The Banking Ombudsman, Date : 05.03.09
Delhi, Haryana, Jammu & Kashmir,
2nd Floor, Reserve Bank of India Building,
6, Parliament Street,
New Delhi - 110001
Kind Attn. : Mr. P. Shimrah, Secretary
Sub. : Complaint of harassment against ICICI Bank
ICICI Credit Card No.3770 4151 5528 007
ICICI Bank A/c No. : 039901509599
Dear Sir,
I am law abiding citizen and doing job with Convergys.
As a member of public, I am thankful to the Reserve Bank of India for issuing guidelines to the financial institutions i.e. HDFC, ICICI, Citibank, Standard Chartered Bank etc. in the matter of recovery of amount from credit card holders, who were being manhandled, harassed and humiliated in the past by the recovery agents resulting in suicidal steps by the sufferers as per news items appeared in the newspapers from time to time. In fact the consumer courts have also imposed fines on such financial institutions in its several judgments for harassing and torturing the innocent credit card holders.
I have now become a victim in the hands of ICICI Bank. In I got a Credit Card from ICICI Bank. After few days ICICI offered me an Insurance Plan which I refused to take. I never agreed to take that and I never got any papers for the same, not even the Medi Care Card or Lombard Card. After a month I requested them to stop my credit card account and take the card back as I have not used it (NOT EVEN ONCE). ICICI customer care advised me that in case you don’t use the card for the first three months it gets de-active automatically and if you don’t want it cut the card in two pieces and drop it in the ICICI drop box. I did what the customer care advised me as that was my first & last credit card; I have never used any credit card. This incidence happened in the year of 2007.
I thought the case was closed and I was satisfied because I never wanted to use the card and never got any statement for the same. To my surprise, on 2nd of February my account got debited with an amount of Rs.15, 000/-, I raised a complaint and the ICICI Customer Care explained to me that it was an error and they will credit the amount back within 8 days. I got the money back. But when I got my monthly Bank Statement for the period 7th Feb to 2nd March they have deducted Rs.17, 958 on 28th of February for credit card no.3770 4151 5528 007. I contacted ICICI Bank to clarify the charges (call reference No. SR99012436). They informed me that these charges are for ICICI Lombard Insurance for which I never agreed and I never got any statement or correspondence. I have never received any intimation regarding the payment. To my surprise they have directly debited the charges from my account without my permission. I have never asked for auto debit.
I would like to inform you that prior to this no communication in the form of letter, e-mail has been sent by ICICI for payment of Rs.17, 958 and I never agreed for this Credit card or Insurance.
I request you to kindly help me in getting my money back as I am saving this money do to MBA.
I am sure justice is possible with your kind intervention as victimization on the part of ICICI Bank is apparently there.
Thanking you,
Yours faithfully,
Rajdeep Saan
1/14, First Floor
Tilak Nagar
New Delhi - 110018
Copy to:
The Manager, Customer Card/Credit Card, ICICI Bank
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