[Resolved]  HDFC Bank — HDFC Bank is asking for payment even after Settlement

Address:

Bangalore, Karnataka

I am posting my grievance here in the hope that something positive may happen before I file a complaint in the Consumer Court.

I had a credit card from HDFC Bank with card number[protected] xxxx. Due to some financial problems I lapsed in the payments towards the card. Since then, however, I was paying minimum balance until May 2009 when I was offered a settlement of my dues. A settlement letter was issued dated 21/5/2009 bearing reference number S 0482020 for a sum of Rs. 23,100/- payable in installments. As per the settlement I was required to pay Rs.5,400/- cash on the same date as the settlement letter and Rs.2,500/- monthly from June 2009 till December 2009 via post dated cheques. I have paid all the amounts as per the settlement letter. I have the stamped receipts for all the amounts paid and also the bank statement showing the debit of the amounts.

However, as soon as I paid the amounts in full, I started receiving telephone calls from HDFC asking for payment claiming that the settlement has been invalidated. The curios thing being, if I ask the reason for the invalidation they immediately disconnect the call or say something like they have another call coming in and will call back. The next time it would be a different person who will repeat the same behaviour.
Meanwhile I received a letter from their Advocate, Ms. Vidya and I replied in detail my position and attached the copies of the settlement letter and the stamped receipts. But no reply has come from her yet.

Further, I received an email from their Customer Service Officer, Ms. Mary Lopez. I again furnished details of my case along with the screeshots of my bank statment clealy showing the amounts debited to HDFC Bank.

Last month the bank blocked a sum of Rs. 13,666.43 from my saving account. I also received a letter from HDFC Credit Card Division's Legal Manager stating that I haven't paid my credit card balance. No mention of my settlement or my numerous correspondences with them was mentioned.
I have sent a letter both to the Legal Manager as well as the Branch Manager detailing my plight. No reply has been received yet although it's been a week.

Yesterday I received a phone call from one Mr. Sridhar asking for payment who claimed to know the details of case and again parroted that my settlement was invalidated. As soon as I asked the reason he claimed he had an incoming call and will call back. No one has called back yet.
I am finally exasperated with this most unethical and immoral behaviour of the bank and have decided to file a complaint against them.

However before I do that let's hope this forum will be of some help. I am willing to furnish all the documents mentioned above.