Originally Posted by lovi75

Harassing Collection Agents

The following is the email sent by me to the Grievance Cell at HDFC.:
__________________________________________________ _____________________________________

Dear Sir/Mam,

I, Lovina Chandnani, am a credit card holder with your bank since the year 2005. I was given this card enrolment form by one of your representatives who was distributing and enrolling people, right outside my office building at that time Intelenet Global Services. I have used the card and was regularly paying back the bank for quiet some time as the records would show.

However, I have lost jobs since 2008 and my financial condition has been very bad since then. I have a family of 6...my grandmother (paralysed-bed ridden), my father(declared unfit and ill since 2007 by the doctors), my mother who is always taking care of my grandmother and my father cause of their illnesses. My 2 sisters who have now got jobs and they support my family expenses. We don't have a house, hence we are staying in my grandmother's house since the year 2007.

I have been earning just 10000 rupees per month since 2008...sometimes not even that. I have been trying to get myself a better paying job since then, in order to be able to pay back the bank.

Credit Card: ************5182 / ************8427
Mobile #: 9833447477

I do want to repay all the amounts owed to the bank. However, I am not able to pay anything more than Rs.1500/- per month. I have informed this to various customer care representatives and collection agencies as well.

However, below mentioned are some serious issues faced by me, my family, my neighbours due to your collection representatives.

Priya Mehta from Hdfc Bank started calling me at 10.40 am, Monday, June 14th, 2010.

Priya also called my neighbours at 10.45 and miscommunicated to them, that she was calling from SBI for an insurance amount to be given to me. She had called the same neighbors also on Friday and Saturday, 11th & 12th of June and said the same thing. My neighbours have lodged a complaint against the number 65290768 at the Mira road Police Station claiming harassment to them. Such behaviour on the part of your agents is an illegal move as per the RBI rules.
Ravi Verma spoke to me as a manager from HDFC bank. Upon asking the agency name, he said that they were calling from Collections Dept of the HDFC bank. I have informed them of the email being sent to you.
She has already called my neighbours 6 times today and has been very abusive over the phone with my neighbours and my parents.She has called me over 5 times already and been very rude,abusive and is maligning my name.

I have also received such calls earlier from another representative called Archana, from the numbers : 65149565,65149316.

Below mentioned are some rules sent to me by my father's lawyer for my reference.

RBI Rules:
(iii) Fair Practices in debt collection

(a) In the matter of recovery of dues, banks / NBFCs may ensure that they, as also their agents, adhere to the extant instructions on Fair Practice Code for lenders (circular DBOD. Leg. No. BC. 104 /09.07.007 / 2002–03 dated May 5, 2003) as also IBA’s Code for Collection of dues and repossession of security. In case banks / NBFCs have their own code for collection of dues it should, at the minimum, incorporate all the terms of IBA's Code.

(b) In particular, in regard to appointment of third party agencies for debt collection, it is essential that such agents refrain from action that could damage the integrity and reputation of the bank / NBFC and that they observe strict customer confidentiality. All letters issued by recovery agents must contain the name and address of a responsible senior officer of the card issuing bank whom the customer can contact at his location.

(c) Banks / NBFCs / their agents should not resort to intimidation or harassment of any kind, either verbal or physical, against any person in their debt collection efforts, including acts intended to humiliate publicly or intrude the privacy of the credit card holders’ family members, referees and friends, making threatening and anonymous calls or making false and misleading representations.

Like I have already suggested, I do want to pay, however, I need help from you as a bank officer in stopping such maligning and disturbing incidents. I'd like to get this sorted out and would like to start paying my card from July 1st...Rs. 1500/- every month on the 1st.

Kindly suggest the actions taken against Priya and the agency and also help me pay you back.

Anticipating cooperation from you.

Thank you.

Lovina Chandnani
__________________________________________________ __________________________________

However, I need some help as I dont trust these guys, and i dont think that they will help me. Kindly help.

Thanks .

Lovina

Dear Ms Chandnani,

We are investigating the matter and we have already written to your registered email id with complaint ref no TTU00048915062010.

We would also like to request you not to post sensitive information such as your credit card number on a public platform such as this, as it may lead to your account being compromised.

