National Insurance Company — Tractor Insurance

Address:

Amravati Camp

We have been having our non-life, cars, tractor, health and foreign travel insurance, from NIC for last nearly ten years.
Our Tractor insurance expired on 05/09/20 but before that the local agent was reminded on 19th Sep and he ultimately collected a blank(normally we don’t do so) crossed cheque in NIC’s favour on 7th Sep after subsequent reminders and requests for corrections of wrong entries in the policy.
However we noticed that no mention of ‘no claims bonus’ appeared on the policy and we were charged perhaps full amount, for the past seven years that we have been renewing it.
I also requested the agent to change the cover from comprehensive to third party expecting it to be cheaper. However, to my utter dismay, I was told that payment by cheque, for ‘ third party insurance’ is NOT accepted by the company and it has to be made in cash. This is not at all acceptable due to various reasons besides doubts about clean dealings. We wonder how cheques have been accepted for every policy in the past and now also they are acceptable(as told) for comprehensive policies but NOT for third party insurance.
On careful scrutiny and comparison with our own car insurance we noticed that cost of third party insurance of a lighter(595 kgs), smaller, bodiless older tractor that hardly ever rolls out of the farm premises or plies on public roads is MORE than the cost of comprehensive insurance of our own costlier, heavier(laden weight 1800 kgs) and newer car plying much more on public roads and more prone to self/public damage.
Whatever may be business considerations this anomaly is rather serious as it is detrimental to farmer interest. Insurance providers and even IRDAI also appear blind about farmer vows and sharing top of the crowded bandwagon of their exploiters.
It is requested that contents of policies of numbers given above and at additional reference may please considered.
Necessary clarification/directions on the above may also please be given very expeditiously to avoid i)Limiting the use of tractor within private farm premises in absence of mandatory insurance, ii) Switching over to other insurance providers, iii) Approaching IRDAI or PMO or seeking legal recourse for claiming refund of overcharge.
In view of the above any damage to our interest as customer will be the responsibility of NIC.
Your favorable and fast action will be highly appreciated.
Regards

Faithfully yours
Vijay Deoskar