SHILLONG: Senior citizen and an old resident of Shillong, Anjan K Nath, opened an account at ICICI Bank Laitumkhrah. When the manager of that branch was transferred to Nongmynsong branch, she requested Nath to open a new account at the Branch on the plea that she would manage his banking affairs.
On August 18 last, Nath received a text message from the bank saying an amount of Rs 2,00,965 was debited from the new account. On checking the statement, Nath found that the amount was debited for ICICI prudential life insurance without his knowledge and consent. Nath said he has already paid his life insurance premium. Incidentally, the new account is not linked to his other personal details.
Nath then contacted the bank manager via WhatsApp on August 18, 21 and 24 regarding the issue and did not get a satisfactory answer.
Since Anjan K Nath is keeping indifferent health, his daughter Anjali Nath was constantly in touch with the bank manager.
Finally on August 29, the bank manager told Anjali that the amount was mistakenly debited from her father’s account when it should have been debited from another person by the same name. The branch manager assured Anjali that the money would be deposited back to Nath’s account as soon as possible.
On September 29, Anjali again contacted the manager as the money had not yet been credited to her father’s account. The manager told her to write a complaint via email to her personal email account. She also assured Anjali that the amount due would be credited as soon as possible.
The complaint email was written but with no results.
On October 6, Anjali contacted the bank yet again but was told that the matter is under process and the amount would be returned within 10 days. Effectively the money should have been credited to Nath’s account by October 16. But even then there was no sign of the money being returned.
On October 18, by which time two months had elapsed, Anjali again reminded the bank manager. As usual, she said she would follow up the matter but with no results.
On October 23, Anjali went all the way to ICICI, Nongmynsong branch, to meet the manager personally. She called up the ICICI Prudential office and they said they needed a cancelled cheque.
On October 27, the cancelled cheque was submitted and the bank again promised to return the money within the week but it is already November 1, and the money is yet to be credited.
Anjali, who has had a harrowing time following up on this matter, told this reporter, “I hope this will not happen to other people as it is like a serious fraud done by the ICICI Prudential Life Insurance in connivance with ICICI Bank. We put our money in the Bank to be safe and it should be safe.”
This is a fit case for the Consumer Court and the matter should be taken up suo moto, said those who are familiar with this case. The question is also whether Anjan Nath will earn the interest due to him on the amount from the time it was debited until it is credited back to his account.
On Sunday, this scribe reached out to the branch manager to enquire about the matter and reasons for the delay. The lady replied that there was delay in raising the matter. However, she said she would ensure it would be resolved on Monday.
When Nath’s daughter contacted the branch manager on Monday, she was told the amount would be credited by Tuesday 2 pm. On Tuesday, until writing of this report, the amount has not been credited nor is there any response from the branch manager ICICI, Nongmynsong Branch.