Regards, Customer Assistance, HDFC Bank

This compaint is regarding a recovery agency appointed by barclays. The name of the agency is car club and is situated at santacruz. I am having a personal loan from barclays (pl no p00003291316 ). This agency is in touch of me. This month i an not able to pay the emi and i politely told the collection man that he can take 2 emis next month from me and settle the loan in monthe of december 2010. He accordingly intimated his supervisor one mr anil pol who promptly called me on my office landline and i told him the same thing. He told me to pay at once or he will mentally harass me where i promptly disconected the phone. He again called on the landline which my colleague attended who intimated him that i was speaking on another line & either to hold or call back. On hearing this he told my colleague that he is a peon and should behave like one and started abusing him. This harassment has caused me to suffer from hypertension which resulted in semi-paralysis to rightside of my body. This type of harassment shoukd immediately stop since i will not able to bear the same an will lead me to end my life.

Kindly look in this matter on a urgent basis please
thanking you
dilip swant
sharepro services (india) pvt ltd
13 ab samitha warehousing complex
saki naka telephone exchange lane
saki naka
andheri e
mumbai -400 072

Sandeep

This complaint is regarding a recovery agency appointed by Barclays. The person who calls claims that he is from the bank were as he is from some agency situated some were in Mumbai.

I am holding a Credit Card and I could not pay the min due payment on 25th Oct 2010 due to no Salary and the company which I am working is small size, kind of proprietary owned and has no money to pay our salary so they decided to close and now I am jobless and in financial trouble.

I received a call on my cell number at 12:15 PM on date 27th Oct 2010 from Barclays agency after two days passed of my due date saying that he is calling from Barclays Bank Card Division and this call is regarding the credit card payment and the same is been recorded for quality and training purpose. I conveyed him that am not in a position to pay the payment immediately but definitely would pay within 8 days as I am expecting my due payments from the company, but he was insisting me for the Post Dated Cheque to which I replied that it is not possible for me to issue any post dated cheque, but surly will pay the due min amount by 4th of coming month and he should be rest assured. He agreed and said, see to that you would make the payment on the said date.

After Four hours again some different person called saying that he is calling from Barclays Card and this call is regarding the credit card payment and the same is been recorded for quality and training purpose. He said that my payment is over due by three days and should make the payment immediately and he would arrange a pickup for the same. I told him again the same which I told his colleague in the morning, but he was demanding and pressuring for immediate payment. When I strongly told him that if he can’t understand Hindi or English what I am saying he may better connect me to his other colleague so that I can tell him and he would make him understand what I am saying. He took my 20 min on phone and finally agreed that its ok if I am going to make the payment by 4th of this month.

Very next day that is on 29th the third person called me in the morning at 11:00 am on my cell saying he is calling from Barclays Card and this call is regarding the credit card payment and the same is been recorded for quality and training purpose, I nicely replied to him that before calling me you please hear the recorded conversation what I had with your two colleagues yesterday and hanged up the phone, after 3 hrs later fourth person ‘lady’ call me saying same thing….which I ended up the call telling her to please ref my conversation with your colleagues. Again in the evening I received more than 7 to 8 calls from the numbers on which earlier I spoke to these Barclays people but whenever I use to pick no one use to answer. This was simple harassment and cause more trouble to me.

On 30th morning 5 miss call from the same number I got at my residence, if picked no one used to answer and if you try to call back the number you get recorded message saying that this number is not valid number or not in service bla bla... seems incoming is barred. The Sixth call my father picked up and lady answered from other side saying that she would to speak with me, as I was not at home had gone nearby my father complaint against those calls earlier she made and not answered on which she said that its some technical problem. My father told her to call back after ½ hrs time or call on my mobile number and she hanged up.

She called back on my residence land line number at 13:40 hrs the same lady call me said that she is calling from Barclays Bank and this call is regarding the credit card payment and the same is been recorded for quality and training purpose, I asked her why do she have say all this and what is the use of it if you are not going through the past conversation happened with the Customer and simply calling. I repeated my existing situation to her but she was not ready to accept and was continuously demanding for making the payment immediately and telling the options of borrowing from someone and pay it, I told her if I would have to borrow the money then I would have paid the same on the due date and would not delayed, but as I can’t borrow from any one that’s why I am making the payment 8 days late. I asked her “you only tell me who will like to receive the call for payment”, hardly anyone in this world, but if you are helpless and asking for 8 days than is that wrong, she said that there will be late payment charges charged, I told her that the day I did not made the very next day your huge charges are already applied then and I am not asking for any waver of the same. After talking for 15 min she said make the payment on 4th w/o fail.

