There is advertising. And then there is over-advertising.

I can live with the first one; in fact, I kind of like it because it is informative, sometime humorous or satirical and at times the best thing running on TV. By over advertising, I don’t mean irritating messages and recorded voices on phone. It is…..well…. not knowing when to stop advertising.

Confused? I was too. Here’s a short story:
Some months back I had decided to change my car insurance to another company, mainly because of the money factor. I called a couple of them and gathered estimates from 4 companies. Due to work pressure and pure virtue of laziness, I kept delaying the decision. During this time, two of these 4 companies kept calling me on alternate days asking if I was still considering their offer and giving me new incentives to purchase their policy. I didn’t find it irritating, its their job, that’s how they sell. I finally decided to go with one of them on quite a few of my friends’ recommendations. Everything went well and I received a Customer Satisfaction Verification call a month later. I told them I was completely satisfied with everything and yes I would recommend them to a friend.

Now I don’t think that insurance companies share their customer database with each other, but it is not unusual to receive mails from multiple companies saying that they can provide you with lower rates and better benefits. But to my surprise, I received an envelope from my insurance company marked Confidential. Here is and excerpt from this letter:

“Attention Mr. Oemar!! Your present insurance company may be cheating you by making you pay more for fewer benefits. Register with us to get the same policy at much lower rates. We guarantee complete customer satisfaction. Please do not discard this mail before going to our website www.xyz.com. Quotes available 24/7. You will not be disappointed”

Oh Sweet Lord!! My saviors are here to save me from themselves. What high conscience!! But to sum it up - Can I sue my present insurance company as they are anyway acknowledging that they may be cheating me? Or can I insist that they recalculate my policy at a much lower rate? Which brings me to my last question - Why was the envelope marked “Confidential“? The contents didnt say anything about their policies or give any of theirs or my sensitive data. Is it just the way things move in insurance circles - “Confidential”? Definitely makes it look more important.

I am, anyway, planning to reply to their confidential mail in my own confidential style - Handwritten Morse Code

To,
Dit Dat
Dat Dit Dot Dat
Dit Dit

Dear Sir,
Dat Dit Dot Dat Dat Dit Dot Dat Dat Dit Dot Dat Dat Dit Dot Dat Dat Dit Dot Dat Dat Dit Dot Dat Dat Dit Dot Dat Dat Dit Dot Dat Dat Dit Dot Dat Dat Dit Dot Dat Dat Dit Dot Dat Dat Dit Dot Dat Dat Dit Dot Dat .

Regards,
Oemar

Let’s see now who is more confidential. It’s On.