[Resolved]  ICICI — Complaint against the ICICI Collection agent harassment

Dear Sir,

I need to bring to your attention my experience as an ICICI Bank customer.

My Name is Vishal Dewan residing at Sec 56, HUDA Plot 430, Gurgaon - 122002. My Wife had an Icici credit card for about 2 years. We had got the card closed in April 2008 as an ad-hoc Icici card which we had got lost. At that time the balance (principal + interest) was 38, 000 rupees. We got the card stopped and were continuously paing every month In March 2009 we received a call from Icici Mumbai Office that the settlement has been done in 24, 000 rupees, without talking to us or informing us. The card limit is 48, 000. There was a lien put on our icici account and 9, 000 was deducted against the credit card. we stopped paying and called customer care and asked for help to settel this card and were ready to pay what we can. That's when my trauma started. My wife was subjected to unending calls asking for the money.


We called at icici customer care to settle the credit card several times to no help and avail. Now since past few days we have been receiving calls from Icici collection agency agent Sandeep. His phone number is[protected] who claims that his agency is in sec 14 gurgaon. Even after informing the caller of the situation, the calls did not end and at times were threatening in nature. He came to my residence and started abusing me yesterday 25th June2009 and demanding for 25, 000 rupees for settlement. I told him that I am going through financial crisis and can pay upto 8000 or 10, 000 rupees. Infact he refused to show his identity proof and any contact information related to him and started threatning "tu dekh, tere baat samajh main naa aa rahi hai naa, tu dakh ab".

Now my wife is trembling and today is suffering from, permanent incurable phobia due to ICICI Bank recovery agents. She has ruined her mental and physical health both because of horror of ICICI Bank recovery agents. Today she is suffering from much health related tensions including insomnia because of ICICI Bank torture for the agony caused to her.

Some illegal acts done by Mr.Sandeep

1. Shouted at me.
2. Used foul and raw languages
3. Gave threats and was very abusive.
4. Taunted and tried to humiliate.
5. he says that he is a local resident and can do anything to make my life hell which he already did.

And to mention a few words that he used, have a glance at the following utterances of that person –

1. "Jab tumhari paise wapas karne ki aukaat nahi hai to fir loan kyun lete ho"
2. "Ya to payment kar de, warna bahut tarike hain bank ke paas paise lene ke"
3. "Ek o tu payment nahi kar raha hai, aur upar se pooch raha hai ki identity card dikha".
4. "dena to parega saale, , "BC"

These are not the only statements that the bank executive used, but were also accompanied by an offensive and abusive behaviour and language, which is legally and ethically against the Human Rights and Indian Penal Code.

We are in financial crisis and I have to support my family and do not have that amount of money what he is demanding.

However during the course of loans, paying EMI - Business, health, and services can cease or pause, Natural disasters, casualties, diseases, accident, incidents, profit and losses are beyond human controls and bank should understand it. Wise bankers should not consider every client as cheat or slave. During such situation if the client fells, Bank should cooperate and not traumatize and humiliate their customers. During such destiny laid stages, if the bank could not support the hospitalized client (loan taker) on ventilators at least it should also not try to pull the tubes of oxygen.

In all fairness, ICICI Bank should have at least checked our credit worthiness before going on this harassment and hounding 'rampage' till we had no option but to carry out our own investigation and point out the problem your Bank.

We hope that you take note of this experience and prevent the same from occurring again.

If this does not stop then I will go to the court of law/consumer forum, circulate the message to the news groups, and caution all my friends about the incident.


A copy of his letter will be sent to following people/email ID's –
[protected]@aajtak.com - for necessary coverage
[protected]@indiatv.com - for necessary coverage
[protected]@zeenews.com - for necessary coverage

Some actions taken by RBI

Note: Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Allahabad High Court verdict against use of Gundaas by ICICI

Here's a verdict by Allahabad High court against ICICI Bank's illegal methods to use gundas to manhandle consumers for recovery of loans
Pl read this link
http://www.allahabadhighcourt.in/ejurix/servlet/WebViewJudgementDirectly?method=...⇄
Note- Pl find the attached RBI Guidelines for the recovery agents.

We hope that you take note of this experience and help us.

Appreciate all help & support.

Thanks!
Vishal Dewan
[protected]