CAR PURCHASE IN INDIA NOT AS EASY AS IN THE STATES

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!

WORLD'S LARGEST ELECTION

India is in the midst of the world’s largest election.  Staged voting began April 7th with 814.5 million eligible voters and will on May 14.  Since India won her independence in 1947 the Congress party which is socialist in principle has ruled the majority of that time.  That very well may change.  From what I have read and according to people I have spoken with, the country is in a mood for change.  These reasons are disillusionment with India’s direction, wide spread corruption, slowing economic growth, failing and lack of infrastructure, failing education and a lack of jobs.  Narendra Modi of the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) which is conservative in principle apparently is poised to win.

Voting began in our state, Uttarakhand today.  For a week now we have been hearing blaring mobile loud speakers roaming our village urging people to vote.   Today all is quiet. The market and banks are closed here on this first day of voting.  It seems the Indian military is on alert to quell any violence.  We have seen a lot of military helicopters in the sky.

INDIA, NOT A PET FRIENDLY COUNTRY

                                      We are Shera and Reshma.  My parents had to pay a bribe to get us out of these cages.

Dog and cat lovers beware.  India has changed her pet import regulations.  Previously anyone with the required veterinary health certificate and No Objection Certificate - NOC could bring two pets with them while visiting or relocating to India.  This has now changed.  In order for a family to bring their pet they must be relocating to India permanently and must have been gone from the country for more than two years. 

This change was brought about by Maneka Gandhi, India’s Prime Minister to prevent breeders bringing in dogs and cats as personal pets when in effect they were being sold in avoidance of obtaining the proper import licenses.  She is quoted as saying by the Times of India, "We are flooded with dogs, except those needed by government agencies or brought by people on or back from foreign transfers, the government has to put a stop to the import of all dogs."

This in no way addresses the problem.  According to The Hindu Times large numbers of pets can still be imported with a permit issued by the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying or with an import license issued by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade. It does not address the huge problem of India’s overabundance of homeless street dogs.

Ms. Gandhi seems to expect us to adopt India’s street dogs rather than bring our pets who are in every sense our children with us.  Does she want us to leave our human children behind and adopt India’s homeless children as well?  She seems to despise people that prefer a pure bread dog or cat.  I for one have always had a Toy Fox Terrier in my life.  I love the breed and their big dog temperament as well as looks and portability.  That is my choice.  We had intended to adopt a street dog, but now I don’t think so.  I admit I am still angry at how we were treated by the Delhi air cargo authorities and Dr. Chiro Mitra, our pet relocator. http://www.indiapetrelocators.com/pet_import_india.php

What this does do is cut down on tourists that would otherwise visit India with their pet and spend their dollars.  Worse it causes Indian citizens who have not been gone for two years to abandon their pets in foreign countries or abandon them here knowing they cannot bring them back into the country. .  My husband and I had fully intended to relocate here.  India has proven to be very pet unfriendly.  We spent a large amount of money including bribes to extricate our pets, children from the Delhi cargo when Dr. Mitra fraudulently extricated money from us and did not fulfill his obligations as promised. It seems India does not realize we and other expats help bolster their economy with our dollars. While here, we employ several people and have provided for their children’s education as well as other family needs. 

From what I have been able to discern we can bring our pets back and forth with the NOC that we have.  From this experience, I believe it will be very emotionally draining, costly and risky.  This has left a very bitter taste in my mouth.  I don’t think I can ever look at India in the same way.  At this point I sure don’t want to relocate permanently or invest here.  There are other countries out there with better infrastructure that desire the expat dollars, make it very easy to relocate with your pets and are closer to the USA.

RETURN TO INDIA, NOT WHAT I EXPECTED

OUR NEW BABIES, RESHMA AND SHERA

We are back in India safe and sound with our new family members, Reshma and Shera, Toy Fox Terriers. Not a fun or easy trip to book or make.  We did not know we were going to have puppies again but after Katie and Nanhki’s death, we found we missed having the joy of dogs in our lives. 

