PRIVATE non-life insurer ICICI Lombard General Insurance has introduced two add-on covers — Zero Depreciation and Consumable items — in its motor insurance portfolio. In case of the former, depreciation in auto parts will not be deducted from the claim amount payable to the insured. Other general insurers including Tata-AIG General and Bharti-AXA General Insurance also offer a similar cover. The other add-on promises to ensure that the claim amount is not reduced by the value of consumable items, which would be the case otherwise. This cover includes items such as nut & bolt, screw, grease, lubricant, air-conditioner gas, bearings, engine oil, oil filter, fuel filter and brake oil.
WE ARE all familiar with the anxiety and uncertainty that we feel when applying for a loan. After all, it's the lender who decides whether we can own our dream home, our first car, or whether our children can pursue higher education. In a nutshell, a better life depends on the lender's decisions. While other factors do play a part in the lender's decision, the Cibil Credit Information Report ( CIR ) plays a crucial role in a lender's decision to approve a loan application. Previously, lenders would treat all loan seekers equally. Each applicant, if approved by the lender's internal credit policy, would be charged at the same interest rate for a particular loan size and purpose. The lenders would charge a higher interest rate to all the borrowers, in order to compensate for the possible default of a small portion of the loan disbursed. In other words, it's like a professor (the lender) punishing an entire class (borrowers) for the mischief played b...
