I used to have Credit Card Number XXXX XXXX 1110 XXXX . I had a total
outstanding in the month of Feb for Rs 64133.32. The due date for
payment was 27-Feb-2007. I deposited Cheque number 597813 for Rs 64500
on 24-Feb-2007. This was deposited in good faith in their ATM collection
Box in bangalore. When I received the March Statement, I realised that
They had charged me Finance Charges- Rs 3077.04, Service Tax- 376.63, Late
Charges- 600 and Service Tax- 73.44. Then I realised that they had
cleared my cheque only on 03/03/2007. I called their call center and
appraised them of the situation which is summarized below
My payment of Rs 64500 was made on time on 24-Feb-2007.\Clear Credit history across all the cards\Never defaulted payments\Have always paid in full\Have never incurred a late situationHad one more card which also had a immaculate credit history.
Based on the above, I requested the bank to reverse all the finance
charges and However, they refused to accept this . I tried hard trying to convince them that I am a
good customer and the bank delayed on clearing the cheque. Thus
frustrated, I made a payment on all the purchases that I had made and
short paid the finance charges. Post which I asked the bank to cancel
the card. HSBC then offered me a 50% waiver on the charges, which I did
not agree because I had paid on time. I am a good customer for
Citibank\ICICI Bank\Amex and deal through
them. Infact I am esteemed customer for all the banks that I have dealt
with. I found it hard that despite my good credit history and business
for the bank. I was being treated in such a shabby manner.
I had sent a letter via post on 24th April 2007 giving details of the
same and requesting a redressal of issues. However, to my surprise I
found that a collection agent called me on June 7th 2007. This
gentleman named Mohammed threatened me and told me that I would be put
a blacklist and that a collection agency would come to my house. I
spoke to HSBC and was handled by two officers. They again offered
to waive 50% of the charges, again I refused. On 8th June 2007, to my
disgust, HSBC collections team called up my residence in Bangalore on
8th June 2007 and spoke in a extremely rude and dirty manner with my
Mother. She had no clue of what was happening. She is a hypertension
Patient and her BP shot up due to this incident and had to be taken to
the hospital. I had to rush to Bangalore to meet her.
Thus having faced the disgust of insults to my mother, I am writing a
formal complaint to the Reserve Bank of India Ombudsman, Local Circle.
In addition to this, I would be posting my complaint in Times of
India\New Indian Express\The Hindu\ The Deccan Chronicle\ The Deccan
Herald\Outlook Money.
All the readers, if you face such situation. Please refer the Banking Obmudsman Scheme 2006. It would give you redressal for Horrible Banks like HSBC.