Just went thru the torture each of you went thru from ABN Amro credit card. I am sure our only mistake in life was to listen to the sale talk from the DSA.
Just like all of you, I also got a “Life Time Free” “Gold” “smart” card. This happened in January 2006. For two months, it was all OK. The statements came on time. I paid on time. Great.
In the month of April, the statement for March never turned-up. I called the bank and asked for a fresh statement. I was told it would reach me in 2 working days. The 2 days never came. I called again and told categorically that I would not pay if the statement does not come. After a few weeks, I sent a couple of mails. The answer was always the same. We will send the statement and will reach in 2 days.
In the month of May, I got the statement for April, with of course the expense of April, pending amount of March (in lumpsum) and a penalty. I paid the April expense and sent another mail reiterating that the payment will happen only if the bank gives the statement and the penalty is their problem. Not mine.
I stopped using the card in June. Statements started coming every month, with the pending amount for April and penalty and penalty on penalty. I was sending mails and they were sending mails back. However no statement for April was given.
Finally the collection agents started calling. I gave them two options:
you give me the statement for April, I will pay that and close the card. You will write off the penalty. Else I am approaching RBI, Banking ombudsmen.
They started to get threatening, and did the second. Within a week of the filling of the case (which is pretty simple process, you need to take the copies of all communication, a form available at the RBI website, and handover this at local RBI office. There is a Banking ombudsmen in all states) I got a call from the Bank and told they are reversing all the penalty and will give a statement, and can pay the actual. They will close the card. This time it did come and I closed.
Best part: Within a week of closing, because of my “excellent” payment record they wanted to give a new card.
For RBI ombudsmen detail visit: https://rbi.org.in