Aug 03, 2012 10:44 PM
4545 Views
I went to SBI Perungudi, Chennai branch today to get a new ATM card as the magnetic strip in my card was peeling off. After two hours of breaking my head I withdrew all my money from my account and walked out promising myself I will never come here again. Here is what happened.
I walk into the bank and tell a lady about my ATM card problem. She suggests to block current card and apply for new card. In order to do that I have to call some toll free number and get a requisition number and that toll free number can only be dialled form a land line, so go home call and then come some other day.
[(1). If I have to do bank related stuff then I should be able to do it in the bank and not go out somewhere to do it].
So she takes some crumpled piece of paper which is lying around and shows me two numbers that I have to call. I then save those numbers in my mobile and to my astonishment one of the numbers was 10 digit and another was 11 digits. I ask her why and she replies " I don't know. This is what they gave us".
[(2). SBI office people does not even know their own phone numbers, don't even care to take a proper note of it, and does not care when asked about it.]
So then I walk out of the branch and thought why don't I just try calling from my mobile. I tried the 10 digit number and it did not work. I tried the 11 digit number and it worked. I then gave my account number and successfully got the requisition number for new ATM card.
Now I walk into the branch again and go to the lady and tell her I got the req number. She tells that I have to fill a form and points me in some direction. I go and stand in the crowd in front of that guy and after 5 mins that guy gives me a old piece of scrap paper which was used to print something and shows me the back side and tells me to write a letter requesting ATM card.
[(3). The form which I was waiting for for 5 mins was some scrap paper. SBI's ATM card requisition form is "scrap paper"]
Then I write the letter and wait in the crowd to show it to the guy who gave me the scrap paper for another 5 mins. He then points me to somebody else telling me that he will authorize it.
This guy has almost 7 people standing in front of him. So I also go and join the crowd. After 10 mins I show the letter and tell him the whole story and this guy just point me to the next person. I ask him that the previous person told you will authorize it and now why are you sending me to next person. He told that I have to go to next person and pay 200RS and then come.
[(4). This guy is just directing me to somebody to decrease the crowd standing in front of him. By now I have somewhat lost my patience but still playing along]
So now I then go to the next lady who fills 200RS in some form and points me to get token and pay in the counter.
[(5). Why can't these things be done by a single person. By now I have meet with four people, talked over phone with one guy and have not even progressed 20% in getting my ATM card.]
So now I get a token and wait for 15 mins till the token number is called and am almost loosing my patience.
Then I go to the counter when the token number is called and suddenly somebody walks in front of me to the counter and that counter lady starts serving him.
[(6). I was the one who had the proper token number and that lady does not even care to check the token number]
So then after that person is finished in the counter I go and show that lady the requisition letter. She asks whether you wrote this letter?. I told'yes'. She immediately point me to those previous people and asks me to show the letter to them. I then rise my voice and tell her that I have showed the letter to every person who is there and I have come to you to pay the 200RS. Then she shakes her head and takes the money and put some small scribble in the letter with her pen.
[(7). All those previous people should have signed to indicate that they have seen it. They just point me to the next person. This lady has to check the token number which she does not do. This lady also tried to direct me to somebody and get rid of me.]
So now I go to the previous lady and show the letter. She points me to the guy with the big crowd in front of him.
By now I totally lost my patience but wait for one last bit. Now I wait for another 15 mins in that crowd and show him the letter. This guy without even looking point me to go to the previous lady. I get very angry and start yelling that she directed me to you. This guy then asks that lady to do it. That lady then keeps telling that guy to do it. Then they keep speaking in some banking terms and throwing my requisition letter at each other.
I thought this is it. I went and got a withdrawal slip and withdrew all my money and walked out telling myself I will never walk into this bank again.
