[Resolved]  Abn Amro — Fraud by ABN Amro Bank

Dear sir,

Ref: ABN – AMRO Bank Account No. 9140859 & customer Relation No is 1123765.

I availed a car loan in the year 2004. It is expected to be closed in this month. When I approached the bank at Banjara Hills – Hyderabad Branch in this month, I was surprised to note that a late fee of Rs 500 has been forced into my account. As the account gets closed in the month of July, we remitted Rs 500 in cash at the Bank counter.

Basically I am puzzled as to why a late fee has been levied when my monthly remittances were through Electronic clearance & there was no instance of shortage of funds at any time. When I enquired about it, I was given to understand that in 2004 in the month of April or so, it was cleared late &hence a penalty of Rs.500.

As that was the sole occasion when the EMI was cleared late by the bank & that I spoke to the bank officials specifically on the issue of belated ECS clearance, I now recollected the instance .

When the ABN-Amro could not realize the EMI up to 10th, I spoke to the Bank Manager at that time & enquired as to why the EMI was not cleared from my account. The Bank Manager simply replied that ECS has failed & that I may like to pay the cash. Since I have given an irrevocable undertaking for collection of EMI through ECS, I refused to go to ABN-AMRO & physically deposit the cash. As I was an Accounts officer with Indian Railways, I was aware that RBI has suspended the ECS for some of the banks who indulged in unfair practices in that month. It was with this back drop, I questioned the Manger as to why the bank was unable to realize my EMI even after 10days. The Manger coolly replied that it was a confidential matter. I again confronted him whether ABN-AmrO was one of the such Banks on whom the RBI has taken action. He replied in negative & the conversation ended.

Now, as a matter of principle I would request you to furnish me the following information.

1. To let me know as to why that particular EMI could not be realized in time when the funds were abundantly available in my account .
2. What was my role as a customer in the delayed ECS collection
3. Why a late fee of Rs 500 has been forced into my account for the failure of the Bank’s ECS mechanism.
4. For how many customers such late fee has been imposed in that month.

If I am right, I would request you to refund the money & If the Bank is right I may be advised of the reasons as to why a late fee has been imposed along with the above information & my role in the default process as a customer.

Regards
Lakshmi Annamraju