Hi all,
I am going to share my experience with ABN AMRO bank at Hyderabad.
Sometime in December 2006: One fine day, sitting in my office cubicle, I got a tele-marketing call from ABN AMRO bank, advertising about their credit card. Having heard good reviews from my friends about the card, I thought of applying for it.
Two of their so called "Executives" namely - B.Srinivas and Kareem Sheikh - turned up to my home - they were really punctual on time - that was the only thing I liked about them - nothing else.
Now, this is what followed.
They handed me a form for "Freedom Credit Card".
I: "I am interested in ABN AMRO ONE Card".
They: "Sorry Sir, I didnt get it".
I: "ABN AMRO ONE CARD"
They: "Sorry Sir, Never heard about it. we don’t know"
I: "But why have you given me this form - It is not for ONE CARD"
They: "No problem Sir, just mark ABN AMRO ONE CARD at the top"
I: "Ok"
They: "No need to fill the whole form sir - bank will fill it"
Having heard/read a lot of cases of getting cheated by credit card companies because of not reading the "fine print", I was extra careful, and said - "No problems, I will fill it."
Our conversation and form filling continues.
They ask for original statement of my other credit card, and a xerox of the card. I provide them recent copy of my AMEX corporate card statement.
They: "Sorry Sir, what card is this? We never saw such credit cards"
I: "This is American Express card provided by my company".
I: "I have few questions. What is the reward point scheme for your bank’s credit cards?"
They look at each other with such an expression as if I have asked them to solve some complicated equation taken from Einstein’s research papers.
They: "Sorry Sir, what do you mean? We didn’t get your point."
(Today, when I look back, I am really surprised as to how I was so much patient that day that I didn’t throw those morons out of my home.)
I explain them - "every credit card company gives you reward points e.g. for every 40/- spent on my amex card, I get 1 reward point."
They: "Sorry Sir, we have never ever heard of such policies. Our bank staff will answer your queries better."
I: "Do you support online payment to this credit card through ICICI bank account?"
They: "Yes sir, you can pay online through any bank account".
They insisted a lot to opt for their complimentary health insurance policy, which I strictly said NO, and just put a cross mark at that column in the form.
Finally, those morons left.
I got a couple of calls from ABB’s Delhi office, repeatedly requesting me to opt for their insurance policy just for trial - to which I openly said NO, because my office provides me a very handsome medical insurance and I dont pay a single penny for it.
I was damned upset by the level of ignorance of these "idiot executives" who had come to my home.
So, immediately after receiving email confirmation from the bank, I lodged a complaint to their customer care, describing the entire incident, and asked them to pay more attention to educating their "executives".
Needless to say, my application for credit card was rejected, and I did not hear from them - not even a mail about rejection of my application. Not a single email was sent to me after I replied to their confirmation email with my complaints:-). Obviously, no bank would like to screw themselves by dealing with customers who know more about their services than their very own educated and qualified executives.:-)
This ABN AMRO bank is worse than a roadside vegetable vendor. Even a roadside vegetable vendor knows what vegetable(s) and fruit(s) he is selling.
Anyway, coming back to banking sector from the vegetable market:-), even the staff of State Bank of India are familiar with all rules and regulations of the bank as far as my experience has been with them since last 4 years or so. Customer service executives are the first level of contact between any bank and the customers, as far as the area of credit cards is concerned.
So, the morale is - Never ever bank with ABN AMRO bank - not if you live/work in Hyderabad at least - just imagine - their "executives" don’t even know the basics of a credit card - so you can easily imagine what awaits you in case you are(un)lucky enough to get their credit card.
And as the ages old saying goes -"First impression is the last impression" - and this was my account of my first experience with this bank.
Just adding a bit of pun .
One fine day, you call the customer care of ABN AMRO bank.
You: "Hello ABN AMRO Bank"
Voice at other end: "Yes Sir/Madam, how can I help you?"
You: "I have a query regarding the charges levied on my credit card"
Voice at other end: "Sorry Sir/Madam, what exactly do you mean by a credit card?"
Who knows - this joke may become a reality in near future going by my experience with their "well-qualified executives":-)
Update 1 March, 2008: I receive a call from an unknown Hyderabad number on my mobile.
I : Hello
Caller(a lady): Good afternoon Sir, am I talking to Mr. .(my name)?
I: Yes
Lady: Sir, I am calling from ABN AMRO bank. You had applied for a credit card Sir.
*Wow! So they have woken up after 14 months!
*I: I had applied on 2006. Are you ok? I am not interested in it anymore.
Lady: But why Sir?
I: I don’t want to do any business with an idiot bank like yours. Today you start processing my credit card application after 14 months. Tomorrow, you will do incorrect billing, and will take another 14 years to resolve my issue. Just cancel this application, and I don’t want any more calls.
I hang up. Morale of this episode : Left to the discretion of readers.