United airlines has a Pet Safe program.  They told me no problem taking the pups as excess baggage in their environmentally controlled pet cargo area but had to change our ticket to allow more time in Newark for the comfort of the dogs to potty and make the India connection.  They made the change for me at an additional $160.00 for the change.  However I had to book their tickets through the United reservation desk.  When I did they said the plane was too small for them to travel in the pet cargo, but they could go under the seat to Newark in a soft pet carrier.  I was told to bind their hard pet carriers and send it as baggage.  Ram and I were allowed a total of 4 cargo bags so I would not have an extra cost there, but would have to pay an additional $125.00 for the dogs to go under the seat.  This turned out to be not true.  We had to pay and additional $100.00 to take the crates as excess baggage.  When we got to Newark Pet Safe told me we should have had the carriers sent to them and they could not retrieve them.  They were nice enough to give me a set of used carriers they had.  I was fearful the pups would be stressed.  At home they sleep in their crates and feel very secure.  We did have time to walk the pups in order for them to do their business. They do have a nice dog run.  

  

When we arrived at the baggage claim in Delhi, no pups.  Dr. Chiro Mitra our Indian pet relocation liaison informed us that somehow they were transported as unaccompanied pets and sent to the cargo hold.  There, they would be fed and watered.  Ram could pay-bribe the person on duty 8,000 rupees - $132.00 USD to get them that night or wait until the AM.  Dr. Mitra first said he would help us.  He suggested he drop me and the luggage at the hotel and then take Ram to the cargo holding area.  When we got to his car he demanded payment.  This seemed reasonable because he explained when we contracted with him that there were fees that he would need to pay.  When we got to the hotel he said that it was late and the paperwork would take several hours.  He gave us the contact person’s name and phone number and there would be no problem with Ram getting the dogs and left.  Ram immediately had a bad feeling.  He went to the cargo area.  The person in charge demanded money.  Ram said, “Not until I have my dogs.”  The dogs had not been fed or given water.  We had sent food secured to their carriers. Ram was permitted to feed and water and play a bit with them, but was not permitted to take them even though we had all the documentation and the required No Objection Certificate.  He could get them tomorrow, Friday at 10:00 AM.  If he did not get them then, we would have to wait until Monday.  Upon hearing this he was frantic thinking the dogs would be stolen.  There are no Toy Fox Terriers here in India that I could find as it would have been easier to get them here.  The dogs started howling when they were put back in their crates.  We did not sleep that night.

Ram went back to the cargo alone 9 AM Friday.  He said the bribe would go up if they saw my white face.  At 1 PM I was told to join him as some of the documents had my name and they needed to see me and my passport.  Upon my arrival a stern looking woman and four men demanded my ID.  I handed over my Passport and PIO Indian visa.  I demanded to see my pups.  After much conversation in Hindi I was taken to a large nonclimate controlled cargo area.  I realized my pups had had a cold night.  They were brought up closer but we were separated by a rope and guard.  I asked to go closer.  He reluctantly agreed.  They immediately started crying and jumping around.  Their doors were locked with a plastic fastener.  I asked to hold them.  The answer was no.  I could only stick my fingers in to touch them.  I broke down and sobbed.  By now, except for the time Ram was allowed to take them out, they had been their crates for over 33 hours.   A larger crowd of cargo employees gathered.  I am sure this was to insure Ram would pay top rupee to get them out I heard more conversation in Hindi.  Later Ram told me that we were leaving.  They wanted more money than he had.  I told him and them and I would not leave my dogs.  I am sobbing hysterically.  I pulled off all my jewelry including my diamond wedding band and handed it to Ram.  I told him to give it to them.  A guard told me to calm down. He handed my jewelry back to me and told me I would get my dogs but it would “take some time”.  Then they wanted the original NOC.  We told them we were only given copies.  I was finally allowed to hold my pups.  They went nuts licking my face and wagging their tails uncontrollably.  Ram called Dr.  Mitra.  Forty Five minutes later he arrived with the original NOC and left quickly.   I was asked to sign several documents.  Finally at 4 PM exhausted, Reshma, Shera and I were allowed to go back to the hotel.  Ram said that he was going to wait for Dr. Mitra return to the cargo.  He owed the customs officer unpaid fees.  While waiting for Ram, I let my pups out of their urine and feces soaked crates.  I put together their own crates, knowing I would put them in until our trip home to Ghorakhal and only for their safety.  They did run in and out of their own crates.  This has always been a place of security for them.  Later Ram came back to the hotel.  Dr. Mitra never showed.  Ram will wire the fees owed.   Ram said the stern lady had asked him why he married a white woman saying he should have married an Indian.  He explained that after his first Indian wife died, he at the age of thirty did not want to marry an eighteen year old Indian who would also want children.  The guard had remarked that our dogs have a better life than his sons.  “Your dogs get to ride in planes and go to foreign countries.”  I think we are very lucky we now have our pups. 

