Denying the compensation to the owner of an Audi Q5 the State Consumer Commission directed a leading insurance company Bajaj Allianz General Insurance Company Ltd to pay Rs 15.14 lakh claim along with 9 percent interest and also awarded Rs 50,000 compensation for harassing the consumer.
As per information, the complaint was filed by M/s Mumbai Goods Transport Garage through its partner S Gurlal Singh s/o Kapoor Singh Tuli against denial of the claim made towards repairing the damaged car which met with an accident and repaired at authorised garage. The comprehensive insurance policy was purchased on May 29, 2016. On June 13, 2016, at around 11 o’clock, son of the complainant Ravinder pal Tuli met with an accident and the Audi sustained huge damage.
After the accident, the complainant on the advice of the police called the authorized dealer to lift the car after spot verification of police and also conducted the assessment of the damage of the car but despite this, the insurance company delayed the inspection of the car for no reason. The complainant contended that though he had lodged the claim with the Bajaj Allianz General Insurance Company, the same was delayed and thereby the complainant suffered mental trauma.
The complainant alleged that the insurance company illegally repudiated his just claim and charged it with indulging in unfair trade practice and claimed that it is also guilty of deficiency in service, seeking settlement of claim, and compensation towards depreciation of the car. The insurance company categorically denied that the Audi Q5 in question had sustained damage due to an accident. On the contrary, the insurance company charged the complainant with giving delayed intimation regarding accident without providing any documents, in violation of terms and conditions of the insurance policy. The State Commission after hearing both the sides noted that complainant-consumer was entitled to insurance cover and had paid premium worth Rs 1.03 lakh for period from May 30, 2016 to May 29, 2017.
