- I Paid A Bribe
- 14 years ago
- 163 views
Bargained and paid money to pay money!
- Municipal Services
- Property Evaluation
- Paid INR 1,000
This would have been hilarious were I not a participant in it. I got the property evaluated, tax amount calculated and went to pay the money when I was told to pay up "speed money" in so many words. The wondrous thing is, this is expected by everyone in the whole damned department!
I was "helped" in understanding how this was helpful for me and how "reasonable" the going rate for the bribe was! I paid that amount and returned, only to find that I was fleeced even in that "reasonable" rate. I found out the exact amount the others in my apartment complex had paid. So, I went back to the office, bargained with the one who I had talked with earlier and got a refund of the extra bribe that I had paid. During this, the others office bearers in the vicinity began to reason with me that the rate was indeed correct. In effect demonstrating that this is the "standard practice" that everyone follows.
One thing that stood out is that ALL the people in the office were nonchalant about the subject I was screaming about. Not a single person was worried that this incident would get reported and they may face action.