Year / 2019

by Nirupam Biswas

ServiceNow: Setting up Zoom with Notify

Disclaimer: The information presented here is unofficial and is not endorsed or supported by ServiceNow. This has been published here in good faith that it can help someone.

First ensure that you are at least on New York release Patch 1 and Notify is installed there (ref).

Next you need to install two Store apps :-

  1. Zoom Spokes – https://store.servicenow.com/sn_appstore_store.do#!/store/application/5192d6d90b4233006237818393673aea/1.0.2
  2. Notify Zoom Connector – https://store.servicenow.com/sn_appstore_store.do#!/store/application/613f88810b0233008e64aabcb4673a50/1.0.3

Now follow the video below.

Instruction video

The video should be comprehensive enough to get you started.

Known issues:

  • The Zoom integration will not work when run as non-admin user (PRB1360915) – The workaround is to make use of the Zoom integration as admin user at least once. Make sure to Create/End Conferences, Add participants to it, etc. The issue is that all Zoom Spoke Actions need to be run as admin at least once. When done then you can use it normally without admin privileges. This issue has been addressed in Orlando and will probably be backported to some New York later patches.
  • Misleading error message when OAuth expires (PRB1360395) – If the OAuth has expired or has not even been fetched, then trying to use the integration will show an error like – ‘Meeting host must have a valid Zoom account’. The issue will be fixed in next version on “Notify Zoom Connector”. Current version is 1.0.3.

by Nirupam Biswas

Applying for Mutation of resale property in Hyderabad

Typically for buying a resale flat you goto the Registration Office which transfers the title to your name from previous owner. This process is known as Registration. However, you also need to update Municipal records. This will ensure the next Property Tax demand slip is generated in your name and not previous owner. This process is known as Mutation.

As per information online the Mutation process is automatically kicked off when you do the Registration. In fact the Registration Office do collect the fees of Mutation at that time.

In my case however, after waiting for many months nothing happened and then I raised grievance with GHMC. After about a month I got reply from GHMC that I needed to submit some documents to kick off the Mutation process! I did not know about that. The internet was silent on this. The Registration Office also did not say anything like this while collecting the fees for Mutation. This post is to bring awareness about it and help hapless citizens like me.

You will need the following documents :

  • Your Sale Deed copy. All pages of this needs to be notarised or attested by a Gazetted Officer.
  • The previous owner’s Sale Deed copy. All pages of this needs to be notarised or attested by a Gazetted Officer.
  • Last Property Tax paid receipt copy.
  • Copy of DD which was used to pay Mutation fees.
  • Copy of challan copy of Registration fees.
  • One Rs. 20 Stamp Paper. (Higher denomination Stamp Paper will also do if not available.)
  • One Rs. 50 Stamp Paper.
  • If the property was registered more than three months back then you goto Registration Office again and get the current market valuation certificate of your property. If the market valuation has increased then you will need to prepare a DD for Mutation fees of the difference amount.
  • You will also need EC (Encumbrance Certificate) from Registration Office or MeeSeva for your property.

One Stamp paper was left empty and I forgot what was printed on the other one. The notary guy will know what to print. Let him know it is for Mutation application.

You will then need submit these documents at GHMC office’s Mutation section along with a filled up form which you will get there.

Below is the location of the municipality office at Chandanagar. The Mutation section there is on the first floor. Goto first floor then from stairs take left. Go in and straight in. At the end goto the corner office at right. There should be a paper label marking the Mutation section. The main official in-charge sits right at the room’s entrance. Nice guy. If all documents are in order then it is a 10mins job.

by Nirupam Biswas

Calculating Amortisation Schedule of your loans

Be it home loan, car loan or any other loans; they all have same style of calculation. These calculations are non-trivial and it becomes more complicated if you are going to make some prepayments.

To make it all too easy I have built an app to do all the hard work for you. You will get insight into how much interest money you are really paying on your “low interest” rate loans, and how a small repayment early can save you big money. Also it gives you visibility into exactly how much interest vs principal you are repaying on your each EMI.

If you are new to this then the last statement might not be very clear to you. Each month you pay a fixed amount as EMI (Equated Monthly Instalments), however, each of those EMIs pay off part of the principal amount (the loan amount you borrowed) and part of the overall interest amount. The interesting thing is that percentage principal and percentage interest amount you pay in each EMI is not fixed. Towards the start of loan period the interest part is more and the principal part is less, as the loan progresses their ratio gradually progressively approaches 1:1 near the mid of your loan tenure then it flips and your principal ratio becomes more than your interest. Eventually it is only principal which is left; at which point the loan is fully repaid.

That is why making lump sum prepayments towards end of loan tenure is not too beneficial as you are only repaying the principal which anyway you need to repay. Where you can save on, is the interest part. Always keep in mind the amount of interest you are paying is directly proportional to the amount you loaned and the time you are taking to return that amount.

Play with different values in the calculator below and notice the pattern in the graph.