On 31st again some different lady person called at my residence from Barclays asking for me, my wife picked up and asked what it’s about but she said she would like to talk to me only and she hanged up the phone.
I was away from town with one of my friend and I received a call from a person saying me the same thing, I had no option than telling him to ref the earlier conversation and cut the phone, later received 4 calls from different number on which earlier I spoke these Barclays people.

Again today 1st Nov 2010 In Morning Person name Tariq called me on my cell and repeated the same things what all of them earlier said, I asked him that why he is unnecessary calling me, why he is not referring the earlier conversation, but he was very rough in his talk and was strongly pressurizing for immediate payment, I told him that it will be done only on 4th and not before that, he went rough on this and started arrogantly and said I must do the payment right now or will…., I was told him that he is threatening me unnecessarily as if I am not going to pay. I repeatedly told him to stop harassing me and its absolutely no point in calling me every day 10 time for the payment, which I am very well aware of and committed you the date. In case if I don’t pay the payment on the time given by me then you calling me, makes sense.

He kept on arguing with me saying that I am being using the money as if he has given me from his pocket. Again I told him that I am very helpless and just can’t pay a single penny before the date what I have committed. Then he started saying me that I am here to help and this is been system generated call hence he had call, when I asked him do they really have any kind of system that whatever conversation have taken place is been recorded or updated in remarks, on which he said that earlier people have written hear that the customer will be paying on 3rd, I told him when you know all this then why call me and spoil my time and work, he said that he called me to tell me the payment option, The way he started the talk and the way he ended the conversation, I could make out it was nothing but to just harass the customer.

If you call up the customer care they will say that they will take action but I heard that till date no action has been taken against this type act by the bank.

Can anyone tell me that any law or government agency in India that protects the people from such harassment.

Please email me on stechsyspl@yahoo.com I wish to take legal action

Dear
Sir/Madam

I Miss.Mithila Gawde am a credit card holder with Barclays Bank since 4years that time i was working with Centurion bank of Punjab at (Personal loan department) I have lost jobs since 2008 and my financial condition has been very bad since 2009 but but your side one ageny girl her name is prajatka and executive name is sudhakar every months coming and collocting cash of Rs.500/- but last Dec-2010 i was not able to give payment because my mother was suffering for BP high and Asthma f you required reports i will submit to you the executive was not listining ask for payment again and standing at my building i m telling him i dont have you come sometime but never listen me.

However,I will be doing settlement of Rs.5000/-at two part payment but i required two month of time because i have joined my job just onemonths i dont want any calling form agency depart suppose i get call form agency i will raced the complaint in RBI I will settle your account as soon as fast and please take decision fast

Pease note the number of agency people
Contact : - 022-67358611
Mobile : - 9819834583
Please reply me

Regads
Mithila Gawde
Email id - mithali_2011@rediffmail.com

Dear
Sir/Madam

I Kripal singh sandhu, i was a credit card holder of Axis Bank till end of year-2007, that time I was working with DHFL a contract employee my designation was a verification executive, I was getting approx salary of Rs.12 to 14 thousand a month, my salary account was with Axis Bank- BKC branch, Mumbai. In the year 2007-08 I was having 2 personal Loan the ECS was from axis bank only. In End of the year-2007 my credit limit of credit card Rs.30,000.00 was outstanding in the same time Axis Bank had locked(Stop) my salary account so i can not withdraw or deposit any money from my account. When i asked Bank Manager that who can axis bank credit card dept. can lock my salary account with informing or intimation to the account holder. Manager told me that this is done by there central dept. he can not help me. after sum issue and argument i have made cash payment of Rs.10,000.00 to the bank.
After all this my financial condition has been very bad and my job was changed i was working in same company as a asst.officer in account dept, were i was getting salary of Rs.5000.00p.m my financial condition was very bad.
From December-2009 I left Mumbai for my good job, presently I m out of India getting OK salary. But now problem is that sum agency people are coming to my house and harassing my mother for the outstanding payment. my mother she is above age of 65 years and she is not no about all this meter, but the collection people are telling her that if we done make a payment then this will happen that will happen. she gave me a information about this on 28.06.2011, and 2 day before also sum one had come for a collection and he took Rs.20,000.00 from my mother. I asked my mother to settle(Settlement) the meter with them for a Rs.30,000.00 but the collection and agency people are not agree for this they want more money. I m very sorry I cant give them more then Rs.30,000.00

Now i want help from u, for this meter also if there is any other way to settlement because I will be coming to India in Jan-2012 till that i want this meter to be close.

Please Help and reply me,

with regards,

Kripal S Sandhu