To RTO again for a Smart Card!

The other day happened to go to RTO again to help a friend in getting the NOC done. This time around, they are enforcing change over to Smart Card for any action thats being done for the RC book!!

Question is - now how do you know how the ownership count for the vehicle? I guess this is another trick for RTO to make some money - guess we have to go back to RTO file a form to find the prior ownership details! Or is RTO going to become hi-tech, wherein typing in the Car details / inserting the Smart card going to produce a report? I doubt!

Anyways - this made me think I should get a smart card for my car too!!

As usual stood in the queue couple of times to figure out the required documents. That apart, following is what you would need:

1. a RTO folder - typically sold in the shops below

2. RC Book

3. Copy of the Emission Certificate

4. A requisition letter in white sheet

5. Self addressed cloth envelop with Rs. 15/- stamp

Punch all the documents together and then file it in the folder

Submit this in the right counter [counter 8 for Koramangala RTO]. Once submitted, the officer mention the fee to be paid. I think it came up to Rs. 261. After paying the fee [counter 1 - in the other extreme of the building], one needs to get a sticker pasted to the application form from the near by counter. Note down the smart card request number - this would be in the sticker pasted on the application.

Submit the application in the appropriate counter and take the receipt.

Post this I waited more than month! Eventually went back to RTO and collected the smart card by showing the receipt! So ensure that you retain the receipt safe.

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Getting things done at Govt Offices! RTO Part-3

Eventually went to Indira Nagar RTO to get the final step of transfer done!

Missed out taking the photos at the first attempt :-( So went back again and stood in the queue after couple of days.

Another gentleman was standing behind me in the queue with the bare minimal documents. The officer went through it and told him the required documents. He was walking out and a tout told him he would get the work done in couple of days .. but would cost 2500/- Not sure what happened later - probably he got the work done with the tout!

I had to rejoin the queue 2-3 times since I was asked to pay 25/- at cash counter every time the officer went through my papers!! [basically I had to pay 25 per month since the time the vehicle was actually sold] The lady in the cash counter thought I'm stalking!! Had to explain her whats happening :-)

The procedure of submitting application was different in Indira Nagar compared to Koramangala. Finally to me it looked like, Koramangala was a bit more better organized!! The building too is worser or should I call it a dungeon, at Indira nagar!

Finally gave the documents and left the place hoping to receive the RC book by speed post within a month!!

Waited for an additional month .. still no news! Finally decided to go and check whats happening.

Today morning went to the RTO with all skepticism!! Went to the regular counter - not much crowded, he asked me to talk to the person in the next counter. And mentioned apologetically that he is not around and should be back shortly! Eventually he came, took the receipt, asked me to wait since his assistant was not around!

Finally his assistant turned up and took my file out!! Surprise! Surprise!! the work has been completed. Checked the date - it was completed exactly two months back!! I had no idea why it wasn't dispatched by speed post!

Anyways was happy to see the work finally done! without paying any bribe or commission to the touts!

So see .. things can work without using middlemen or bribe at a Govt office!!

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Getting things done in Govt Offices! RTO Part 1

After getting the Indemnity bond, was planning to attempt car ownership transfer. It was in the company's name and the EMI's had just got over. Car was hypothecated too.

Eventually got the car transfer document from work place after paying the residuals! All plans of buying a new car has been shelved for a few years since the recession set in doesn't seem to go away that soon!! Ok at least the EMI burden is going to be lesser :-) Or may be going to pay the EMI for overhauling / tyres et all!!

First Checked out FAQ's at http://rto.kar.nic.in/ to see the documents required for transfer. The office folks had indeed given me all the requisite forms. This included forms with crazy numbers, address proof and emission certificate [where are all those diesel emission certifiers?? I hardly find any in a stretch!! - has it become not so profitable? thought the other way].

Was on vacation - had finished a good trip to Munnar. Nothing much to do, so decided to go ahead and initiate the process for car ownership transfer. But eventually when I went there it was about 2:00pm. First observation is that the dark steps leading to the office was not filled with Shady agents and middle-men -> who previously would never allow you to enter RTO!! Was Surprised to see english board everywhere. No one at May I help you counter - probably is out for lunch.

Went around searching - offices had names that aren't very easy to decipher! Spoke to one of the officers in the counter - I was asked to go to hall number 11. Went there - checked out counter specific to the KA-01 registrations. There were only a few officials - one of them told me its the right place and I have to come after 2:30pm. Left the place to come back at 3:00. At 3:00 I was told I have to come in the mornings to submit the applications!! Was really frustrated - only then saw a board hanging right above there stating the same :-( if only I had noticed it among those zillion such hanging boards!

Eventually came back the next day - went to the counter. The person ahead of me was asked to submit a self addressed cloth envelop with 25/- stamp. So went around hunting for the envelope; went to a nearby post office for stamp and returned.

By then another friend too joined for the same purpose. We went and submitted all the documents to the PRO in that bay. She went through and told us, we can't do the transfer out there; we have to get it done in the RTO attached to the respective residential area! Mine happens to be Indira Nagar. But this RTO had to issue a NOC, for which only the RC book, insurance/pollution copies were required with a letter. There was no fee attached to this!! PRO attested our documents, and we left the docket [pinned together] to the clerk in the reception. We collected a small receipt too. This was 2nd of Jan, and the receipt said we would receive the RC book by speed post by 18th Jan!!

