• I Paid A Bribe
  • 10 years ago
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Marriage certificate bribe

Reported on October 27, 2014 from Bangalore , Karnataka  ι Report #45970

My friend had sent me here saying 60 bucks was the fee for the form and he was asked to pay Rs. 60 extra. I went on a Monday thinking probably things have changed now. Me and my wife went to the office and are looking around for help. There was a note which said ask the help desk if you need assistance but frankly there was no title on any of the tables claiming that it was the help desk. However we managed to ask a guy who told us to get a copy of the form, make 2 photo copies of it and fill it and submit it. A guy from across the table gave us a form and asked us to get two photocopies of it and fill it. We did and got it to him. He directed us to another guy, to take our 'case' forward. He did, got our forms and proofs verified and got it stamped from the officer and made me stand near the guy who types and prints the forms. Then i was asked to wait outside with my wife. After sometime the guy who took our case forward came and asked us how much the first guy had quoted to us. We said he didn't say anything. Then he took us to the first guy (the guy who gave us the forms). He said to the second guy to take 1500 from us. To this we said it's too much and we cannot give that much. Then he said they generally take 5000 for marriage certificates and said they'll bring it down to 1000. They told me a big chunk goes to the officer and they get very little. All this having the marriage certificates in their hands in front of us. I told them i just had 500 in my wallet. They said they'll wait till i go to the atm and get the money. I had no choice. I paid a bribe.
The guy who took the money was cribbing all the while saying he'll get very little from this.

Later i came to know even after i sat with the guy who types and prints for correctness of names and addresses, the actual print comes from a different software. And this guy had made a mistake while copy pasting. I went again the next day hoping to get it corrected to which i was told there is nothing that can be done. I paid a bribe to get my marriage certificate with mistakes on it. Well, I deserve the loss of money because i folded.

I've chosen the anonymous option as this is my first time and frankly I'm a little apprehensive and afraid.

What is your reaction after reading this report?