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ToggleIn November, Zopper kicked off an innovative campaign dubbed “India Gets Moving” in partnership with HDFC Ergo. This initiative offered customers the enticing opportunity to earn up to 100% cashback on their Apple Watch – making it effectively free for those willing to walk an impressive 15,000 steps every day (measured within a specified timeframe and based on the daily points accrued). However, the campaign has faced substantial backlash, as a significant number of participants claim their requests for cashback have been flatly rejected, causing considerable frustration and confusion.
The core of the campaign required participants to first purchase an Apple Watch and diligently track their daily step count, aiming for the ambitious goal of 15,000 steps over a set period. Upon achieving this milestone, customers would accumulate points over time, and upon meeting the requirements, they would be eligible to claim their cashback, bringing down the overall cost significantly.
Click here to learn the detailed mechanics of eligibility and the point system.
A troubling trend has emerged among participants who reported that HDFC Ergo was rejecting their cashback claims, even when they fulfilled their daily step targets. Many complaints indicate that participants were accused of employing third-party applications or allowing others to use their Apple Watches in order to artificially inflate their step counts. Participants have lamented the lack of transparent evidence supporting the denials of their claims. Reports highlight that even individuals who provided additional proof such as GPS tracking data and heart rate monitoring still faced rejection of their applications.
The frustrations of many participants spilled over onto social media platforms, where they expressed their discontent regarding the failure to receive their promised refunds, compounding their financial strain. A number of users noted that the responses they received from HDFC Ergo were often vague or non-existent, leading to a sense of being ignored or ghosted.
As reported by MoneyControl, HDFC Ergo has maintained that certain participants exhibited suspicious and irregular data patterns. The company asserted that their investigations uncovered manipulative practices resulting in the termination of policies and denial of cashback claims. They further noted that claims from those who adhered strictly to the policy guidelines would still be honored.
This ongoing situation has raised various concerns regarding the campaign’s legitimacy and transparency. Retrospectively, what initially appeared to be an encouraging initiative to promote fitness has drawn scrutiny over claims’ processing and the communication strategies of HDFC Ergo. Participants who joined with the hope of a rewarding experience are now left grappling with uncertainty and disappointment as they strive to navigate the terms of a program that many feel turned out to be less beneficial than anticipated.
The fallout from this campaign serves as a cautionary tale about promotional programs that hinge on strict participation metrics without robust mechanisms to ensure comprehensive and fair assessments of claims, guiding future initiatives toward more transparent and achievable outcomes.