I am an account holder with Standard Chartered Bank which is also my salary account.
In April 2004 I was issued a ’’free for lifetime’’ SCB Gold card as a token of appreciation of my banking with them. I was quite hesitant to accept this as I was quite displeased with the services offered by their phone banking in the past. I was intimated that the card would be activated in two weeks; it has been 5 months and still my card has not been activated. I was informed by the phone banking that they required a proof of my address, and as they do not find adequate proof they were unable to activate my credit card.
SCB boasts about ethical principles but they resort to such cheap promotional tactics such as issuing cards to customers that the bank has no intention of activating. Month after month, my salary is being credited through their bank, but they require more proof for my existence!!. This too after my having provided them the copies of my driving license, later on the phone banking wanted me to send in my passport details, which I had promtly done, there has been no action from thier side. Next they would probably ask me for a blood sample for DNA analysis !!.
If you are thinking for peace of mind while banking, stay away from Standard Chartered. If you are already a customer, beware of such gimmicks they come up with, if you have a choice change your bank?.which is what I am going to be doing before my next salary, there are several Indian banks waiting to serve with ?service and not just empty promises?.
If you think SCB has a 24 hour phone banking facility, believe me you will wait at least 24 weeks or even 24 years before they do anything to help you. Phone banking is a tool they use to harass customers and not help anyone.