[Resolved]  HDFC Bank — Debit Card Declined even when there was sufficient credit balance in the account

I wish to bring to your immediate notice that I am a holder of Savings Max Account with HDFC Bank at Aluda House, Chaura Rasta, Jaipur Branch, with a linked linked Debit Card to the account.

On Sunday August 16, 2009 I offered my Debit Card for authorizing a transaction at Merchant Establishment namely Jumbo Electronics, Triton Mall, Jhotwara Road, Jaipur, the transaction was declined even though the swipe/transaction value was much lower than the available clear balance in the linked account of my debit card.

The merchant establishment swiped my debit card on 3-4 attempts for a debit value of Rs.2550/- with the result of my debit card being declined every time on the swipe machine belonging to HDFC Bank Ltd. and alternately also on a machine by ICICI Bank as well without any success and same declined result. I have in my possession confirmation of the incidence in writing obtained from the merchant establishment.

It was totally shocking and embarrassing for me as I had sufficient clear balance in my bank account while my card was declined. It has greatly dented my stature and compromised my position at the merchant establishment outlet and in front of many people whom I know.

Upon trying to reach your phone banking numbers as given on reverse of the card it was found firstly the numbers have been changed and then upon reaching the new found numbers there was no mechanism to reach an assistant/officer and the call completely remained on IVR. However, I verified through the IVR that the credit balance in my savings account in excess of Rs.20000/- while the declined transaction value was merely Rs.2550/-.

It was so strange that you do not even provide a 24 hours assistance to the bank account or debit/credit card holders and interestingly the phone banking assistance doe not provide access to any officer/assistant in person and phone banking IVR reports that the service is closed post 8.00 pm.

However I had reported the episode from the merchant establishment outlet to the concerned branch manager Mr. Neeraj (Aluda House Branch, Jaipur) on mobile phone immediately and also notified that phone banking assistance is also not available. He promised to revert immediately but he never responded.