Closure email from RBI Ombudsperson (CTS-1719; HDFC Bank)

The following email was received from RBI Ombudsperson, Bangalore subsequent to my complain against HDFC Bank. The full-facts are not captured in this complaint and this was highlighted to RBI-BO; specifically the request by Mr. Milind Palkar and my RM Mr. Vishal Sharma to vist my residence with loan papers of Manish Vinodrai Badani.

Portal for Public Grievances

One site worth taking note is the portal for Public Grievances that is hosted by National Informatic Centre.

http://pgportal.gov.in/Grievance.aspx

Recently when SpiceJet was facing financial crisis, they stopped responding to emails and calls regarding planned flights. I reported to DGCA using this site and was pleasantly surprised that the message went to SpiceJet.

I have reported the harassmnet by Banks and their collection agents regarding Manish Vinodrai Badani to Department of Telecommunication; specifically I have reported telephone numbers that cannot be traced or called back.

I also reported the indifferent and arrogant attitude of Banks and agents to Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances. I am also planning to highlight the Manish Vinodrai Badani episode to other departments such as Department of Justice and Department of Legal Affairs.

There is a definite need in reforming the Debt Management Departments of the banks and financial institutes and I am hoping that by persistently broadcasting my message, I will get through the thick-skinned attitude of the collection agents and their bosses in the private banks and financial institutes (like LICHFL).

Regret email from HSBC Bank

The first call regarding Manish Vinodrai Badani came from Dilip Pinot representing HSBC Bank. Despite my sharing with him the personal details that were different from that of Manish Vinodrai Badani the calls continued. After escalating this matter with their HO the following email was received.

HSBC_ManishVinodraiBadani_a.pdf


 

After effect of call from HDFC Bank on May 12, 2014

The following email exchange happened after a call from HDFC Bank, Kanjurmarg branch looking for Manish Vinodrai Badani. I personally found the behavior of their Debt Managers extremely arrogant exhibiting disdain towards customer service.



HDFC_ManishVinodraiBadani_Consolidated.pdf

Apology from ICICI bank after calls regarding Manish Vinodrai Badani

The following email was received as a closure of "Manish Vinodrai Badani" episode with ICICI Bank. Prior to this email I had recevied several calls and this closure was thanks to intervention by RBI Ombudsperson.

------------------------------------ ICICI_ManishVinodraiBadani.pdf

Collection Agents or Thugs

Since 2009 several calls that I received could not be traced back. In most cases the caller cannot be called back and these numbers also get deactivated after a while.


One thing that makes no sense is that these callers always use dubious means to get information. The callers either claim to be from courier service, TRAI, Anti-terrorist unit, advocates or legal department of a bank. In many cases they give fake identification or policy numbers that either relate to details of the defaulter and in many cases the calls are absurd. For eg. someone claiming to be from courier service initiates a call from Mumbai wanting to send a courier to Ghatkopar but not knowing the sender details! Why would a courier service take so much trouble to make a long distance call desperately trying to deliver the consignment!


I agree with the Bank representatives when they claim that these callers are not their employees but the fact is that these calls eventually lead to a call from these banks; so these collection agents are indeed linked to the banks and RBI needs to thoroughly investigate the nexus between Banks and dubious collection agents.


Personally based on my experience in 2014 in dealing with the HDFC Bank staff members like Ganesh Sakpal, Milind Palkar and Sunil Sharma after the call in May 2014 from Kanjurmarg branch, I feel that these debt department managers are both arrogant and indifferent towards the harassment that innocent people undergo because of their lack of due diligence in pursuing the defaulters.