After much thought and deliberation my husband and I decided
to purchase a car. The difficulty and uncertainty of getting train tickets
impacting our travel plans was the main motivation. Initially we thought
used. Not a good idea according to
friends. Indians do not routinely maintain their cars. I began an Intranet search on the reliability
and pricing of Indian car makes and models.
On May 2 2014, the most auspicious day, Akshay Tritiya, according
to Hindus, my husband purchased a Fiat Punto 2014 from the Fiat dealership in
Haldwani, Uttarakhand. Our neighbor who my husband respects greatly actually
made the initial phone call. Her son is
good friends with one of the salesmen. She arranged for the Haldwani dealership
to bring the car of our choice to our home in Ghorakhal for a test drive. Though Fiat was not initially on our radar,
we liked the car better than any of the other car makes that we looked at. The dealership had just opened up the day
before. Since we their first customer,
they were motivated to offer us a good price.
At the time I also reasoned we would receive excellent customer service
in that they were building their business and reputation. We also thought we would be well treated
because of our neighbor’s recommendation and friendship with the
dealership. After doing a quick Internet
check on the car’s reliability we decided to purchase the car. We gave a good
faith down payment and requested that the car be brought back to the dealership
in Haldwani for final prepping and for remote door locks, seat covers and
backup sensors to be installed. After
everything was done, only then did we want to take final delivery. The salesman insisted that we keep the car
and then bring it in the following Sunday for all paperwork and installations
to be completed. We figured OK easy
enough. The salesman also said that
since we live in Ghorakhal he would assist my husband with the application of
getting his Indian driver’s license. My
husband has USA driver’s license. He
took a photocopy of my husband’s ID and 2 passport photos to start the
application.
Sunday we received a call to, “Please come Monday
instead.” My husband paid a driver to
take him and the car to the Haldwani dealership. On the way the passenger side mirror fell
off. The backup sensors were
installed. Six hours later the paper
work was not completed, remote door locks, seat covers were not installed and
the mirror was not fixed. Although
requested, my husband was not given a bill of sale, insurance or warranty
papers. He came home very disappointed.
At this point we were afraid to use the car even with a driver because
we are not sure if it was insured. Also
here in India there is no such thing as a temporary auto tag. We were informed the auto tag will be sent
later and may take as much as six months!
On 5/15/2014 a dealership representative came to collect and
was given the remainder of the agreed upon fee for the car. We were told in writing that a service
booklet would be provided by 5/20/14, seat covers installed, registration and
invoice mailed to us, by 5/20/14. At
that time, for some unknown reason, he took the car manual with him. On 5/21/14 the remote door locks were
installed at our home. On 5/27/17 the
seat covers were installed and a copy of the invoice was e mailed to us.
On 6/3/14 after multiple attempts to contact the dealership
in Haldwani – they did not answer their phone and calls went unreturned – as a
last resort, we contacted Fiat India informing them that we have no warranty
book, service book and manual and now we have an engine light showing and the
speedometer and odometer are not working.
As far as we can determine nothing has been started regarding my
husband’s Indian driver’s license. A
month later, he has started the process himself. Fiat India was kind enough to contact the
Haldwani dealership. Haldwani stated
that they will send someone to fix the car that day. I was elated that we seemed to be finally
getting somewhere. Our life has
literally been put on hold. We had plans
to travel extensively before the monsoon season. That cannot happen now. It is too late in the season and the monsoon
will soon be upon us.
Sadly, though not unexpected the person sent by the Haldwani
dealership did not show up and did not call.
My husband cancelled a Doctor’s appointment in order to be
available. The next morning after
another round of phone calls to Fiat India we were told that the Haldwani
dealership did not exist. Our car was
actually purchased from a dealership in Bareilly. The invoice also indicates
this. We had not noticed this
before. Thankfully, due to Fiat India’s
intervention, a person authorized by Fiat India did come that same afternoon to
complete the installations and fix the mirror.
At that time we received the rest of the paperwork. Our license plate will arrive in three to six
months we are told. That is a government
thing. However we can drive the car and
the car is insured as long as the driver has an Indian driver’s license.
Purchasing a new car is so easy in the States. You decide on a car, make a down
payment. A few days later you go pick it
up. All paperwork and prep has been
done. Final payment is made or financing done, you notify your insurance
company that day what make and model car you have purchased. It is instantly insured. The insurance company sends you a bill via
mail. The dealership issues you a
temporary auto tag. The permanent tag
arrives in the mail within fifteen days. Done!
