In the process of negotiating with insurance providers for insurance renewals I was getting pretty keen on Tata-AIG for what I felt was a reasonably competitive 1st offer. That has changed today and they will not get even one paisa out of me. I'll go with another provider even if I have to pay a couple of grand extra.
Here's what happened.
Around 4 weeks back, Tata-AIG called me in response to a request I left on apnapaisa.com for some quotes. They quoted 21-odd thousand for an IDV of 1023200, with a promise of some discount when I'm actually online making the payment. I ask the dude to call me back after a week or so while I do some more research.
Around 2 weeks back, the same guy called and started explaining the same set of features all over again (fail #1, but OK). This time, the quoted premium was 18-odd k for the same IDV. This did not ring an alarm bell because this time he said this is the final figure I could expect while paying online. Once again, I ask the guy to call back later.
Today, he calls me up and I was actually thinking of more or less finalizing the deal. First of all, I asked him to get me an IDV of 1071040 (exactly 80% of the ex-showroom price). He obliged and gave me a quote of around 19600 for an IDV of 1070000. I asked him to be exact with the IDV but he wouldn't listen. The difference is minor but this is a clear case of them not really appeasing the customer (fail #2). By the way, he started explaining the features all over again (fail #3).
I then played the card of quoting premium figures from other players, and badgered him for additional discounts. At this stage, he requested me to hold on because for a Civic, any discount approvals have to come from the top. I oblige. After some time, he apologizes that it'll take more time and requests me to wait for a call-back. No problem.
I pick up the call and on the other end is the extremely rude-sounding boss of the guy with whom I'd been interacting over the past few weeks. He ran the numbers again and I said I want a more competitive quote. He started getting really arrogant and loud and was cutting me off (fail #4).
What's the point of getting on the phone if you weren't willing to give the discount in the first place? The junior employee could've said the same thing! (fail #5)
Anyway, he (the boss) tells me that even this "special" quote is a pre-pay offer which lasts only for two days. I tell him that there's still 2 weeks for the policy to lapse and it's up to me when I want to pay. Once again he cuts me off and starts saying that the policy will remain effective only after the expiry of the current one irrespective of when I pay (something I know) and that the offer is only valid for 2 more days. At this stage I ask him laughingly to tone down his anger. No response, no apology. And then I ask for some more time because competing companies are offering lower quotes.
He positively blew his top arguing that it's impossible for someone to offer such a low quote. I retort by telling him that he's offering me 19.6k to Honda Assure's 24.5k, and if they can undercut Honda Assure by 5k I'm pretty sure someone could undercut them by 2-3k if not 5k. After a short, heated round of argument I asked to be called a week later.
Very curtly, very abruptly, he just snapped back, "Sorry Sir, the offer isn't valid for more than 2 days. Bye.", and disconnected.
Big #FAIL overall. Tata-AIG can go take a hike. Is it fair to blame the company for #fail on part of one or two individuals? Maybe not, but this experience kind of shows what one can expect during claims/settlement.
I'm not exactly enamoured with Honda Assure. While they are very courteous and all, their premium is obviously way too high even with all of the special features one gets under Honda Assure (no survey for damages up to 20k, instant survey and TAT, bumpers and ORVMs classified as metals, better terms of depreciation on some other parts, engine oil/fluids and fasteners and nuts and bolts also insured in case of a crash etc.). On top of that, Pride Honda as usual tries to sell me everything *but* what I want.
So, the search continues. I'll try getting independent quotes from Bajaj Allianz and Royal Sundaram now.
Regards,
spadix