May 31, 2004 12:50 PM
5833 Views
(Updated May 31, 2004 12:50 PM)
I hold a Citibank classic credit since 1997. In the years I have never ever defaulted on my payment and have never paid Citibank a rupee more than what has reflected in the monthly statement.
In the last 3 year I have spend most of the time abroad and never ever used the card abroad. During my stay abroad, I have always paid my yearly renewal fees. 6 months back I returned and settled down India for good. In the month of February 2004 I go to purchase an high value white good, to my astonishment my credit card has been blocked from use.
Though I was embraced in the shop, I used my wife's ICICI Credit card to purchase the product. (here I must say that the blocking of my Citibank card is not new to me, as every year they block my card for lame reason like the person not traceable etc, but little does they cross check that the monthly payment is received by Citibank before the due date). The next day I called up Citibank to get the exact reason as to why the amount was declined. Please note that my name is Ajit Sankaranarayanan and the name which shows on my credit card is Ajit.S.
The answer the Citibank officer gives is that I am Ajit Sawant and I have an Indian Oil Card (add on Card) and that I have to pay them Rs. 20,000. It seems Ajit Sawant has exact my date of birth, my residence address but the office address then mentioned is Mumbai and that card is linked to my card number. Thus since the add on card due is not settled they have blocked my card which belongs to me, which according to them is the main card.
How is that for a service for Citibank card holder since 1997. Since then I have written more emails and snail mails and have made phone calls to get this thing sorted out. In the month of March I get to talk to a lady who assures that things will get sorted out and there is no need to worry (now it is almost 3 months since this issue has come to light). They even send a verification gentleman to my residence to cross check, I show the gentleman my passport and other name proof.
In the month of May 2004 I get a call around 6.30am in the morning from Citibank collection department, they address my name as Mr. Sawant and reminds me that I need to settle the amount of Rs.20000. I again tell the lady the entire story and the lady politely tells me that this is not her department and I need to get in touch with the customer service department. Which I do immediately. The entire episodes seems to be reopening as I narrate the story to the lady at the other end ( Ms Merlin), They ask me to fax copy of my passport etc to them.
Now please note that on the same day ( 29th May, 2004) I receive a Credit card statement of Ajit Sawant in my office address. What Citibank has done is incorporate my new office address into Ajit Sawant's address, that is replacing Ajit Sawant's mumbai office address to that of my office address which is in Hyderabad. Now the total address of Ajit Sawant carry my residence address and my office address.
On 30th May, 2004, my card again is blocked from use,the vendor comes back and tells me about the decline, causing extreme embracement. Here again the lady whom I spoke to 2 days back assured me that there is no cause of worry and there will be no hurdles and the matter will be sorted within 2 days.
This saga refuse to die down and neither Citibank has a clue has to what to be done. From what I gather is Citibank has done a credit card fraud to give another person an add-on card with my card number as the main card, while the time I was away. So the verification department worked hand in hand for the approval of the add-on card, which should have found no problem for approval as a) I was not contactable, so they cleared the papers. b) I have extreemly clean payment record since 1997. c) They could easily interchange my details with another person's. My payment record with Citibank is so clean that I have never ever paid a late fee or delayed a payment. I have always paid in full due amount on time every time.
I request the citizens of India to be extremely careful if you hold a Citibank credit card. Now the biggest problem I face is if Citibank can change the address of another person holding a different card's address to my office address, which they have done after I brought to their notice in February, they can very easily change the full name, photograph, signature and all other things so as to claim that I am the person who vows the money to them.
This is very dangerous and can be extremely harmful to all Citibank credit card holders. Please be very careful when applying for Citibank card and if you are declined of amount inspite of having a clean credit record please have it cross checked.
If any citizen has a clue to whom I can seek legal help in this matter please write to me at ajitsank71@indiatimes.com. I would also like to know how much damage I can claim if go I legally in this matter. As now I have proof of all the communications and statement of other gentlemen with me.
