FAQ

Developing an understanding towards anything before committing is vital, especially when it involves money. This understanding will be immensely helpful to us in the long run, and we will be able to make educated decisions that will in-turn reflect in developing our financial well-being.

We at MCPL, on a daily basis have encountered numerous situations where the customer needs help understanding certain aspects of CHIT FUNDS. We heartily welcome such questions. Below, we have compiled a set of frequently asked questions along with answers. Kindly make use of it.

What is a Chit?

It is a CONTRACT between the foreman, as the Promoter is called, and the subscribers, who join voluntarily. It is a Financial SYSTEM under which the periodical and regular savings of a group of subscribers are made available to each subscriber, a SPECIFIED AMOUNT every month (Installment ) for a SPECIFIED PERIOD.

The Pooled funds every month are offered to the subscribers at monthly AUCTIONS and the subscriber who BIDS for the highest DISCOUNT is declared the PRIZE WINNER and given the PRIZE AMOUNT on proper security. A Prized subscriber also should continue to pay the subscriptions till the termination of the chit. The amount foregone as discount, less foreman’s commission is distributed among the subscribers as dividend.

What is a Chit group?

A Chit group refers to a specified number of members agreeing to subscribe a specified amount for a specified period. For example, 40 members, 40 months, Rs.500/- a month. The number of members and the number of months are to be the same.

Who is a foreman?

Any person under the CHIT FUND ACT responsible for the conduct of the chit and includes any Person, such as branch manager, discharging his functions.

Is the contract of the subscribers with the foreman valid for an indefinite period?

No. It is valid only for the duration of a CHIT GROUP and until the liabilities of subscribers to foreman or vice versa are discharged or paid in full.

What is Chit agreement?

The Chit agreement is a contract between the foreman and the individual subscribers to a chit group. It is a set of bye-laws or regulations dealing with the procedure for the conduct of chits. It will be signed in duplicate, duly witnessed.

The chit agreements shall contain the name and address of the subscriber, the number of tickets allotted to him, the number of Installments and the Installment amount payable, the interest/penalty for delayed payment, the probable date of commencement of chit and its duration, the manner of deciding the prize winner at each Installment , the maximum discount to be foregone at each Installment , the mode and proportion of dividend and foreman’s commission, the date, time and place of auction, the Installment at which the foreman is to get the chit amount, the name of the bank, the security to be furnished by prized subscriber etc.,

Though each subscriber is supposed to sign the chit agreement, in practice, each subscriber signs a declaration in the application form that he has read and understood the terms and conditions of the Chit Agreement. The declaration of all the subscribers are detached from the application form, pasted in a piece of paper and filed with the registrar.

How are the subscribers enrolled for a group?

The subscribers have to fill in an application that includes details such as their names, residential and office addresses, approximate gross monthly salary, names of nominees and their relationship to them. They also have to sign the declaration that they have read and understood the terms & conditions of the Chit Agreement.

About the details of groups available

  • Details of groups available and other information as to the mode of auction and nature of security required are available the branch.
  • The security indicated will normally apply for one chit .If the subscriber holds more than one prized chit in the same branch or other branches of the Company, the combined future liability will be taken into account for the purpose of security.
  • The subscriber may select a suitable group depending upon his capacity to pay monthly and also on his ability to provide adequate security, immovable or otherwise.
  • Subscribers may seek the guidance or the branch in all matters.

