In a case of “breach of trust”, an insurance company official removed the car tracking device of a citizen’s car without bringing the act to his notice, not only jeopardising the vehicle’s security but also causing mental torture to the vehicle’s owner by putting his life to a possible risk.
Per details furnished by the complainant Dr Farhan Ebadat Yar Khan leased a Toyota Corolla GLI (LE-10-3754) for a term of five years; from August 2010 to August 2015 from a Dubai-based bank. The vehicle was ensured through EFU insurance company while the financing bank also provided the services of a car tracker through Falcon-i Tracker Company through EFU.
Talking to Pakistan Today, Dr Khan said that on April 9, 2015, he received a message from the bank offering extended tracker facilities. When Dr Khan replied in affirmative, he was told that he had provided an invalid registration number and that his car was not bearing a tracker at all.
Dr Khan said that he approached the bank and was informed that his tracker had been removed by a company official on January 26, 2015 and his services had been suspended despite the fact that he had been regularly making his instalments under the financing agreement which ends in August.
Upon contacts, EFU Insurance Senior Vice President Iftikharuddin admitted the mistake, however the bank authorities had no justification for such a removal of the tracker.
On April 14, 2015, Dr Khan said that the tracking company approached him for a new tracker however he had refused them. Dr Khan was told that the previous tracker’s wires remained connected with the car battery, which itself is a big risk and could result into possible short circuiting.
Demanding the termination of all financing agreement, following the cash payment of the remaining amount, Dr Khan said that he had sued the bank for damages to the tune of Rs 30 million.
The bank’s legal department and the insurance company’s official concerned were not available for comment, however a bank’s employee in the car financing department confirmed having received a legal notice in this regard.