[Resolved]  State Bank of India — Misuse of SBI Brand Name against Common man by SBI Card

In the month August 2007, I was approached by one Sri Pranjal Deka, Team Leader, SBI Cards, Guwahati (Mobile no:[protected] who offered me a SBI Credit Card. Because of the SBI Brand Name, I agreed to his offer and signed a form in anticipation of receiving a credit card. However, I did not go through the details in the form and instead relied on the SBI Brand Name.
To my surprise, I was sent a Draft no:195652 dated 01/10/2007 drawn on State Bank Of Travancore for Rs: 6000/- forwarded by a letter signed by Sri Ajay Bharti, Assistant Vice President-Services, SBI Cards & Payment Services Pvt. Ltd, Gurgaon. The letter referred to A/C No/Card No:[protected], but, I had not received any Credit Card from SBI Card nor had I made any request for ant amount by Bank Draft or any other means.

Therefore, I returned back the above mentioned Draft no: 195652 dated 01/10/2007 drawn for Rs: 6, 000/- to SBI Card and Payment Services Ltd., DLF Infinity Towers, Gurgaon-122002 by DTDC Courier & Cargo Limited vide consignment no:*K 24790573* despatched from Guwahati 30th October 2007.

After a period around 15 days, I received numerous phone calls from one Mr. Arun Desai who identified himself as SBI legal Department, Delhi from Ph no:[protected]. Though, I explained to him that I had only applied credit card and did not make any request draft amount Rs: 6000/- and that I had therefore returned the Draft, Draft no: 195652 dated 01/10/2007 for Rs: 6000/- back to SBI Card and Payment Services Ltd., he continued to threaten me with legal action as I had a signed a form.

The threatening and insulting calls from Arun Desai, Advocate, SBI Legal Department, Delhi and his collagues continued for next 7-8 months, Even though I had not made any financial transaction through SBI Card, out of sheer frustation, helplessness and confusion, I agreed to a one time settlement of Rs: 6500/-. Accordingly one representative of State Bank of India Card collected the amount of Rs: 6500/- from my Office in Assam Secretariat, Guwahati, Assam. SBI Cards Money Receipt no: 11872684 dtd: 15/07/2008.

Subsequently, I received a letter dated 22/07/2008 from Manager-Payment Assistance, SBI Card, SBI Card & Payment Services Pvt. Ltd., Gurgaon, Haryana, dtd: 22/07/2008 wherein it was confimed that on payment of Rs: 6500/- there will be no more dues in respect of my account and that this is a one time full and final offer.

Shockingly, I then received a Demand Notice ( Ref no: QL/150/10-oCT-08/42804 DTD 10TH oCTOBER 2008 FROM sRI rAJEEV aGARWAL (aDVOCATE), lAWYERS iNC., REPRESENTING SBI CARD WHEREIN I WAS ASKED TO CLEAR OUTSTANDING DUES OF RS:6279.75/- within 7 days failing which legal proceedings would be initiated under Indian Penal Code.

The above sequence of events makes it clear that SBI Card took undue advantage of our faith and goodwill towards State Bank of India. SBI Card had also used fraudulent means to take advantage of a common man's tendency not to read the fine print.

Moreover, inspite of not receiving any credit card, and returning the Demand Draft of Rs: 6000/- I had to make payment of Rs: 6500/- only under extreme pressure and threats issued by SBI Card. Even then I have now been issued a legal notice.

In view of the above, I request you kind intervention in the following.
1. Refund of my payment of Rs: 6500/- which I had made no financial transaction through SBI Card.
2. Withdrawal of all proceedings legal or otherwise in my name
3. An explanation of the whole matter and on assurance that our goodwill towards State Bank of India will not be misused against us in future.

I will be grateful for an early reply from your end.