Hi friends,
My name is Safal Agarwal. I am an existing SBI customer. I opened a saving as well as a PPF(Public provident fund) account in SBI Aishbagh Lucknow branch as I had all my ID and address proofs with my permanent address in Lucknow.
However, I have been living in Gurgaon Since 2009.
Story begun from I getting a mail from SBI that in order to continue my banking services I needed to update my Aadhar and PAN details in SBI. So, I tried to update my PAN and AADHAR details online through https://retail.onlinesbi.com, but was unable to do so. So, I visited my nearest SBI branch that is Gurgaon Sector 31, to update the same. They told me that my account is in operative as I had not been operated my bank account for a long time and I need to visit the home branch to get it operative again. They also told me that as my account is inoperative currently I would not be able to use SBI online banking services.
Then, I thought to contact home branch on phone, so referred my passbook for contact no. The contact no. on the passbook is 0522-2242625. However this no. is inoperative. You people can yourselves call on this number and check that.
Then, I called SBI customer care on 1800112211. There representative also told me that the only way to get the account again operative is to visit the home branch. Then I asked her can the account be operative again, if I write a mail to the the home branch. She told me for that I need to talk the home branch. Then I asked the home branch contact details. She also gave me the same telephone no. and email ID as given on my passbook. When I told her that, the number was inoperative, she replied that she had got only that number.
Then I sent my father to SBI Aishbagh branch with the photocopies of my ID proofs. The branch people told my father that my account can not be operative again unless and until I myself visit to their branch and withdraw some money from my account.
Then I decided to use there’SMS UNHAPPY’ service. In this service they claim that if you are not happy with services offered by SBI, you can SMS "UNHAPPY" to 8008202020. Their executives will call you back and resolve your issues. I messaged them on 9th of February, 2018 and never got a response. There’SMS UNHAPPY’ service is on paper only.
So finally, my question to SBI is that, in today’s time of digitalization, why they are using the age old methods of banking. It makes no sense to travel to home branch, which is more than 500 kms away from current location, to get a service from SBI. All the services should be available at nearest SBI branch. If any SBI high level official is reading this review, I request him to please look in to the matter and do the needful. Also I request mouthshut, if they can contact SBI, and help me to get my account again operative at nearest SBI branch.