At the onset, it is hereby declared that my client has been a patron of your services since the year 2014 vide a/c no. [protected] and credit card no. _ 489377xx xxxx 3920 without any form of disagreement or dispute from either side as regards the services rendered at any point in time.
However, since may, 2016 due to reasons that do not concern the bank, my client had not availed the services of the credit card mentioned earlier. Having said that, my client had however diligently paid the rental charges of such credit card since june, 2015 till august, 2017.
During september, 2017, my client wrote to your grievance cell which had been duly received, regarding clarification on the reason behind the bank charging autopay reversal charges and “non-payment charges” along with the rental amount and other ancillary charges. It had been a clear oversight on the part of the bank as the minimum amount to be paid as indicated by the bill was punctiliously paid and received by the bank before the due date for making payment. Hence, it can be ascertained that the bank had in fact falsely charged my client the “non payment - autopay reversal charges” over a period of more that 27 months.
Such facts were brought to light by my client through her mail to the grievance cell for the first time in september, 2017, after having paid an amount in excess of the actual amount that should have been paid, for a continuous period of 27 months. Even after such clear facts were brought to the attention of one mr. Manikandan s, manager - grievance cell correspondence, hdfc bank, no action or rectification was adopted by the bank to redress the issue raised by my client for a period of 4 months.
A cryptic response was received by my client after 4 months from the date of my client’s complaint, from the manager - grievance cell correspondence, hdfc bank citing that all outstanding dues were required to be paid by my client at the earliest possible instance to avoid levy of charges in future. Such reply clearly indicates the non-application of mind of the concerned person while replying to official correspondence and furthermore the non-inclination of the customer grievance cell to amicable resolve issues of the customers, being contradictory to the very existence for which the cell stands for. A copy of such email dated january 02, 2018 is enclosed herewith for your perusal.
It had further come to pass, that by a telephonic communication from a member the bank’s grievance cell it was informed to my client that a sum of rs.8, 000/- would be refunded to my client in furtherance to the wrongful charges that were claimed by the bank in their bills. However, with the passage of time, such amount was never refunded and though a telephonic conversation it was informed that the amount to be refunded was revised to rs.2, 500/-. The basis on which such reduction was made nor the intent of the refund was never explained or conveyed to my client thereby making the entire endeavour fruitless and unacceptable under any circumstance. No reply in this regard was ever received by my client even after such fact was appraised to the concerned authorities of the bank via an email dated january 11, 2018. A copy of such letter in enclosed herewith for your perusal.
Moreover, my client is being harassed over telephone to make payment of the remainder amount which is allegedly due with the bank in regard to the said credit card. Such action of the bank is unacceptable and in contradiction to the guidelines as laid down the reserve bank of india from time to time. It is a well accepted fact that the bank cannot make demands upon the customer unless the grievances in regard to the amount allegedly claimed is addressed, settled and explained.
In light of the above circumstances, it has been urged by my client on several occasions that the account be closed and the alleged claim be settled at a mutually agreeable amount due to the fact that even after making payment on a regular and continuous basis, the bank has unfairly and arbitrarily charged amounts in excess of the actual amount that fell due. Such action of the bank is violative of the rbi guidelines and also amounts to negligence and fraud committed.
At the last instance, it was urged by my client that the alleged dues with the bank be settled for a sum of rs.10, 000/- and the account be closed immediately. However, no response in this regard has been received from the bank till date. The stance of the bank has been wrongful, non-cooperative, arbitrary and negligent towards my client and unless a proper and amicable settlement is achieved within a period of 15 days from receipt of this legal notice, my client shall not have any option but to approach the appropriate forum for redressal.
Credit Information Bureau India [CIBIL] customer support has been notified about the posted complaint.