I have been using the Tata Credit Card for over 7-8 years, which is backed by the reputed Tata Group in partnership with SBI Cards. However, of late I have been facing issues of unfair and unethical business practices by the’trusted’ Tata group firm.
As I used to use the Tata Credit Card as my primary card for payments and purchases, I had accumulated enough points to redeem at one of their partner outlets. Since Mar’12 I have been trying to do so at Croma-Mulund, Westside-Korum Mall, Thane, Tata Docomo Brand Store at Naupada, Thane, besides trying it at Titan showroom at Naupada. I was amazed to know that at all these outlets either the machine for redemption was removed long back, or was never installed in the first place. Ironically, each of these outlets is mentioned in the Partner Outlets List on TataCard’s website as available for redemption. Moreover, unlike several other card-issuers, they don’t have any option of getting a Gift Voucher/Coupon for the amount of reward points(in case of Tatacard every point is worth Re 1).
What was shocking was that despite my follow-ups with them since Mar’12, they have deducted 500 points in May’12(remember, each point is worth Re 1), and intimated in Jun’12 e-statement of further expiry of points by Jun’12 end and Jul’12 end. As Tatacard has not ensured that their partner outlets are capable of redemption, and hence are cheating card-holders by unilaterally expiring points accumulated over time.
Though I have never delayed or defaulted on payment of dues on my Tatacard, due to Tatacard’s callous and arrogant attitude, I have decided not to settle the bill for Jun’12 until they resolve the issue I have been following-up with them for over three months. Sadly, escalating it to their higher ups hasn’t helped either. As I believe that my grievance is justified, I am prepared to take Tatacard to court for deficiency of service and breach of trust(expiring points, without providing adequate means to redeem them).