Deactivating of Credit card without any fault on my part?

Question

I have received the card statement due on 30.09.2015 asking for payment of Rs.17, 698.68. I had paid by cheque for Rs.5821/- towards earlier statement and the cheque also was debited to my Bank savings account on 28.08.2015 well before due date. In spite of the same I was charged penalty of Rs.600/-, interest of Rs.470.77 and service tax of rs.84/- and rs.65.91 - total burden Rs.1220.68 for no fault of mine. When contacted to credit card department in the bank I was asked to pay the full amount. When I resisted for the same they said once the amount of cheque is credited to card statement, we will revert but now you have to pay full. For no fault of mine, I received mental harrassment due to deactivation of card for non payment. Why the Bank should not be penalised for the same ?

 

Answer 1

Dear Sutaapa

If your payment was received by the card issuing bank, well within the due date indicated by them, levying of late fee and interest are definitely against the guidelines.  You have every right to seek refund / reversal if already paid or waiver if yet to be paid.  You may take up the grievance for redressal as per the following process.  Prior to the same, if you can get in touch with the Bank's credit card recovery team, it would be preferable to talk to them.

1.    Go to your Bank’s website and search for grievance redressal (or similar name) button and submit your complaint online.

2.    If you do not receive any reply / satisfactory reply within 10 days, lodge your complaint with the Nodal officer of the Bank (either through email or letter)

3.    If you do not receive any reply / satisfactory reply within 10 days from the Nodal officer, lodge your complaint with the Principal Nodal officer of the Bank (either through email or letter)

4.     If you are still not satisfied with the reply / do not receive reply from the Principal Nodal officer within 10 days, lodge your complaint with the Banking Ombudsman (either through letter or email)

RAJA