I had a salary account with HDFC when I was in my previous org. As long as I didn’t step in their bank and used only the ATMs there was no issues for me. But the moment I had to go their branch the horrible experiences started.
Let me tell u some of the experiences I had
- I had to change my home address. They said that it can be done only if I had a valid address proof that too when I am their customer for more than 2 yrs and that too a salary account. I am a bank officer’s daughter and as u know they get transferred every 3 yr. so each of my documents had various address at whichever place they were procurred. They said they will accept electricity bill and water bill. How do you expect these things to be in my name when I am staying with my parents.Finally they told me that if some other bank account has the new address they will take the account statement from that bank as address proof( By this time already 2 months have passed since I raised the request). Then we changed the address in the account which I was having in my dad’s bank and submitted the statement. After 3 weeks I didn’t get any response and went to check with them. You know what they said, they said that this was not enough. I was really angry went up to the manager and made a scene there. He told me some things about KYC norms. Finally I told my dad what he told abt KYC. Then my dad called him and questioned him. Actually my dad’s 30 yrs of experience in bank saved me that day. After dad spoke to him they did a phone verification and changed the address in matter of 2-3 days.
This is just one of the incident. Recently I had another bitter incident with them. When I moved the org I didn’t close the account because I was having HDFC credit card and it was easy making credit card payments with that account.
Now one day I received a mail from them telling that since it is no longer a salary account I have to maintain a balance of 10000 or else they will take account maintenance charge
So I went to the nearby HDFC branch to sort out the issue. Now here I was welcomed by a so called customer relationship manager. She convinced me and my husband that day that we can close my previous account and start a new account in that branch. Since this branch was off city limits the minimum balance required is 5000rs. She took my signature in closure forms and opening forms and said everything fine.
Within 2 weeks I received my account opening kit and regarding closure she told everything is fine. Now comes the real twist. After 3-4 months of this incident I had a urgent money requirement and I withdraw from my HDFC account. To my horror I saw a negative balance in my mini statement and also knew that the amount was withdrawn from the account which was supposed to be closed. In addition to that I saw that an account maintenance charge has also been taken. I was taken aback. Also they were pulling out this money from the Sweep in FD which was linked to my new account.
Then I rushed to the branch where my new account was opened.Then I found out that the lady who asked me to open the account was no longer with HDFC. Then I had to present my case to another Customer relationship manager and after strict follow up and fighting I managed to get my old account closed in 2 months and also got my money back.
I still do have a account with them for the sake of paying my credit card, but I have firmly decided that I will not use any other facility of this bank.
Guys public sector banks may not hav posh office, A/C etc..But they do have some mature ppl who know abt banking not this so called young breed of customer relation managers who only knows half cooked data.