[Resolved]  Royal Sundaram And HDFC Bank Ergo — Car Insurance claim denies with Lame excuses

Address:

Karnataka

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am finding myself a victim of false selling of insurance with my car insurance. The insurance is provided by Royal Sundaram [RSM], my previous Insurer was HDFC Ergo. I need your help in taking it forward. Let me summarize the case as below.


Car purchased on OCT 2009 : Indica Vista : Bangalore registration

First Year Insurance : Royal Sundaram : Claimed Insurance for minor accident : Once
Second Year Insurance : Royal Sundaram : Claimed Insurance for minor accident : Twice
Third Year Insurance : HDFC Ergo : Not claimed anything :
Fourth Year Insurance : Royal Sundaram : Met with small accident, now i have issue with claims approval.

When I renewed with HDFC in the third year[15OCT2011-14OCT2012], I was told by the Insurance agent, that he will give No-Claim-Bonus [NCB] and bring the insurance premium amount to lesser. When I told him that I have made the claims in that year, he said, nothing to worry as I am switching the insurance company and he will manage it. So I was offered 20% NCB.

Fortunately there was no accidents in the third year.
In the fourth year, I renewed my insurance ONLINE from Royal Sundaram again on 12OCT2012 for the period 15OCT2012-14OCT2013. Here I was offered 25% NCB as there was no accidents in that year and also there was 20% NCB mentioned in my HDFC policy.

I met with a small accident in last week of NOV 2012. I gave my vehicle to service on 6th DEC 2012. They took 3-4 days, and the status was, waiting for approval.Then I called them up couple of times asking for status and why the status is same for so many days, and told them that I was in need of my vehicle as early as possible.

One RSM executive called up after 5 days and said the below information:

"I have wrongly claimed NCB from HDFC in my third year for which I am not eligible, so HDFC had gone back and checked that I have made the claim, so they have reduced mu tenure of insurance from 12 months to 10 months. So my insurance ended in AUG 2012 itself. Then while renewing my policy with RSM in OCT 2012, I have misrepresented the facts, so it will take some more time to decide about the claim, meanwhile if I need the vehicle urgently, I can go ahead and get the car repaired at my cost and once the dispute is cleared as who should bear the cost, he will pay if he has to pay"

I went ahead with repair work with my expenditure as I had no other alternatives, the cost came to Rs 16,900/-. I made the payment through DD in the name of the Car Service center.

I have asked the RSM as what about the insurance status of my car as of now, means if something happens tomorrow, who is liable? He said over phone, "now it should be alright, but I will have to pay the difference amount [ 25 % NCB - 20 % NCB, as I am entitled only for 20 % NCB ], and he will arrange for some one to take the photographs of the vehicle as the insurance was broken in-between, and it should be fine from now onwards". He said he will arrange for taking the photographs by his executives for and collecting the cheque for the difference amount. Till today he has not done so.

I have mailed to them couple of times to get
1. The exact reason in details for denying my claim
2. The official communication from HDFC that they reduced my tenure from 12 months to 10 months with whatsoever reasons.
3. My status of the policy from now onwards with the whatsoever conditions.
I have also requested them to take the photographs, collect the cheque [for difference amount] and issue me a fresh policy if required.

He is not responding to my mails. I have also complained to the IRDA, ombudsman of Hyderabad and Karnataka, but nothing happened.

Could you please let me know how can I initiate action against

a. HDFC : For reducing the tenure without my consent
b. RSM: for not approving the claim, For not keeping me informed about the status in time, for causing so much of Hassle and trouble for me, and for not verifying the documents in-time instead they waited for some accidents to happen.


Can I fight the case myself ? how can I proceed to get my car covered under insurance ? Which authority / court should I approach ?

Eagerly awaiting your guidance,

Dayananda
[protected]@gmail.com