We Bhandari Gold and Jewellers Pvt. ltd are into gold jewellery business since 2006.
ICICI Bank had enhanced and sanctioned our fresh limit of Pre and Post shipment limits on January 22 2020, from Rs. 18 Crores in previous year to 28 Crores against security of 100% Fix deposits as collateral (please find the sanction letter for the same). The sanction letter is valid for one year.
1. On 10th June 2020 we received a payment or Rs. 6.5 Crores appx. from our party Viva International FZE against the o/s bills whose due date was 11/06/2020 and 15/06/2020 respectively. we requested for equivalent EPC drawdown against it, bank calls up and says that we will have to close the entire limits within 30/06/2020. The reason given by bank was that they are negative on jewellery sector post COVID - 19 and would not like to continue with the limits, although it is still not conveyed in writing to us. we in good faith agreed and accepted to close the limits. we asked the bank to release our Fix deposits that were lien marked against these limits. They agreed to release only Rs.4.10 Crores against it and said that rest will be released only when we close our entire limits ( again verbally). SInce then, we have been following up with the bank and their higher authorities for release of either EPC or FD, there has been no response from them. Till today there is no official letter from them to close the limits. They have been forcing us to write a letter that we would like to close the limits ourselves, which we did not agree and now by holding our FD they are trying to put pressure on us to close the limits.
2. Our conduct with bank has been smooth and there was never a default in past and until now from any of our customers. One of EPC was due on 28/05/2020 and we have submitted our documents on 18/05/2020, till today it is still not converted into post shipment. They are still reflecting as outstanding in their records.
3. Until April 2020 the bank use to credit subvention interest in our account on every 5th of the following month, they held the interest of April, May and June 2020 and still not credited. The reason given that there is no announcement of extension of scheme, it was declared in Month of May 2020 by RBI, we have still not received the credit in our account. The reason given is that it is still under process. The amount of subvention so far is Rs.30 Lakhs appx.
4. we have requested for extension of pre-shipment and post shipment as per RBI guidelines, we had submitted our request letter, we also submitted party's letter for extension, it is still not done.
The bank by doing all the above they are frustrating us and forcing us to close the limits before maturity. Although, there has been no communication from them in writing for the above. we have limits with other banking as well, infact they have sanctioned additional funds during this COVID-19 period and ICICI Bank Ltd. is not only frustrating us but also hampering our working capital in our business. Until now they have almost blocked Rs.2.75 Crores of funds ( 2.45 crores FD and 0.30 crores of interest subvention ) which should have been released immediately.
One of our post shipment due date is 11/07/2020, we have submitted our request for extension, we fear that they will crystallize the same tomorrow, although letter of extension has been given to them.
Contact Person of the bank: Sujith Nair - [protected].
ICICI Bank customer support has been notified about the posted complaint.
We regret the inconvenience caused. We request you to email us your concern with your contact details on [protected]@icicibank.com. Please mention the UID (a0sz4x) in the subject line of your email. Our official will assist you.
Regards,
ICICI Bank Customer Service Team