HDFC Bank has been directed by a consumer forum here to pay Rs 50,000 as compensation to one of its account holders for "illegally" deducting money from him for the usage of a card which was not delivered to him.
The South West District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum observed that though the bank refunded the deducted amount after a month, during that period the complainant was deprived from using his money.
The forum also observed that since banks are custodians of public money, such action of HDFC was "highly objectionable, illegal and condemnable" and the complainant is entitled to be reasonably compensated for that.
"It appears the credit card was issued and delivered on the wrong address... There is apparent mistake on the part of the opposite party (HDFC). The amount was recovered without giving any notice to the complainant which is unjustified.
"On constant complaints and reminders of complainant, the mistake was realised and the amount was reversed into his account. During this period of one month, complainant badly suffered and was deprived from using his money lying in the account of the bank," a bench presided by Narendra Kumar said.
It directed HDFC Bank to pay Rs 50,000 to Sunil Kumar Kushwaha, a resident of Gurgaon in Haryana, for the harassment caused to him.
Kushwaha, in his complaint, had said he had a savings and current account in HDFC Bank which had offered him a credit card, but it was not delivered to him.
The card was used by someone else, but he got threatening calls from collection agents for paying the bills and despite his explanations, HDFC deducted an amount of over Rs 1.35 lakh from him, he had alleged.
He said the amount was refunded a month later only after he had sent a legal notice to the bank and during that period he suffered due to lack of funds in his accounts.
HDFC in its written statement had refuted the allegations made by Kushwaha.
