SBI Visa Gold Card — HARRASMENT

gold card — Harrased !

I had applied for this HDFC card somewhere in March 2007 and for the first two months didnt have any problems and paid the Minimum dues regulary, its then I started seeing the true colors of the banks customer service. I first started having issues with the Bank after 5months, they were rude. Finally I couldnt bear the experience I had decided to settle the card and asked the bank to give a full and final settlement towards the card. So I contacted one of their local collection managers and informed him, he straight away denied to settle the card. I didnt know about banking policies and procedures etc then, so I didnt take any action against them, because till then I have paid almost Rs.25000 towards the card. Seeing the kind of service i received from the bank I decided not to pay their dues.

Now it has been 7months since I have not paid any dues towards the card, till then they used to call up on a landline and continuously torture my family at home and abuse in foul language. One fine day they landed up at my address as a group of 5people and wanted to pick a fight with my family. I was not at home when this happened.

Since this issue was getting nowhere I decided to get deep into banking policies, its that when I found what the bank did was very wrong and not permissible as per RBI guidelines. For eg, to send thugs to a customers house and threaten the people living there and to make such abusive calls. So I decided to file a complaint at their website indicating the hardships I have been through. What I received in reply was nothing satisfying, just that they said that i owe the bank another Rs.66, 000.

I am going to call them today and see if they really want to settle the card and proceed from there. I will also speak a Banking Ombudsman and take the issue from there.

If anyone has read this blog please give me your feedback and ideas on how to file a complaint against a bank where it reallys hurts their reputation, and I want to see some justice done to my family for standing up all that annoyance given by the bank. Any suggestions, please keep me informed.