[Resolved]  ICICI Bank — erroneously transfer of money to wrong account

Address:

Mohali, Punjab

This is in reference of an erroneous transaction done by me. I am an axis bank account holder, on 3rd may 2019 i was supposed to transfer inr 80000 to icici account no[protected] in the name of ritu ohri but by mistake the amount was transferred to account no[protected] in the name of sandeep himalayan both residents of panchkula & zirakpur respectively. The accounts of both of them was in icici zirakpur branch.

As it was late in the evening when the transaction was done, the next day i went to axis bank branch in saket, delhi and gave a request letter to reverse the same transaction (Copy attached). As per axis bank staff they submitted the request same day and amount of inr 80000 was put on hold in the account of mr sandeep himalayan in icici bank which was later verified by me when i visited icici branch personally.

I used to call everyday to icici customer care to which they said it will take max 45 days to reverse the transaction and i wasn't given any complaint number nor any resolution as they said i didn't had an account with their bank. I also visited the bank branch is delhi and haldwani to which i was told max 45 days money will be reversed in my account.

In between i spoke to mr pradeep in the icici branch in zirakpur through a reference of a common friend, to which i was told he will take care of the issue but no resolution was given to me.

In the month of june i specially visited to zirakpur branch to find out the issue. The staff in the branch mr sohan told me that they are not able to get in touch with mr sandeep himalayan as his number in his account details is not reachable. I was given his numbers so that i also keep following up.

70 days later - again finally on 11th july 2019, i again visited the branch this time to get it resolved anyhow. I was told that the customer of the branch mr sandeep himalayan was not reachable on his number and also the staff tried reaching his residential address where they found noone and they are not staying at the mentioned address. To which mr sohan said he has returned the complaint to his corporate office and they will reverse the transaction in next 45 days.

Finally sitting for sometime in the branch, i took the address of mr sandeep himalayan and visited his house which was hardly 2 kms and 5 mins from the branch. To my astonishment i found that the entire family lived there. I met his mother, i sat for sometime in their house and she gave me the current active number of mr sandeep. This clearly showed that staff of the branch didnt made any effort to find the whereabouts of their branch customer to resolve my complaint.

After speaking to mr sandeep over the phone, he assured me to give the letter required by the branch that this money didnt belong to him and it can be reversed. He gave the letter to the branch on 16th july 2017. Its been 33 days since then, till now i have not received my money of inr 80000.

Its been 106 days since the complaint was given and the account was put on hold for inr 80000. Even after regular follow ups and visiting the branch, the issue has not been resolved.

I have few questions for the authorities of icici bank -
1. Is there any specified time limit of time for the issue to be resolved. It was mentioned 45 days. Firstly after submitting my complaint on 4th may i was told 45 days, then after branch finding no whereabouts of mr sandeep they said in 45 days money will be reversed.
2. I can actually see and feel no effort was made from branch end to find the whereabouts of mr sandeep, which i had to personally do. This was duty of the bank which was not performed as it should have been.
3. This payment was due to ms ritu and was delayed long from banks end. I had to bear a lot of cost to borrow this money and pay her which has even spoiled the relationship. Who will compensate??
4. I have travelled to zirakpur twice, visited delhi where i submitted my complaint. Who wil compensate??
5. The mental harassment to get back my money since 3 and half months. Who will compensate??

Looking for a resolution as early as possible.

Regards