.
I would like to narrate my personal experience of dealing with several matters unrelated to insurance or my business. And I am not writing this because of any bias but just true experience.
I wanted to apply for PAN card for India (like Social Security Number for USA). I have been trying since last year. Their PAN card form is so complicated it was pretty much impossible to fill it myself sitting here in the US. (The form has crazy questions, like "If you are idiot or lunatic, fill this section" and so on.) And they take credit cards only for Indian address, not for foreign address. And no bank in US will make Indian Rupee demand draft.
Anyway, I thought I would apply in person when I went to India in December 2008.
I applied in person directly at UTI Technology Services Limited and in addition to the Rs. 67 fee, I paid additional Rs. 650 for each person as courier charges for NRIs (foreign address.)
It has been over 5 months and I have still not received the card. The Ahmedabad number I was given does not work. I called their main office in Gurgaon office and after a lot of difficulties, I figured out that I need to call their Mumbai office.
After calling their Mumbai office several times and after a lot of difficulties (people on the phone there don't know how to talk or behave), I figured out that they didn't write the zip code in my address. They told me that no pin code for foreign address and they write 999999 as the default pin code for foreign. They told me that the cards were returned back to Mumbai. They told me that I must have written my address wrong!! And they told me that they sent it by regular post, when I already paid Rs. 650/person for courier charge. She said that there is no concept of couriering the cards. And I need to talk to the people in Ahmedabad. That number does not work. And there is definitely a concept of courier and Rs. 650 is legitimate fee, as mentioned on their web site and in the form as well.
After several long holds and a lot of efforts, I managed to ask what can be done now so that they can send it to the correct address. They told me that I need to write one application asking them to correct the address. Come on, I gave correct address and they didn't write it correctly. I asked whether I can send an email. She said I can send an email, but regular email will not work. I will have to type the letter, print it, sign it, scan it and then email that letter to them. They need to match the signatures on the application and on this letter. I asked her why they didn't match the address on the application and on the postal envelope and she hung up.
I started all these exercise today at around 10 PM and it is right now almost 1 AM in the morning. I have lost my sleep for this night dealing with people in India. And God knows when I would get the PAN Card, if at all ever.
I had similar experience with State Bank of India. Around 9 months after opening the accounts, I still don't have the ATM Card or PIN Number or anything, even after visiting them in person twice in India. That story some other time.
If I had a choice, I would never want to deal with bureaucracy in India.
I would like to narrate my personal experience of dealing with several matters unrelated to insurance or my business. And I am not writing this because of any bias but just true experience.
I wanted to apply for PAN card for India (like Social Security Number for USA). I have been trying since last year. Their PAN card form is so complicated it was pretty much impossible to fill it myself sitting here in the US. (The form has crazy questions, like "If you are idiot or lunatic, fill this section" and so on.) And they take credit cards only for Indian address, not for foreign address. And no bank in US will make Indian Rupee demand draft.
Anyway, I thought I would apply in person when I went to India in December 2008.
I applied in person directly at UTI Technology Services Limited and in addition to the Rs. 67 fee, I paid additional Rs. 650 for each person as courier charges for NRIs (foreign address.)
It has been over 5 months and I have still not received the card. The Ahmedabad number I was given does not work. I called their main office in Gurgaon office and after a lot of difficulties, I figured out that I need to call their Mumbai office.
After calling their Mumbai office several times and after a lot of difficulties (people on the phone there don't know how to talk or behave), I figured out that they didn't write the zip code in my address. They told me that no pin code for foreign address and they write 999999 as the default pin code for foreign. They told me that the cards were returned back to Mumbai. They told me that I must have written my address wrong!! And they told me that they sent it by regular post, when I already paid Rs. 650/person for courier charge. She said that there is no concept of couriering the cards. And I need to talk to the people in Ahmedabad. That number does not work. And there is definitely a concept of courier and Rs. 650 is legitimate fee, as mentioned on their web site and in the form as well.
After several long holds and a lot of efforts, I managed to ask what can be done now so that they can send it to the correct address. They told me that I need to write one application asking them to correct the address. Come on, I gave correct address and they didn't write it correctly. I asked whether I can send an email. She said I can send an email, but regular email will not work. I will have to type the letter, print it, sign it, scan it and then email that letter to them. They need to match the signatures on the application and on this letter. I asked her why they didn't match the address on the application and on the postal envelope and she hung up.
I started all these exercise today at around 10 PM and it is right now almost 1 AM in the morning. I have lost my sleep for this night dealing with people in India. And God knows when I would get the PAN Card, if at all ever.
I had similar experience with State Bank of India. Around 9 months after opening the accounts, I still don't have the ATM Card or PIN Number or anything, even after visiting them in person twice in India. That story some other time.
If I had a choice, I would never want to deal with bureaucracy in India.
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