Apr 13, 2003 06:34 PM
2534 Views
(Updated Apr 13, 2003 06:45 PM)
There are decisions at which you can do nothing except regret. But there are news that make you happy. Im not talking of the sadistic ones. THe recent one for instance, wehre ICICI Bank customers have been flocking to the bank branches to withdraw their money following newspaper reports that the bank has shown losses... has made me happy no end.
Someone who knows that I have a savings account with this bank, has all rights to opine that Im mad or something . But well I wish this bank is doomed and is thrown out of the country . My hatred is not baseless.
Merely for the fault of having a savings acocunt with this bank, I have undergone pain , irritated noons and nights and what not.
To begin with , I was quite a happy person when I decided to open an account with this send largest India's bank!!
Anyways not long did it take me to realise I had committed a Blunder.
The bank has various... facilities for its customers, icnluding the one where one can access his/her account on Internet.. a prime reason for me who doesnt have the time and patience to visit bank every second day, to open an account here. However, around a month or so after opening the account with ICICI, my Internet account was disabled.
I instantly wrote a letter to the mentioned department who told me that I will have to send a fax to Mumbai .
To confirm the same I called them up using their phone banking facility. THough it was only after several attempts that I could reach the customer care centre, I was relieved when told that I could lodge the complaint there itself. I did the same and was given a reference number. THis was September 2002. I waited .. they had said 48 hours. I waited for 2 days, 3 days, a week , 10 days and called up again . I was told that my ref number had been misplaced so I was given another reference number and asked to wait for 4-5 days. Again after around 2 weeks I called up as I hadnt recieved any. I was told that I wasnt staying at the address I had mentioned.
That was a revelation.. I dint know whether I should laugh or cry because I was facing high inconvenience.
ANyways, I was given another reference number around 2 more times and by now it was December 2002. I had to shift to a new residence so I notfied the same to the bank and again brought it to their notice that I hadnt received my new password. Well they told me that since its been more than 3 months that my account was deactivate, I should send a fax at Delhi , the place where I have my account . Fair enuff. I sent a fax. No avail.. Its April.. I have received atleast 10 reference numbers and still my account remain s deactivated.
As if things dont end here. In the month of Feb I needed some money very urgently for which I took a loan from my Provident Fund. The cheque was deposited with ICICI . WHo even after 15 days did not clear the cheque.. a local cheque.. In my uncountable queries I was also told that I should not have trusted dropping a cheque in the drop box , because that leaves me with no proof of having deposited the cheque. Khair it was cleared after a month . after my approaching the officials, shouting at them et stuff. THe money I had to borrow from friends et al .
Friends I am now opening an account with some other bank , preferable a Public Sector Bank. A visit to the ICICI Bank branch makes you feel the most unwanted person .
I would advise you all not to get into the clutches of ''beautiful smiles' and ''smart English (Hinglish)'' while opening an account with a bank like this..
thats all I have to say .. I hope life would be better once my relationship with this bank ends..
Love to You all and Best WIshes
