Artha Health Options — Unauthorised swiping of Credit Card

Address:

Karnataka

In the month of Oct, I was contacted by an agent of Artha Health and she promised me to have health check-up regular plans in nearest hospitals from my home like, Apollo, forties, Colombia Asia etc.. She mentioned that this package will cost me 1994/-. I have agreed to go ahead with this offer provided I am happy with the documents once I see the same, therefore requested her to send the same thru courier. The agent asked for my credit card number to block the mentioned amount and can send me the charge slip for my signature. She also mentioned that once I am happy with the proposal and sign the credit card charge slip, the money will be deducted from my card.

Next day, I got another call from some other agent of Artha and he mentioned that he has already swiped my card for 12000/- for upgrading it to gold membership. This person was rude and just not willing to listen anything and he was talking to me almost in threatening mode. I disconnected the call and called up Artha and asked for sr manager interference. Then another lady picked up the call and listened to my grievance. She then told me that she will fix this issue. Post that I have checked that no money was deducted from my account. On the same day, I searched on net and found many similar complaints from various customers in name of Artha, which further ignited my fear of being cheated.

Thereafter I started chasing Artha to send me the document to verify the coverage and credit card charge slip. In between I have observed that without even I signed the charge slip the money was deducted from my credit card. I called up my bank and lodged a complaint. The bank mentioned that Artha has an authorisation to swipe the card without having any signature on the charge slip. They suggested me to negotiate with Artha and asked them to refund the money.

Meanwhile another person named Rahul, called me from Artha and tried to sell a holiday package worth 4999/-. I asked him to send me a mail so that I can validate and decide. I received the mail and responded to him by saying that I will revert back later in the weekend.

After repeated follow ups finally I received the health coupons and TWO charge slips. 1 worth 1994 and other 4999/-. Moreover I found that except 1 master check up no other regular check-ups are covered under Apollo, Forties, Colombia Asia etc..So entire selling over phone was fraudulent. I called Rahul and told him that this is breach of agreement and I will not take up this service. He apologised to me and told me that within 24hrs he will send me a written letter which will cover the mentioned hospitals for regular checks. I returned all documents with the agent along with unsigned charge slips.

After that I have waited almost 48 hrs without having any communications from Artha. Then I have sent a complain mail to them stating this attitude as fraudulent and demanded return of money. I reached out to my Banker also and lodged a complaint against Artha for doing Fraud on my card. My Banker has immediately blocked my card to prevent further losses and lodged an investigation against Artha. I am waiting for the outcome of that. Whatever I have stated above has happened within past 2.5 weeks only..

MY ONLY REQUEST TO YOU ALL THAT DO NOT SHARE YOUR CREDIT CARD NUMBER ARTHA HEALTH OPTION.

I also request the consumer complain forum to help me in getting back my money and revoke credit card swiping authorisation from Artha to prevent further possibilities of occurrence of similar incidents. Let them do business based on Cash or Cheque transactions.