Left the place with some apprehension :-) .. to be continued

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Getting things done in Govt Offices! RTO Part 2

The date of dispatch for the RC book was 18th of Jan!! It was already last week of Jan and no news!!

Another friend who had given the papers with me visited the place to checkout! He was told that we had to give form-35 too to get this done!! They didn't notice that there was Hypothecation and hence didn't ask for the same at the first attempt. We could have caught this too if we had thought over. Basically Hypothecation cancellation should be

The initial procedure actually involved clearance of the application by an officer - looks like the officer missed out on this part. Btw, I like this concept since one of the most tedious things at govt offices is to get to know the application and the documents to be attached. This person acts as a good liaison on this part.

Meanwhile another senior personnel who was doing something got up and came to us to inquire why we are there for. After looking at my receipt, he said I had to wait!

So went back again to submit the documents. Reached there by 10:00 am. Couple of people were around - I should have checked with the person sitting in the back [typically seniors]. But awaited for the junior person to come. This junior person typically sits in the front desk and answers all queries. When he eventually came, (probably 30 mins late to the seat) he started working on the file pile on his desk. Was amazed to see that he was so efficient and cleared the whole set in about 20 mins!!

Then he took my receipt and said I have to talk to the senior officer sitting behind him!! I should have straight away done that when I came!! I was asked to pay 100/- fee for Hypothecation cancellation and then submit receipt with From-35 from the bank which hypothecated it.

After paying in the respective counter, came back and gave it to the senior official. I was asked to wait till the PRO comes and verifies the papers again. Waited another 20 mins. She never came. The same senior official came to PRO desk and cleared our papers!!

Submitted the same on 2nd Feb 2010 with all apprehension as to how many more days and waits it would take!!

Eventually it reached me by speed post on 8th Feb 2010!!

Not bad at all. If I had submitted all docs correctly, it probably would have got over in less than 30days.

Now - I'm heading on to the next stage with more confidence!! The car papers finally have to transferred to me at Indiranagar RTO!! Will keep posted ... :-)

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Getting Indemnity bonds!

This is that time of year to get the tax forms filled up at work! One of the requirement is to get a indemnity bond on a Rs.20 stamp paper. This is in case one of the spouses claim the tax for housing loan. Every year 150/- goes towards getting this done. Good revenue for the Govt! and the agent. First we pay 0.5% charges on the loan and then this!

This time too took the necessary doc on a disk to a computerized document agent in Koramangala BDA complex [near the typing agents]. Gave the soft copy of doc and paid 100/- as advance. He was to give it to me the following day - went off to vacation and came back to collect it. Surprised to see that he hasn't done the work!! Last time too he wasn't prompt, but I thought 1 week is good time. He had lost the document I gave too. Asked for the stamp paper he bought for me so that I can get it printed myself. He was charging 50/- for a 20/- document! When questioned, he gave back 100/- and asked me to get it myself if he can!! What a customer service! First he doesn't do the work for which he took advance and un-apologetic and now this. Wow!! is it some rocket science to get a document done?

Main issue always has been to get the stamp paper to print the document. Gov has come up with vague rules of supplying the docs! Once had attempted to buy it myself and was indeed complicated since I had to run around from one State Bank of Mysore to another - at times no one has!! Thinking about this, went to another shop [close to the Sagar hotel in the complex] to check out.

This shop had a Notary too! Notary asked me to get a plain stamp paper and get it stamped in the registrar's office 2 floors above! And I had to come the next day morning.

Next morning went there, he gave me a plain stamp paper for 5/- wherein the actual cost was 2/-. Wrote my name and amount on the top, handed over in the counter - was asked to pay 25 for a 20 stamping! Some one was already arguing and the officer was explaining we would get the receipt as well for the 5/- and that its official! I was wondering this 5 should ideally include the Rs. 2 paper and stamping charges. It was a saturday and hence crowd was less - else may be it would take 30mins+ ?

Came back after about 20 minutes, the document was stamped. Took it to the shop to get document printed for Rs. 10/- Eventually was notarized for Rs. 50/- A total cost of 90/- vs 150 with the previous agent. 60 is no big deal, but I had to go there twice and wait the same amount of time - so it makes sense this way!

So looks like things are better.

Today's newspaper, had the advt for e-stamping:

http://www.shcilestamp.com/FAQ.html

So next time you want something to be stamped following the above might be much easier - especially for Rental Agreement and other high value stamping.

For indemnity bond whats described above the link would be easier.

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Getting things done in Govt Offices!

Always had tried to keep away from Govt Office related work at Bangalore. Reasons being - the language [which i'm comfortable now] and the time it takes to get things done [perceived & heard].

This time decided to get couple of things done on my own. Its not that this is the first time, but may be after quite sometime.

1. Home loan joint declaration indemnity bond for tax purpose

2. Transferring the Car to my name from the Company [General opinion is that RTO is the most corrupt organization?]

3. Getting a Khata [BBMP]!

Previously had visited a Grama Panchayat office at Belandur, to get the property taxes paid. It wasn't tough at all. Luckily the form I received was in English. I did see the officer working hard to ensure that he collects and gives receipts for all the requests! Saw him being dumped with 100's of documents since that day was the last day to get 5% off! These documents were from Agents who work with Apartment Welfare associations.

Was only wishing these would be automated soon! And yes! the next tax payment was online and had to just give the previous payment receipt number. This happened in a span of 3 months [probably was under development for long time]. Anyways life is much convenient paying taxes online!

More on the following posts :-)

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