Mail News Service
Saraikela, Sept 10: With consumerism ruling the market, the need buds are enticed and people�s needs, especially those belonging to the middle and sub-middle classes, multiply. The desire to own the latest range of products from electronic to automobile take shape of pressing needs but cash crunch at the personal level prevents the acquisition of several desires. This is where financers step in to incite, to stimulate and then to dupe. Such financers of course do not include banks or other genuine finance institutions as their transactions are open and well and clearly documented, leave it or take it; it is up to the consumer and his budget. But there are these �hooded� financers who advertise with big dollops of loan availability only to pinch out the last coin and leave the man with big dreams biting economic dust. The agents of these hoax finance companies lurk around at a dime a dozen only to take the gullible �needy� for a ride. Unfortunately, such cases of mass swindling are not reported to the police resulting in these thugs going scot-free and carrying on their harvesting unchecked.
A case of an almost similar incident has come to light but since no complaint has been filed in the police stations, names are not being mentioned.
A resident of Mudia in Kolabira wanted to purchase a bike. He contacted a finance agent of Chakradharpur. The agent introduced him to another person, say X who claimed to be the area manager of the finance company. While discussing the finance terms, the intending borrower, say Y, was told that he could pick a bike of his choice and the finance company would get it for him at 50 percent of the cost. It was settled that the deal would be done while Y would have to pay the area manager and the agent Rs 5,000 as their commission. The agreement was sealed with a Notary�s signature and stamp.
So, last Monday, Y reached the bike showroom in Saraikela purchased a Splendour motorcycle costing Rs 77, 108. As per the agreement, Y had to pay Rs 38,500 (50 percent) for the bike and Rs 5,000 as commission. He paid Rs 43,500. The so called finance company area manager paid Rs 23,000 over the counter and Y gleefully took his Splendour motorcycle home. When Y asked the financer about the final deal, he was asked not to worry as his part of payment had been done and that the financer would pay the rest amount in four instalments. After that NOC would be given.
The next day, on Tuesday when Y went to the showroom to get his vehicle�s papers, he was stunned when he was shown the chart related to financing. According to the chart, the down payment was Rs 23,000 where as the rest amount was to be paid in 30 monthly installments of Rs 2,700 each. Y realized that he had been swindled of Rs 20,500 and he started to look for the so called agent of the finance company. The agent was located in his house at Burudih-Sini Morh. When Y threatened him of lodging an FIR with the police, the agent returned the money. As per information no FIR in the case has been lodged in the Saraikela police station till the time of going to press.
