Comment by rlpb | Hacker News Reader

Comment by rlpb | Hacker News Reader

This looks interesting, but there are some questions I still have after reading your website. Perhaps you could clarify, please? Your website says:

> Verify yourself at any one of our partner branches across India

How do I find out if there's a branch nearby without downloading your app and committing to an unknown amount of effort? I couldn't find a list of your branches anywhere, but it looks like it would be a showstopper if there isn't one available. It's as if you're being evasive about how widespread your coverage is. Why should I invest my time if it seems likely that you won't have a branch where I need it, and therefore I won't be able to use your services at all?

For example: do you have a presence in the arrivals areas at major airports? If so, which ones?

In fact, it seems that your call to action is to download your app. But why would I bother to do that if I know I won't get anywhere without visiting a branch to get approval first? Assuming you have no choice about in-person documentation checks, it would make more sense for you to send prospective customers to their nearest branch, have their documents checked and approved there, and to provide wifi at every branch so that they can get the app up and running quickly - for example with a QR code or something generated by your staff when documentation is approved and an account created. Being asked to set up the app first, when we know we will be blocked on a visit to a branch, seems backwards.

Your FAQ says:

> Your passport and Indian VISA are required to open a tourist wallet

What about OCI holders? Are your branch staff going to be familiar with this case, or will it be a waste of time to show up with one?

> You can add funds to your tourist wallet via an instant payment gateway.

This is a non-answer. Is this through the app? Through the website? Through something else not specified? Are there any criteria that must be met? Or do you support adding funds immediately via credit card without any further review steps apart from the usual payment flow expected when buying anything else online? Because that's what I'd like, and this answer makes me doubt that this is what you mean.

Hey, answering the questions below

1) https://transcorpint.com/find-us => You can verify yourself at any of these centers across India.

We'll improve the site to directly point customers to appropriate verification centers (thanks for pointing this out)

2) OCI holders are accepted as well. Only your passport and OCI card are required

3) Add funds facility is instantenous. And is available in the app once you've finished the verification. You'll be able to add funds via any card, and instantly receive funds in your Cheq wallet for spending.

>We'll improve the site to directly point customers to appropriate verification centers (thanks for pointing this out)

You probably would want to co-operate with the SIM vendor offices at airports, they already do same checks if you want mobile data in India so might as well do it for UPI.

Is there any plan of having verification centers or online verification services in US itself ?

We will try to get permissions to kickstart verification services in US soon.

Doing the account opening process online would be best but isn't allowed under existing regulations.

I went over the list and IMO the omission of any verification center at the airport creates a huge friction in your app's adoption.

Just looking at the locations, it's a 2-3hr cab ride in Mumbai/Kolkata between the airports and the transcorp centers during rush hours, and 1-2hr trip in Delhi. Also credit cards are widely accepted at most places except roadside stalls, etc.

This service would be beneficial to visitors and NRIs (like me) if cross-sold with SIM cards or in currency exchanges at airports, otherwise I fail to see a valid use case due to the sheer inconvenience of having to take such a long cab ride in traffic. Also a lot of international flights land at night so visitors would have to dedicate at least half of next day to go verify their identity.

I was about to suggest this app to a friend travelling to India but quickly backed out after checking the location of the nearest centers.

It's a connundrum whether these centers are more useful at/near airports or city centers. I would think airports, and therefore someone travelling to Mysore wouldn't need to go to your Bangalore center, but I may be wrong.

If you don't mind sharing, what's the thought that went into these locations?

We don't have much say in the placement of these centers.

Transcorp has been operating from these locations since the last 20 years or so. Cheq is just hopping aboard.

We can also arrange for home/hotel verification to tourists. An agent will travel to your location and finish the verification.

However, this facility is only available in a limited number of cities across India and we're already backlogged with requests.

We'll work on improving ease of onboarding in the coming months for sure.

You guys shot yourself in the foot by using Transcorp. They only have a presence in Punjab and with a smattering in Haryana, UK, and Delhi.

The target persona who would use this is probably in the Indo-American diaspora, which skews Telugu, Malayali, Kannada, and Tamil - and that too a mix of larger cities and smaller towns (the South Indian versions of Moga and Ludhiana such as Coimbatore, Thrissur, Warangal).

In my experience, Punjabi NRIs are tech averse and tend to head directly to the pind where you can still use cash, or stick with Chandigarh/Delhi, where credit card support is mainstream.

Re-pivot to target the more tech aware Indian diaspora in the US - they would be more open to adopting a "random" app (not to dunk on you guys - getting into YC is amazing, but it doesn't have street credit outside the Bay Area).

This app looks great. As a tourist currently in India I am very interested.

Handing over my passport doesn’t bother me as most hotels ask for it and take a copy at check in.

However I am in Leh.

And your link above doesn’t seem to open on my phone here (Airtel SIM).

I hope you manage to make it easier to apply - sounds like a great idea.

> What about OCI holders?

Seems like you’re the one not in the know. The OCI is merely a visa.

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