| Address: | Mittal INdustrial Estate, Marol Naka, Andheri East |
I was having Standard Chartered Bank Credit Card No. [protected].
There was a wrong debit of Rs. 6000 /- pertaining to Hotel Oberoi on 17th May 1999 in the statement dated 13th June, 1999 which was immediately refuted by me. There were exchange of correspondences in this regard. Meanwhile, for all subsequent statements, I used to pay for the actual utilization of the card i.e. the transaction value only and not the outstanding shown pertaining to that refuted transaction, late payment charges, penalty and interest on the same. Thereafter at the time of annual renewal of the card, I surrendered the card and stopped availing card services from SCB.
Initially SCB used to send simple demand notice and every time I used to explain and matter used to rest in cold storage for a while at SCB level. Thereafter Advocate M. V. Kini & Co. from Bangalore in January, 2001 sent a legal notice on behalf of SCB. I spoke to one Mr. Anand Iyer in the office of M/s. M.V. Kini & Co. and explained him the entire transaction in detail and sent him supporting documents. Thereafter I spoke to one Mr. Vikram in their office who confirmed to me that Mr. Anand Iyer is convinced, and he has recommended for reversing the entries of debit and hence I should ignore the notice. Thus, the matter thereafter i.e. January, 2001 was settled and no one either from SCB or any other person on behalf of SCB had approached me for the same. There was no follow up as the Advocates and Bank were convinced about the wrongful debit of that transaction.
In more than 20 years, I had availed Loan against Property from ICICI Bank in 2013/14 and Housing loan from HDFC in 2007 etc. but there was no problem with either CIBIL or SCB at any time. For your kind information both the loans were repaid before time and there was no default or delay in payment.
Recently in 2020, I had applied for a Vehicle Loan. I think that triggered Shaha Finlease and they started following up for recovery. Since the matter was more than 20 years old, I requested Shaha Finlease to provide details of the amount claimed – by them along with bifurcation - transaction value, interest, fine penalty late payment charges, etc., date of the transaction for which they are claiming that the amount has remained unpaid etc. They could not provide any details whatsoever claiming that from SCB when they have purchased the business in March, 2010 they have got only the outstanding figure. I asked them why they did not follow up from 2010 till 2020 and there was no answer to the same. I also conveyed them that there is a Limitation Act but for the same also there was no answer.
Thereafter one Ms. Aarti from Shaha Finlease started following up with me to whom I explained the whole story. She understood and hence there was no follow up thereafter from Shaha Finlease for three months or so.
After that one Ms. Suvarna started following up again from June 2020. She insisted that unless I pay to Shaha Finlease my CIBIL score will be adversely affected and I will not be in a position to avail any credit facilities etc. She couldn’t understand my version but kept on insisting for payment.
I sought an appointment of her senior and went and met in their Goregaon office and explained them entire transaction with supporting documents. It seems they were convinced but the right person who can take decision was not available on that day.
Thereafter they started calling and threatening to which I asked them that I gave all the documents and you could not produce a single paper to support your claim to which they asked me to speak to SCB. On calling up SCB, Chennai they directed me to speak to one Mr. Nikhilesh Yadav who seems to be representing Shaha Finlease only. Spoke to him on 15/6/20 but to no avail.
When Ms. Suvarna again called me and since she was not in a mood to understand or take cognizance of my documents, I requested her to give me something in writing so that I should be clear what they are talking about. To which I got a demand notice of Rs. 16, 770/- (Rs. Sixteen Thousand Seven Hundred Seventy only) dated 8th July, 2020. Once again, I called for explanation to which there was no proper response. She arranged to send me documents like statements and payments received from my side etc. which were mot pertaining to the outstanding amount they were talking about – in short they tried to provide whatever documents were available with them but not the actual documents supporting their claim because there were none.
Meanwhile it seems they reported the matter to CIBIL and without getting proper supporting documents or proof of the claim CIBIL put the matter on record and spoilt my case and because of which I could not avail vehicle loan.
I tried to take up the matter with CIBIL asking them how unilaterally without checking with me they have taken on record claim of a third party with whom I did not have any relation and that too claim of more than two decades old. It seems the claim lodged is in crores just to tarnish the image and twist my arm. They tried with treats which did not work and knowing fully well that they don’t have sustainable claim they have wrongly reported to CIBIL and CIBIL authorities also have without any supporting documents or proper checking have taken the matter on record. This is clear black mailing and arm twisting. Shah Finlease has been on top of the list for such unscrupulous claims and mine is one more in the line.
Thereafter I spoke to one Mr. Satish Patil in Shaha Finlease who seems to be the link between SCB and old Card holders in the matters of claim and hence he started communicating with me on WhatsApp etc. he kept on saying that he understands that the claim is not correct and he can gauge it from the tone and talk of the person etc. I was little busy in my own matters arising out of lock down and hence couldn’t follow up rigorously. In October, 2021 I met Mr. Patil in his Andheri Office and submitted all the documents once again explaining him the position. He very clearly stated that he has understood the matter and he will arrange to withdraw the claim lodged with CIBIL and get me clean chit. Due to Diwali and month end he requested me to hold on till month end gets over.
I continuously, once in a week or ten days used to remind him but he would tactfully avoid getting me the clean chit from CIBIL citing internal or external factors and reasons. He told me that he has already conveyed his recommendation for relief in my case and he is waiting for reply from their side. I requested him umpteen number of times that please mark those mail to me also so that I can separately also take up the matter with concern person in SCB. I also requested to provide name and number of the concerned person in SCB which he clearly refuted. In this he almost took two to three months.
Thereafter he started telling me that he has given it for internal approval. On constant follow up in March he cited reason of March pressure and all. I kept on believing him as he was the only hope in entire Shaha Finlease who had seen the documents properly and had understood it clearly. He also had told me that he can judge a person due to his vast experience. If a person is not at fault and is with clear conscience, then only he or she will visit our office otherwise we only have to chase them. You have visited our office twice which speaks for itself.
In the month of May he started assuring me that he will get me the clean chit before month end. I kept on reminding him every three four days till 31st May but he did not give me clean chit. On following up with him once again he is citing pending internal approval to which I requested him to give me contact details of them so that I can speak to them and convince them if there is any issue pending in their mind. But now when I lost my patience and requested him either to clear my case or provide me details of the person who is taking the calls in my case, he has refuted to get me the details. Now he is, after waiting for more than 8 months – from October, 21 to June, 22 he is telling me to approach either SCB or Consumer Court.
I am a law-abiding citizen and so far has taken things lightly but now he is forcing me to take coercive actions which may not be in good taste for all. I have once again given him a deadline of five working days to resolve the matter or otherwise face the consequences. I have told him very clearly that please don’t take this as threat but take it as warning.
If for any reason my matter is not resolved within five working days from today, I might be constrained to take steps as may be suggested by my attorney which may please be noted and also it will not be out of place to inform you that the entire such actions will be at your cost risk and consequences which may please be noted.
Was this information helpful?
