I am holding ICICI gold credit card for the past 3 yrs approx.
Last July 2005, I had to go abroad. After 4 months, when I was back, I found that they (ICICI) have applied and charged ICICI Lombard Insurance(Rs.2642), on my card in August 2005 bill. But I have never opted for one such Insurance on my card. Following that EMI principal, Interest and tax were charged on my card every month with late payment fee.
Here the journey started...
When I called up ICICI Phone Banking representatives, they put me to Lombard dept. I was told that I opted for the Insurance through an agent over phone. I told him that that was not possible at all, since I was not in India that time... He simply said, "No, ma’m.. but you have to pay it"...
After a long arguement, I was given an email id and a ICICI mumbai address to post my problem.
No response for my letter to mumbai address... and a very ridiculous reply for the email...
Can you believe.. I got the reply asking me to contact ABN AMRO Bank in this regard...
After so many mails and calls (thanks to my office, I can make outgoing calls from my extension), to my great relief, in last Jan 2006, they finally cancelled the insurance on my card. But....
But, they charged a cancellation fee of Rs.2244.38.
Highly frustrated I asked them to cancel my card. They said it can’t be done since there was pending payment.
Decided not to use the card any further, the next day I asked them to block the card, saying it was lost.
Now, it is Nov 2006... and am still getting my ICICI Credit card bill statements (current month due=Rs.6, 766.56)... and am often getting threaten calls from the ICICI, asking me to pay my dues.
On reading ’parkar3’ of mouthshut’s review on ICICI credit card (WARNING - DONT APPLY) yest., I came to know that this issue is common everywhere... and as suggested by ’sacrates’ of mouthshut’s ’comment’ to ’parkar3’, today I have also sent a mail to Mr.Kamath (kamath.kv@icicibank.com) and to Satinder Kaur (headservicequality@icicibank.com).
I will get back to you on this, if any of them gets back to me...
Updates - 29/11/2006:
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I got a call from ICICI bank mumbai as an acknowledgement for my mail to Mr.Kamath the very next day (23/11/2006). Following which I got a mail from ICICI bank on 24/11/2006, with a pdf file, saying I have opted for Lombard insurance myself.
But when I went throught the pdf file, I noticed that someoneelse has tried my signature on the form (may be an agent), though it doesn’t look exactly like mine. So I have mailed them back explaining things, and yet to get a reply.
How can a bank be so careless with customer’s signatures?!?!
I also hold my salary account with ICICI bank (in which I have not faced any problem so far); and now I have to give a second thought on continuing my relationship with this bank.
Updates - 30/11/2006:
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Dear ICICI Credit Card holders, pls keep track of your bills regularly. If you find any unknown charges on your card, contact the concerned people and put an end to the issue right at the beginning.
If your issue is not resolved with Phone Banking helpline (for chennai - 044-42088000), try mailing to headservicequality@icicibank.com .
B’cos I have got a positive reply from them today. Hope the Bank will waive the charges soon.
Note:
The stars (’Product Rating’) will be updated once the issue is closed completely.
Updates - 21/12/2006:
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Hi, now it’s time for me to re-rate ICICI credit card on mouthshut.
First my sincere thanks to mouthshut, and to ’socrates’ and ’parkar3’.
The problem with my ICICI credit card charges is completely resolved now, after 1+ year of struggle.
Last week, again I have been receiving calls from ICICI credit card collection dept and was at the peak of frustration. Dropped a mail again to Mr.Kamath and headservicequality@icicibank.com, following which I got a call from Mumbai ICICI credit card dept . On last saturday, all the extra charges on the card have been reversed. :)
I am happy with ICICI bank now (though had a worse experience with them for 1 full year), for atleast they care for the customers problem on contacting the ’right’ person(s).
But ICICI credit card dept have to show more care with its agents’ before processing any application form from them. First thing, they need to take care is, the SIGNATURES. They can also make a verification call to the customer before processing the application.
Also, anyone who is applying for any credit card, pls pls go through the application form thoroughly and fill in the form by yourself (striking out the columns, which you do not want to opt for). Always keep in track of your bill statements.
Thanks.