LIC & Citizen Charter

All Insurance companies MUST be brought under Citizen Charter scheme, where, any communication sent by a policy holder to the insurance company MUST be replied within stipulated period of time, giving convincing reasons.

To understand, here is my case, as a case study, where LIC of India NEVER replied :

Many people working in LIC of India itself are unaware of policies under Table # 3 & # 5. These are some kind of “Term Policies” which were available all along, but were never recommended to anyone by the LIC agents due to small amount of premiums (leading to small amount of income for the agents)

Under these policies, the policy holder pays the premium for the complete duration of the policy. Once that time period is over, the Policy remains “Active” but the policy holder does NOT get any money out of it. Only after his/her death, the proceeds are payable to the Nominee registered for the policy.

I hold couple of these policies. Earlier, I had registered them on LIC website. But like most of the PSUs, when the website was revamped, all previous data was cleaned, and fresh registration is made essential.

So, before trying a fresh registration, I filled up separate printed forms for each of the policies, attached self attested copies of PAN and Aadhar to each form, and sent them to the LIC of India branch, where they were registered, through Speed Post. Tracking facility gave me the conformation that my letter with separate forms and attachments had reached the branch at the correct address which has not been changed almost for last 30 years and appears at LIC website even today.

No reply, receipt or acknowledgement for the forms received.

Before sending the forms, I had scanned them and had made PDF files for my personal records.

After waiting for over one year, PDF files made from scanning these forms and attachment, were sent as attachments to email sent to the same branch of LIC of India. Email did NOT bounce. No response.

If I try to register my Aadhar details at the LIC website, the reply received is “You cannot register this policy online. Please visit nearest LIC branch office”

If I try to register the policies on the LIC website, I am asked Policy number and premium amount.

I had paid last premium over a decade ago, and why should I need to remember it now?

What is the reason for policy holder to visit nearest LIC branch, other than asking for paperweight?

Likely solution :

About 15 years ago that all the bank accounts were linked to PAN cards when Aadhar did not exist. Subsequently, PAN & Aadhar were linked to each other and also to Bank account.

Why can’t LIC allow the policy holder to register ALL his/her policies by making either PAN or Aadhar as the reference point to collect the data, which may remove many hurdles for the nominee to collect the proceeds after the death of the Policy Holder. Name, PAN & Postal address are sufficient to identify the person, especially if self attested copies of PAN & Aadhar are submitted.

Main Question for LIC of India to answer :

If Policy Holder is making efforts to Aadher to the requirement, what is done by LIC of India in responding positively to help the policy holder get all his policies registered along with the details for the Nominee? How can the policy holder get assurance that after his/her death, LIC of India representatives shall NOT trouble the nominee for releasing the amounts due? (LIC of India is notoriously known for such trouble making)

Regulator MUST make LIC of India (and other insurance companies) responsible for after sell service to be provided for the policy holder, so long the policy is Active.

Jindagi Ke Saath Bhi… Jindagi Ke Baad Bhi
Becomes True, because…

Problems exist when one is alive…
Problems exist when one is dead.

Mera Bharat Mahan more