Remittance of subscription

  • Subscribers must pay the monthly Installments on or before the due date either by cash or cheque or D.D to participate in the auction. Cheques should have been encased before the date of the auction for eligibility to participate in the auction.
  • Every month, immediately after the auction (within 7 days) intimation cards containing details of bid amount in the last auction, monthly Installment payable , any payable due, date of next auction, due date for payment etc., are send to the subscribers. no-receipt of intimation card will not be accepted as an excuse for non-payment or belated payment.
  • Failure to remit Installments in time by both prized and non-prized subscribers will entail forfeiture of dividend besides being charged interest as detailed in chit agreement. In respect of non-prized subscribers, default in payment of monthly subscription will disqualify them from participating in the auction.
  • Cheques form outstation subscribers drawn on any bank which is a member of Banker's clearing house only will be accepted at par.
  • If cheques given are Dishonored , future subscription will be accepted only in cash. Penalty charges by the Bank in respect of such Dishonored cheques will be recovered from the subscriber.
  • To facilitate subscribers, monthly Installments are being accepted in all branches and Service Centers in Tamilnadu even if the chit does not belong to that branch. Such a facility is only gratuitous. The Company however will not be held responsible if the remittance details are not received by the branch in which the chit is held from the other branch or service Centre where remittance is made before the auction date.
  • The facility of payment of subscriptions in a branch other than the branch where the chit is held, will not be available to defaulted prized subscribers against whom awards have been passed by the Deputy Registrar of Chits. If however such subscribers pays such amount in "other branch" such amount will be treated as only as "on account" and not relating to any particular Installment .
  • Subscribers are advised to give only "Account Payee" cheques in the name of the Company. Issuing blank cheques or Self cheques to our collection agents should be strictly avoided.
  • In the event of a prized subscriber receiving a notice under Sec.33 even though he had remitted the Up-to-date Installment in another branch of the company, it is the duty of the subscriber to produce such receipt to the branch where his chit is held and reconcile the matter.

What if the chair’s feet causes scratches on the floor.

  • Eligibility for prize money is determined by auction. In all auctions commencing from the 2nd Installment , subscribers can bid upto a maximum of 40% only. if more than one subscriber offers identical discount, the prized subscribers will be determined by lot. The bid amount shall be in multiples of Rs. 50. the minimum discount foregone shall be not less than the foreman's commission for the group.
  • The duration of auction will be 5 minutes. Specific time is assigned for each group on a specific date. If the auction date falls on a holiday or if owing to unforeseen cause the date and time have to be changed, such change of time/date will be notified individually and also in the branches.
  • Subscribers can participate either in person or through a duly authorized representative. Written Authorization is necessary.
  • The subscribers can also communicate offers in Writing in a closed cover superscribing as : "Bid offer to be opened at the time of auction only, for Group No.......... auction on ..............."
  • Telephonic/Telegraphic offers are not accepted. Original receipt should be produced at the time of auction, if cash payment of subscription is made on the date of auction.
  • The request for offer/ tender/ Inclusion in lot should be presented only at the branch in which chit is held.
  • Whenever a non-prized subscriber has given his chit under lien to another prized ticket, such non-prized subscriber can participate in auction only when the liabilities of the prized ticket are fully paid or alternative acceptable security is offered and the lien is lifted.

Subscribers who had given standing offers should ascertain the trend of bidding and modify their offers if necessary.

  • Distribution of Dividend
  • 5% of the chit value shall be deducted from the amount towards foreman commission and the balance distributed as dividend equally among all Eligible subscribers in all chits started after October 2008. The dividend will be adjusted in subscription for the next Installment As per the present policy four groups with 30,40,50 and 60 months duration will be floated by our branches.

Release of prize money

  • The prize money will be paid to the successful subscriber on a working day before the next auction date on the basis of adequate and satisfactory security, offered to cover the combined future liability of all chits held by the subscriber in all branches of the company.
  • Prize money will be released by "A/c Payee Cheques" only . If payment is desired through Bank draft by outstation subscribers, it will be obtained deducting D.D Commission provided a branch of the bank with whom the company is having account is functioning there
  • With effect from 01-06-2007 'Service Tax' is Levi able from the Prize Money received by every Prized subscriber at the rate of 12.36% on the foreman's commission for the Prized Chit. The rate is liable to change as per government orders.

Change of Address

  • Any change in the address of a subscriber prized and non-prized and Guarantors in the case of prized chits should be promptly intimated to the Foreman under acknowledgement. In the absence of such proper intimation the Foreman is not responsible for non-receipt of any intimation or notice from the Foreman in connection with their chit.

Suggestions

  • Subscribers are advised to keep watch over the trend of bidding every month and at a convenient point of time, they can bid the chit. There are opportunities for investing the Prize Money in attractive Company deposits to ensure a good return.

General

  • The above information is indicative of the broad procedure followed. For all Purposes, the provisions in the Chit Funds Act, 1982 the Rules framed thereunder and the Chit agreement will be final. Chit branches will provide you with all information required.

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