Recently (last week of November 2005) the bank advertised that NRIs remitting money to India thru them will be eligible for a gold pendant for amounts between USD 5000 to 10000 and a diamond pendant for amount over 20000USD. My daughter and soninlaw sent an amount of USD 20000 thru them. When no pendant arrived they enquired loacally at HDFC contact number in the US. They were told that no such scheme existed and they were on aware of it. Luckily they had a printout from HDFC website which was sent to them. Then HDFC came up with a statement that the sceme had ended on 2nd December! Mind you there was no such date mentioned in the advertisement placed bt HDFC. Finalyy a Gold pendant arrived INSTEAD OF a dIAMOND ONE!
I had a similar experience in October 2003. I approached the branch at Coimbatore for a car loan. There was an ad displayed at the branch that persons availing loan will be gifed a digital camera. I took a loan but I am still waiting for the camera. Any number of emails to the bank head office local branch has not helped! Then there is the story of my credit card which I will save for another occassion!