[Resolved]  Oriental Bank Of Commerce — ATM failure but account debited

Address:

Bijnor, Uttar Pradesh

Dear Sir/ Madam,

I am just making this compliant to make aware people about the faulty indian banking machenism so that everybody is caustioius while making ATM usage. I do have any hopes now and do not want any resolution either.

On January 02, 2010 (Sunday), in the evening, I used ATM of Oriental Bank of Commerce which is located on Moradabad-Dehradun highway in Seohara town. It was a holiday and the bank was not operational.

When I was about to feed the amount into machine, that I wanted to withdraw, the guard (who then was looking an uneducated, underage young boy) told me that dont feed big amount and should be 100 or 200 becuase the ATM machine was working on UPS due to load shedding and might got shut down.

I had required at least Rs 1000 to withdraw but after his suggestion I just entered Rs 400. But Ah!! as the machine started counting currency it got down completely and did not dispense any money or slip either. The machine did not have any powers now.

The boy told that on the same day, it had happend previously also, and the machine had already eaten almost Rs[protected]. He then suggested me to come next day and see branch head(Mr. Manager).

Next day I reached bank early at around 9:00 a.m. and checked the balance, I was surprized that my account was already debited for Rs 400.00 (which I had tried to withdraw). I made a complaint to my Branch Manager (SBI) who suggested to make it to customer care on phone. I did the same and got some complaint number. Customer care after 2-3 days contacted me through mail and said that should escalate the issue to concerning Bank. I made the written complaint and approached to Mr. Negi, Branch Manager , of Oriental Bank of Commerce, Seohara, who very rudly repplied that it was not his issue and I should contact my home bank and branch and made a note on the application "Not concerned to OBC".

Actually, in the ATM my money was counted but could not come out due to power failure hence my account was debited. The person who had opened the ATM must have found my money. Becuase the guy who was sitting as a guard told me that two and three other customer had faced the same issue and the branch manager was matching their transactions (I dont know what is the actual procedure).

Anyways, on reply to my complaints I got to know that my transaction was successful as per their records and hence my account was debited (which was not true in reality).

I made another complaint to Lokpal, RBI Lucknow, stating my complaint number and transaction ID etc who then replied that the issue would be addressed in 15-30 days. After one month, upon getting nothing, I called up Lokpal office RBI Luknow where one gentleman picked up the phone and asked about the whole issue. I explained everything who then searched my coplaint number and told that it will take another one week becuase my compaint was in queue. I asked about the case and the chances of getting my money back on that gentleman told that the inquiry would be sent to OBC and if the records would say that my transaction was successful nothing could be done but if "unsuccessful" then yes I would get my money back. On that I just asked supposed if the machine had not dispenced money and the it was within the machine only whose fault was it and it was a failure of mechanism, on that the gentleman became very rude and told that I was talking something stupid.

I had no hopes, and the same thing happened, after 20 days I got a reply from RBI that as per banks records the transaction was successful and nothing could be done and that if I wished I could appeal higher channels or court.

So in tHe Nutshell, All Dear Customers Please BEWARE WHILE MAKING TRANSACTIONS ON ATM, YOU NEVER KNOW THIS COULD HAPPEN WITH YOU ALSO AND then EVEN GOD WONT BE ABLE TO HELP YOU and moreover, you cant say that "the mechanism/system is faulty".

Regards,
Poor Indian