We are now home in Ghorakhal.  This event has given us both second thoughts about making India our home.  I will never leave this country thinking I can get our dogs back in.  I know here the bribe is the expected way of doing business and business men are often corrupt.  Dr. Mitra sure left us high and dry.  This has put a different face on everything. 

2013 REFLECTIONS

2013 was an extraordinary year for my husband and me.  We arrived in India in January 23.  Except for a few short visits to spend time with his brother, my husband had been gone for 40 years, I had never been.  We went to explore the possibility of outsourcing our retirement and to reconnect with family.

I think the culture shock was more difficult for my husband because of his childhood memories of India.  The most difficult was seeing the intrusion of American companies and women wearing provocative  western wear.  He was very surprised seeing the expanding Indian waistline.  He has a saying, “America is leading the way down the toilet and the rest of the world is following.” Growing up, plastic packaging did not exist.   The family had a compost pit and recycled everything.  Today India's use of plastics along with poor garbage management has resulted in a huge problem that is getting worse now that disposable diapers are starting to be widely used.  To my surprise, I think I adjusted quite well.  I expected the chaos of traffic, poverty, and overcrowding, intermittent electricity and knew that there would be things that did not always work well. 

We rented a cottage, which is really an apartment according to western standards, located in the Himalayan Mountains.  The weather has been always comfortable for the most part.  The area is still uncrowded and relatively clean.  We thought seriously about buying a house or land to eventually build. Looking back, I am surprised how much I have changed.   I left my western clothing in the States and embraced the Indian culture.  Many have told me that this has brought me respect and my efforts were appreciated.  Some have said “you are more Indian than I am.”  I have gained a sense of peace and well being.

Last year much of our time was spent learning how things work and often times do not.  We found that we like living in India but fear that this will not always be so due to the growing population and lack of infrastructure.  India’s land area is 1/3 the size of the United States and by the year 2020 it will be the most populous place on earth.  So far, getting around in India is not easy.  In many places the roads are very bad and getting worse.  One must book a train ticket three weeks in advance and then you are on a waiting list for the ticket.  Sadly, I do not see how things can improve.  Corruption is rampant and it is the expected way to get things done.  When India gained her freedom from the British she chose a socialist  form of government.  India now realises  that Socialism does not work.  However, turning back from Socialism has been very difficult.  The Indian government is so big it can’t get out of its own way.  The railways, many banks, airports, electric companies and other business are government owned.  Since the government worker’s paycheck and job are not dependent upon performance customer service is almost nonexistent. Inflation is another huge problem.  When we arrived in January, 1 US dollar equalled 54 rupees, now it is 62 rupees. For these reasons we cannot think of investing in India any time soon, if ever.

