Bank asked to pay Rs 50 K or provide air ticket to customer

A consumer forum here has asked Axis Bank to either pay Rs 50,000 as damages or provide an international flight ticket to one of its credit card holders who was a "victim" of its "fraudulent schemes".
Under the bank's scheme, the complainant was promised a complimentary international flight ticket if he spent a minimum of Rs one lakh through his credit card, but despite spending more than the specified amount, the bank "arbitrarily" denied him the benefit, the New Delhi District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum observed.
The forum presided over by C K Chaturvedi noted in its order that the bank's conduct amounted to a "false promise made to a consumer to enhance his maximum purchase through credit card" and in this way "lakhs and lakhs (of consumers) have been victimised or preyed upon by opposite party (Axis Bank) fraudulently in open market".

It held Axis Bank "guilty of deficiency in service/unfair trade practice and breach of contract through induction of fraudulent scheme to exploit the complainant arbitrarily" and directed the bank to "provide another flight offer in lieu of the one denied arbitrarily, failing which to pay compensation of Rs 40,000 to complainant and pay Rs 10,000 for litigation expenses".
Delhi resident Har Bhagwan Wadhwa had alleged that he had received from Axis Bank the scheme letter according to which if he spent a minimum of Rs one lakh by his card, he was eligible for a complimentary flight ticket.
He contended that he had spent more than the stipulated amount, his eligibility was confirmed by the bank and he had sent the filled up booking form for the ticket well in time, despite which Axis Bank did not honour its commitment.

Axis Bank had denied his claim, saying he had not complied with the offer conditions, but the forum rejected the bank's stand.