STATE BANK OF INDIA REFUNDS DEFRAUDED AMOUNT THROUGH
RTI PUNCH
Exactly one year ago, an amount of Rs.18500/- was
withdrawn from ATM of State Bank of Mysore [SBM] at Belapur near Mumbai, while
my friend was having his SBI [State bank of India] ATM card at Junagadh [nearly
700 kms away]. He got SMS for debit. A complaint and claim was lodged with
branch of SBI at Junagadh. In addition RTI was filed with SBM for CCTV footage
which they supplied through SBI along with reports generated by ATM system.
SBI first treated this as ATM failed transaction
[where account is debited and no money dispensed by ATM] and declared that
their system shows that transaction was successful. We insisted that this is a
case of fraud of card cloning and skimming of PIN. SBI accepted it later on. We
supported our claim with information received under RTI Act from SBM and also
SBI. In August 2014 SBI agreed to reimburse amount but processing and sanction of
claim was inordinately delayed at LHO Ahmedabad. Again RTIs were filed to dig
out status and manual extract for ATMs etc. Based on this we lodged detailed
complaint to Corporate Center at Mumbai. It did not work for a month and hence
on 13-04-2015 email was sent
to CMD of SBI with relevant details. On 17-04-2015 bank refunded the amount. As
per SBI manual, such claims should have been settled in 33 days from
date of complaint but was delayed for one year!!! However, we shall be
claiming compensation, interest and expenses shortly through administrative
channel as per compensation policy of banks and ensure that accountability for
unexplained delay is fixed on officers.
In last one year 7 RTI applications and 3 first
appeals were filed with SBM and SBI.
Right from branch head to AGM Junagadh to GM/CGM LHO
Ahmedabad, DGM Corporate Center Mumbai and ultimately CMD had to be sensitized
for such a small claim.
I do not know what this bank will do with poor
illiterate villagers when they will use ATMs under Jan Dhan Yojana of Hon’ble
Prime Minister. We shall be submitting details of this case to PMO to ensure
that villagers are not harassed by banks at least under PMJDY.
17-04-2015
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