[Resolved]  ICICI Bank — Harassment and arm twisting by the recovery agents

Address:

North Goa, Goa

Sir,

This note is to express utter grief and harassment which I have gone throughbecause of ICICI BANK. I had a credit card from ICICI BANK with the number “[protected]” which I had stopped using in 2007. I changed my residence in 2009 and again in 2012 due tomy job. Since, I had stopped using my card; I never thought I will have toinform the bank about change of address or get it deactivated, as there was noamount pending in my knowledge.
On the 21st of February around 1 PM I received arude phone call from some person claiming to be sub inspector of Delhi Policeand having an arrest warrant under my name. He had all information of myprevious address on which the card was being issued and threatened me by sayingthat me and my family are in very serious problem. He mentioned he has alreadyinstructed the local police station to arrest me and bring me to Delhi by nextday and produce me in the court. Being a law abiding citizen, I requested himto let me know the case to which he refused and then upon severe begging askedme to speak to another person who is a high court lawyer and is handling mycase and subsequently gave me the “lawyer’s” mobile number.

Upon calling the lawyer, he mentioned I have financial dues of 2.5 Lakhstowards ICICI BANK and I have to appear in Delhi High court the next day. Irequested him to explain me the charges, to which he mentioned if I pay anamount of 41780 INR in the nearest ICICI BANK by 3 PM he would drop thecharges.
Having very little time, I rushed to the nearest ICICIBANK at Panjim Taleigao and approached Mr. Santosh, Deputy Manager of thebranch. In the meantime I got two calls from the “Police sub inspector” and atleast five calls from the “lawyer”. Upon asking the “lawyer” A/C number onwhich the money has to be transferred I was told a credit card number, whichupon checking by Mr. Santosh turned out to be my old card which I had stoppedusing in 2007. I asked for a statement to let me know the charges, which I wasdenied by the ICICI BANK branch stating they cannot give me the statement. Mr.Santosh assisted me in calling the customer helpline, who refused to send methe statement saying it has not been generated and will take ten working days.

In the meantime, I was constantly being called by the person claiming to be thelawyer and threatened to pay the amount or else face consequences. Mr. Santoshoffered me little help by saying that since I have not closed the credit cardaccount I will have to pay. Being scared and harassed by the arm twistingmethods applied on me, I paid the amount. However, the statement has not beensent to me till date. In my knowledge I had no amount pending to be paid forthe credit card and the amount paid is not correct.

I also wonder, if only a local address and mymobile number was enough to issue a credit card to me and if at all there was adefault why was I contacted after so many years and not before?

Sir, I humbly request you to address behaviour of ICICIBANK’s recovery which in my opinion is unacceptable and harrassing. I canprovide the mobile numbers and the names which were used to call me.

Regards,

Sandeep Sinha