[Resolved]  Barclays Personal Loan — Misconduct of third party collection agencies

Address:

Bangalore, Karnataka

From,
JAMES PRASANTH WINSTON
Hewlett-Packard
Suhas Tech Park
Electronic City Post
Bangalore – 560 100

Sub: Issues regarding third party collection executives from Barclays Bank

Respected Sir/Madam,
I have a personal loan from Barclays bank approved in the year 2008. The EMI was Rs.2585/- which was being debited from my account regularly. However I had an ECS from Airtel which was my telephone service provider then and was later migrated to a different provider. So, I had to cancel my ECS with Airtel and consequently the ECS for Barclays bank also got cancelled as the Citibank informed me that both these ECS were using the same utility code. As instructed by the Citibank, I called up the customer service of Barclays bank on 29th October 2008 to send me an ECS form to which they never responded. Then I called up the Barclays bank once again during the last week of October 2008 to send a person to collect the EMI for the month of October 2008. They never ever responded to my request. In the month of January 2009, some of the collection executives visited our residence at around 8:30pm at night to collect the pending EMIs. My wife was alone at home and she was carrying and she told them to visit us when I am there at home. They started to threaten her and at last they agreed to come next morning. We handed over the pending EMIs of 3 months but they were not willing to accept it. They wanted the whole amount of the loan to be repayed immediately. We informed them that this is no fault of ours and we should not be penalized un-necessarily. They started threatening us and at last after a lot of argument they agreed with us to continue with the EMI to be debited from my Citibank account. They told us that they would be sending us the ECS form so that I can apply for the ECS for the same amount of Rs.2585/-. They never sent us the ECS form. We called up Barclays Bank once again on 9th March 2009 requesting them to send us the ECS form. The bank never responded. At last one recovery agent from WHITEFIELD area started calling us asking us to repay the entire loan amount immediately. We told them that it would not be possible immediately as we need time. They were not willing to listen to us and on 16th June 2009 they visited us at 9pm at night and they caught me by the collar and tore one of my shirts. The witnesses are my ex-house owner Prasad and my neighbor Chithanandan residing at No:86, 1st Floor, Shakkambari Nagar, J.P.Nagar 1st Phase, (Near Indira Gandhi Circle) , Bangalore. The recovery agents also locked the house from outside. We went to the J.P.Nagar police station and a complaint was filed on my behalf against the misconduct of the collection executives of the Barclays bank. There was a complete silence from the bank for quite some time even though we repeatedly tried contacting the bank to settle the account for us.

On 12th of June 2010 one Mr.Raj from Barclays bank contacted to settle the account. I told him that my mother is admitted to the Regional Cancer Centre at Trivandrum for the treatment of lung cancer and I will get back to Bangalore on 23rd and contact him. Even when I was in Kerala I have been getting threatening calls from the numbers [protected] and [protected]. Upon reaching Bangalore on the 23rd I contacted Mr.Raj and we spoke with regard to the settlement of the account. He told me he can offer a settlement of Rs.1, 40,000/- for which he had sent me as SMS as well. I said I can settle the amount as offered but I need some time as my mother is admitted to the hospital at Trivandrum for treatment of lung cancer. He also wanted my e-mail ID so that he can send a mail regarding what was spoken over the phone with regard to the settlement. I messaged him my e-mail ID but I never received an e-mail from him or the Barclays bank. I contacted him several times requesting him to send me an e-mail with regard to what was spoken on the phone. I did not receive any e-mails either from the bank or from him. At last I received an SMS from Mr.Raj[protected] stating that my settlement letter is ready on the 24th of June 2010. However when I enquired about the settlement letter yesterday, I was informed by the same person that once I visit him he will do the needful to get the settlement letter which is quite contradictory to what was messaged to me on the 24th. He asked me to visit the bank which is at St.Marks road. I could not locate the Barclays bank anywhere in St.Marks road. Immediately I called up the Barclays bank at Neelamangala (Phone Number[protected] and I spoke to the customer relationship personnel Mr. Raj there. He told me that the bank does not have any other associated offices or branches in Bangalore. I told him what exactly I was facing pertaining to my personal loan. He asked me to immediately contact the customer service at 6000 7888. Also he informed me to raise a complaint against these collection executives who have been creating problems for me. He also informed that I need to contact the customer service for any loan closure and the bank will send a letter or an e-mail with regard to the same. Upon acknowledging the letter, I would be instructed as to what exactly needs to be done with regard to the closure of the account without which I should not be depositing my money with these people. Such procedures were not at all carried out by the bank for the closure of the account. In the mean time I contacted Mr.Raj and Mr.Latesh to let me know my loan account number and they were not ready to provide me with the account number. I was getting threatening calls from Mr.Raj even on Sunday the 27th of June 2010 even when I was in church. In the mean time, some miscreants deputed by Barclays bank ransacked my house yesterday morning by 7:30am for which the photographs are attached. Also on Saturday the 26th of June 2010, I have been getting threatening calls from both Mr.Raj and Mr.Latesh[protected] and [protected]) till mid-night. Also Mr.Latesh had sent a SMS on the same day stating that “He knows how to get the money from me and he will teach me a lesson”.

I had one of my fixed deposits in another bank for which the DD was issued by the bank. Mr.Raj wanted the DD issued by another bank so that he can arrange money by discounting the DD. He told me that the Barclays bank is involved in such hawala for such a long time and he can arrange money immediately. I was wondering how such a reputed bank like Barclays bank can indulge in such anti-social activities. From then on he was threatening me over the phone to hand over the DD to him. I told him that I would not be doing so and he was very furious over the phone and was using hardcore profanity. The calls which he had made me after 11pm with profanity have been recorded in my mobile. He was continuously using the word “BLOODY” and other bad words over the phone.

Also these people who were deputed from Barclays bank hacked my facebook to get my contact details for which a complaint has been raised with facebook as well. I have been receiving friendship request from a person named JYOTHI.P.MARY in facebook which I ignored several times before. I received a friendship request from the same person once again during the last week of May 2010 which I accepted from where these people from Barclays bank could get my contact details and started to threaten me and my parents at Kerala.

I asked them their identity cards which they never showed me. Today morning two people visited my house early in the morning and they showed me their identity cards which belonged to some metro associates. I very clearly explained to them that I am willing to visit their office and get trapped. I believe that there is Supreme Court ruling which clearly states that banks should not involve in such “GOONDAISM” to recover the money from the customers. On this onset I am not at all comfortable in dealing with such third party recovery agent and instead I would like to get this settled directly with the bank.

Also I request you sir to provide me and my family with security against these miscreants.
Date: 29th June 2010 Regards,
James Prasanth Winston.
P.S

- Physical copy of the letter to the Police Commissioner, Bangalore
- E-mail and fax copy to the Finance Minister ([protected]@sansad.nic.in)
- Copy to Reserve Bank of India
- E-mail to Citizen Journalist, CNN-IBN
- E-mail to CYBER CRIME ([protected]@kar.nic.in, [protected]@blr.vsnl.net.in)
- E-mail copy to the Times of India ([protected]@timesgroup.com)
- Physical copy of the letter to the Circle Inspector, Electronic City Police station
- Physical copy of the letter to the Circle Inspector, Hebbagudi Police Station
- E-mail and Physical copy of the letter to Residents Association of PARAS MALLIGE