HSBC Credit Card — Membership Fees Charged

I was working in Quinnox Consultancy Services, Pune. HSBC Software Development Pvt. Ltd. outsources its Testing job to Quinnox. Since, HSBC is Quinox's client, we were offered a Credit card from HSBC with NO CHARGES whatsoever due to "special tie up" between Quinnox and HSBC Bank, India. I had taken a Credit card for self, also, an add on card was provided "free of charge". I was told that after one year you will receive calls regarding satisfaction of the product.

I opted for the card as it was free and carried no liability. The subject of membership fees was mentioned in the documents along with the card, but the agent who provided me the cards told us that these fees are applicable to normal customers not to "special customers".

No calls came to me from HSBC and no SMS.As I do not use credit card, the card remained unused.

Since, I don't use the card, i never bothered to look into the e-statements that came to my email address.

Suddenly in January 2009, 16 months after the card was issued, I get a SMS that i am liable to pay around 2000 Rs. When i ring up the call center they say the charges are Membership charges along with the late fees for both cards.

The agent advised me to call the collection center. When called the collection center, they told me to call back the Call center. I repeated the whole story again to the agent, I was put on hold for 15 minutes with no response. They threw their hands in air and said they cant do anything.

The company never bothered me to inform that I was being charged. Also, what happened to the special tie up and special customer thing. The SMS are coming every month, but no calls are coming.

It is a complete mental trauma to me as I have lost my job and over this new liabilities are added.