Even with all of the chaos and uncertainty we do love living in India.  Economics is one big reason.  Health care is very affordable and accessible in a lot of places.  We enjoy a good lifestyle including a full time cook/housekeeper at a very affordable price.  When we are in India, even with all of the fixed expenses we have in the United States, we save $2000.00 per month. The Indian people are also another reason.  They are friendly and try to be helpful.  Take a walk, say namaste and soon you are invited to tea, and  later after tea, "Please come and stay with us when you are in Delhi."

We came back to the United States November 26.  I did not expect to feel a reverse culture shock.  The first thing I noticed was how expensive groceries are and how limited really fresh vegetables are.  Both Ram and I have lost 35 pounds, without trying due to our Indian diet.  I find it hard to duplicate here in the states.  There has been a huge learning curve learning to cook Indian on an electric rather than gas stove.  Things just seem more complicated here, the uncertainty of health care, taxes and insurance and the feeling of how do we hang on to what we have.  It breaks my heart to witness America’s continued decline.

All in all, it has been good to be back in the States.  I enjoyed seeing family and catching up with old friends.  It’s nice to be able to jump in the truck and go where we want to go, when we want to go, and no planning, good roads all the way.  Yet, I miss my life in India.  Next year we will travel more and see more of India.  We go back in April.  

VILLAGE CUSTOMS

In Rahmatpur, my husband’s ancestral home the old ways are still observed and respected.   It is very much a patriarchal society.  Married women wear a sari.  Brides cover their head and hide their face from all males older than their husbands.  The married women of the household bathe and dress early in the morning just in case a visitor arrives.  The village is still talking about the scandalous bride that dared to visit the village two years ago wearing a salwar kameez.  As far as I could tell there is no dress code for the men.

The head of the household routinely receives visitors on the front porch.  Ram informed me it would be better for me to remain inside.  If he wanted to introduce me, he would bring his visitor inside to meet me.  The women visit together inside the home and enjoy drinking chai (tea).

 

Ram chatting with  a neighbour.

Ram is getting his nails clipped from the third generation barber.

Bahurani Purnima told , me I had to get my toenails painted.  She said I had no choice and it was expected.

This lady is also a barber that will paint my toenails.  She is grandmother to Ram's barber.

I did d not know toenail painting included most of my foot.

At least I am in good company.

These two barbers serve all of the Singh family in the village.  Each Singh household pays for their services with grains and other farm products. Because our family seldom visits we also gave them money and saris.

I am now ready to receive visitors.

These are two of my bahuranies (daughter in laws) on my left and my sister  in  law  to my right.

More family.

RAHMATPUR VISIT

I have enjoyed hearing about my husband’s childhood growing up in Rahmatpur.  Now I have finally been able to visit myself.  The original house is no longer there.  We stayed in the home built by his late brother.  The house plan was designed by my late sister in law and was modelled after her father’s home. It is built on three levels around a center court that is open to the sky.  It has been empty for many years.  The wiring and light fixtures were stolen.  We rented a generator to run some lights and fans and brought our drinking water from Patna.

Front porch

First floor.  The centre court is open to the sky and surrounded by a covered walkway which is surrounded by separate rooms, four bedrooms a bathroom, kitchen and indoor water well.

Two twin wood bed frames were put together and covered with quilts.  This became the formal gathering place for the women during the day and the grandchildren’s bed which was covered with mosquito netting at night.  Bahurani Purnima is quite comfortable with our son Keshar standing.

  

Our bedroom.  The bed was wood covered only with quilts.  I wished I had my camping air mattress. Misquote netting was added at night.

Kitchen

Indoor water well..  No we did not use this water.

                    Second floor.  Here there are two bedrooms, two bathrooms, storage rooms and a large balcony.                                             

Second floor

This bench is on the second floor covered walkway.  My late sister in law enjoyed drinking tea and visited with her lady friends here.  It would have been covered with a quilt. 

Second floor

View from third floor.  Here there is a smaller balcony and more storage..

Another third floor view

My apology for the amateur look of this page.  Blogger has done something to this site.  It is impossible to set the margins.