Bengaluru

Forum

State Bank of India

SBI

Twinkle Public School

Satellite

District Urban Consumer Disputes Redressalhas directed theto reverse debit entry of Rs 51 to a customer’s account for returning cheque book. The forum has also asked the bank to pay Rs 5,000 for deficiency of service and Rs 4,000 towards litigation cost.Syed Ishrathulla Hussaini, a resident of KHB Road, Kavalbyrasandra New Extension, Bengaluru, is a savings bank account holder at SBI. On September 23, 2014, he transferred Rs 20,000 from hisaccount towhich has an account in the same bank’s KengeriTown Branch.For transferring the money, he gave a cheque on September 23, 2014 for Rs 20,000 to the bank. As per core banking facility, it takes a few minutes to get the money transferred. But the money was not transferred even at the end of the day.The school authorities called him up saying that amount has not been credited to their account even after three days. Embarrassed, Hussaini approached the bank on September 29, 2014 but the concerned staff was on leave. He then sent an e-mail on September 30, 2014 but got no response.Hussaini again sent an e-mail to the bank on October 2 and got a reply the next day stating that the amount has been credited to the school’s account on October 1, 2014. However, the bank neither gave a reason for the delay nor showed remorse for their negligence.On May 25, 2015, Hussaini found an unfair debit of Rs 51. He immediately approached the bank to reverse the debited money. The authorities told him that it is the duty of courier to return a cheque book when his door was locked. Hussaini had not opted for this service. Hussaini collected the cheque book personally from the bank which did not give any justification for debiting Rs 51.On July 10, 2015, he went to the bank to withdraw Rs 40,000 and was given a token. He was asked to wait. Hussaini noticed that, of four counters, only two were operating despite a number of customers waiting. When questioned, the bank authorities misbehaved with him. Hence, he filed a complaint with the forum on November 23, 2015.The bank claimed that delay was due to misplacement of the cheque and it was explained to Hussaini. The bank was ready to reimburse any charges/penalty levied by the beneficiary (the school) but he did not respond.Holding the bank guilty of deficiency in service, inefficiency and incompetence in handling the account, the forum has on October 12, 2017 directed the SBI to reverse the debit entry of Rs 51 to Hussaini for returning cheque book.The forum has also directed the bank to pay Rs 5,000 for deficiency of service and Rs 4,000 towards litigation cost.