If you rely on one banker then chances are you are taken granted at times. After having experienced services of various nationalised as well as private bankers, I firmly advocate that - please enjoy multiple banking and avoid any risks. Let me outline few bad experiences and try to ascertain best policies.
ICICI BANK: Requested complaint book and they made me wait for 2 hours and it took 30 minutes for a lady to decide whether to accept the complaint or not. And it took 6 months for ICICI bank to reply on complaint which was misplaced by them. Naturally I shifted my banking preferences. They refused to attend the complaint once. But everytime ICICI executives called me for FD, home loans, car loans, credit cards, I asked them to bring status of complaint pending with the bank and they eloped. I remember once the lady said I am calling from ICICI bank XYZ branch but I am sorry that I donot know the name of the branch manager. Obviously they find me in DNC i.e. do not call registry.
ICICI BANK HOME LOANS: I strongly feel that each document you submit for availing HL should be retained by you. Ask copies of applications. If anybody promise you to sanction loan on particular date and if your plans are like that only, ask in writting on ICICI letter head signed by branch manager that cheque will be disbursed on date DDMMYYYY. Well do not write letters or complaints to Head Service Quality, they do not write anything. Writing iron is really misssing at ICICI bank. Hum hain na.anaemic.
HDFC BANK: Multiple bill on debit card. It takes 2-3 days to reverse the transaction for payment gateways. But it took 35 days for HDFC bank after filling card dispute form and follow-up legal notice. The moment legal notice was sent, branch manager called up to inform that Rs. 110 has been reversed. Off course sweetness in trust and relationship is also reversed.
HDFC BANK: Demand draft will be issued only by presenting cheque leaf for salary account holders. It was news to me that cheque can not be issued by accepting cash payment. Branch manager says we take decision on case to case basis, means they change rules on case to case basis. So salary account holders, if you carry cash.first deposit in your account, then fill up dd issue form, present a cheque and get DD.
SBI: Earlier they were very adamanat, but I find them very attentive and responsive. Particularly I observe a sea change at higher level. E-mails are attended, replies are sent. But when it comes to reply any wrongdoing by branch official they will take a nasty way and even reply wage answers to application filed under RTI. I remember DGM SBI BHOPAL said I have not received documents and I slapped certificate from postal department that article was delivered to him. This was case of government refund order.
Canara Bank: They billed Rs. 11.23 thrice for one transaction. I hardly understand that what one can purchase of Rs. 11.23 in feel good days of congress government. I am trying to enquire what these charges are and they are having one response: They must be swipe charges. But I have good sentimental relationship with bank so I am not taking the issue keenly with Canara Bankers. But downtime of Canara ATM is very high, on the contrary if ATM is working that means you are lucky.hence I can’t totally depend on Canara. I remember I took out money from BoB as Canara ATM was dead on my ring ceremony. Hope this ring ring in Canara Bangalore HQ.
Local co-op bank 1: Cheque not cleared for 35 days. Follow-up said, wait for 3 days, wait for 3 more days, and finally what can we do, we have lost it. Written complaint was filed and full compensation was asked with CEO of bank whose manager was adamant till yesterday. Today he came to know that compensation can be recovered from his salary so adamancy was lost. Then they started blaming RBI so RBI was approached and finally cheque was traced and honoured even after expiry of its validity.
Local co-op bank 2: Account closure charges Rs. 164 as round figure. Transaction reversed, only 50 Rs. were charged but one can understand that banker can change past transactions also in their favor.
Well, all above are negative experiences, either I am a negative person or subject is like that only. Any sensible banker will understand the pains suffered by customers. How happy I was when I was presented a DD within 3 minutes of application at SBI Pune. So what is good is good and bad will remain bad.
Hope good wins and bad is always condemned like one I am doing.
Regards,
Avinash Murkute
Bribe still not paid to BSNL CMD