The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC) has been directed by a consumer forum here to pay Rs 20,000 as compensation to a credit card holder for demanding dues of add-on-cards which he never received.
The New Delhi District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum noted that not enclosing any bills of the add-on-cards or proof of their delivery shows "malafide intention" of the bank to "conceal the facts".
"It has been noticed that opposite party (HSBC) neither enclosed any bills of add-on-cards nor proof of delivery of cards which clearly indicates malafide intention of opposite party to conceal the facts about cards which were misused either by bank officials or by someone else.
"We direct HSBC to waive dues on the add-on-cards which have never been used by complainant and we also award a sum of Rs 20,000 as compensation for harassment and litigation charges as he has unnecessarily suffered since 2006 to 2013...," a bench presided by C K Chaturvedi said.
The bank was also directed by the forum to remove name of the complainant, Delhi resident Ravi Seth, from the defaulters list of Credit Information Bureau (India) Limited (CIBIL).
Seth, in his complaint, had said he had taken a credit card from the bank in 2006 and had simultaneously signed a proposal form for add-on-cards for his wife, son and daughter.
He said that while the add-on-cards were never delivered to him, he got a call from the bank's customer care informing him that a huge outstanding is due on the add-on-cards.
He had contacted the bank regarding the outstanding dues and also demanded proof of delivery of the cards in question but HSBC failed to provide the same, Seth had alleged.
The bank in its defence had contended that Seth had signed the proposal forms for the add-on-cards.
This contention was rejected by the forum which said that signing the proposal forms does not necessarily mean that he received the cards and there was absence of any documents of proof of delivery.
