OUR team talks money with working professionals. As part of this series, we spoke with a writer who never asked for an insurance policy but was given one.

NAME: Ajay Kaul
Age: 37
Location: Mumbai
Profession: Writer in the media space

The last year has been simply harrowing for me. I made a mistake. I answered a call from an insurance executive. I was in a meeting when I got the call. The telemarketer tried to explain details of some policy that would be charged to my bank credit card.

I told her I was in a meeting and could not take any decision at that moment. She said she would send the policy and its related documents in a week's time. If I was not interested in the scheme, I could refuse.

The policy did not arrive. And I forgot all about it.

A few months later, I realised I was being charged an EMI (equated monthly instalment) on my credit card. My card had been blocked for around Rs 10,000 from which they were deducting a monthly sum.

I called up to find out. To my utter shock, I realised I was being billed for that insurance!

I told them I had not received any papers and asked them to reverse all charges. They agreed.

A week later, I received a courier with all the policy documents (that were supposed to be sent to me much earlier, so I could refuse if I chose to). I didn't - and don't - want the policy!

Calculate: Your EMI

Read: Is your credit card quietly ripping you off?

Photograph: Associated Press/Damian Dovarganes

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