Hi,

I am a doctor currently working in the U.K. for last one yr. About 5 months back a call was received by my father in law, in India from the SBI credit card collection agency, citing my whereabouts. My father in law passed on my U.K. landline no. to him. After that , I received a call here stating that about 6.5 yrs ago I had made a purchase on my SBI credit card to the tune of Rs. 6000, which I had not repaid and now in all these yrs the amount has increased to Rs.1,80,000. I just donot remember that I ever owned such a credit card or I have made any such purchase. Further in all these yrs, I have never ever been contacted by the bank on this issue.That time I was staying in a hostel and in these 6.5 yrs have changed my accomodation 2-3 times. But no letter or credit card statement has ever been received by me or even been received at my permanent address.All these yrs I was in India but the bank did not contact me even once. Now, that I have shifted to U.K. they have suddenly started tracing me and giving me these threatening calls. They have even gone to the extent of tracing my wife's details -e.g where she worked in India etc. Last time (5 months back) when I recevied the call, the person on the ther side could not convince me that the card was issued to me and that I had used it. After 5 months, suddenly today I receive a call on my wife's mobile no. for the same issue.The person straight away wanted a settlement and didn't ask me to pay the entire amount. However I didnot discuss about any settlement with him as I am not convined about what all the bank is saying.

I honestly donot remember about the card after 6.5 yrs. I was in India all this while and had other credit cards and even have a premier bank credit card here. However, I have never defaulted my payment on any of those cards. Even if I agree for a moment that the card would have been used by me and I would have forgotten to pay up, why was the bank sitting on it for such a long time and didnot bother to contact me. I am sure if they can trace my interntional contact details they could have got my local contact details while I was in Delhi for so many yrs.Why should I now go for a settlement when the bank has knowingly build up the small amount to a huge 1.8 lacs.

Pls. suggest. I am only worried that the bank might harass my parents / relatives in Inida. Can they do so. What should I do in that case.

Regards
Dr. Sachin