Yet Another Horrifying Bank. Review on ICICI Bank

Hi,

I saw an ad in newspaper that ICICI is offering 0 balance roaming current accounts. I thought of applying and called them. After waiting for 3 days a representative came who knew nothing about the service he was going to offer.

Anyways I specifically asked him to provide me with Internet Banking feature so I can do all transactions online. He said yes okay. The form got filled, all formalities were completed within minutes.

After a week I got only a cheque book and nothing else. I thought maybe it will all come separately (i am referring to user id's/ password etc.). But after waiting a month nothing came up. I started calling and email to bank and then I came to know that I have to call them up in the corporate division.

I called up their corporate division where they told me that I am not registered for Internet Banking. I asked them to do so. But they denied and asked me to visit the bank and fill a lengthy and confusing form of about 4-5 pages for just getting a simple Internet Username / Password.

Anyways I tried filling it up but failed because the information it required was not with me (or which was never given to me). Anyways with a little help from their phone banking officer somehow I managed to get the form filled. I submitted the form on 9th March 2006, and I got a reply on 14th March saying that the form I have filled is incomplete.

Till this time I got so much frustrated that I decided to close this account for good. But suddenly after 2 days I received a letter in which I found the username / password for the internet banking. But it also had another form to activate the username / password.

Without any delay within minutes I filled that one page form and faxed it to the number specified. But after 3 days of faxing my username / password was still inactive. I called corporate section again o verify why its inactive. They told me that it takes 48 hours. So I waited more than 48 hours and then today i.e: 21st march 2006 I called them again in morning and they told me that they have not received any fax and hence they won't be able to activate the username / password.

So today I have decided not to indulge in this anymore and waste my time. I receive small payments in my account on confirmation on which I have to ship orders of customers. But as I do not have access to internet banking I cannot do the needful. I mean why get in so much trouble to just get a small facility like internet banking. I have been in a very good loss as I have been unable to track payments which are sent by the customers.

The phone banking officers are good for nothing they are just there to waste your time and raise your phone bill. You stay on hold for hours go from one person to another and its all just a big mistake. So now I have decided to close the account and tommorow is the day chosen for it.

I would like to advice that if you need internet banking or any other feature then it is suggested that you visit the bank itself and consult a expert and not some sales pappu coming to your office getting the form filled up quickly and making his $$$ as incentive.

Thanks.