Forum holds Standard Chartered Bank guilty of deficient service

Ahmedabad, Oct 13 (UNI) The Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum here has held the Standard Chartered Bank guilty of deficiency in services.

The Standard Chartered Bank credit card, belonging to city resident Dinesh Gandhi, was stolen. He had tried contacting the Bank but it took him 40 minutes to establish contact and get the card blocked. Meanwhile, Rs 50,000 had been withdrawn from ATM using the credit card. Dinesh had filed an FIR.

The Bank, considering the amount as cash advance availed by Dinesh, had compelled him to pay the amount along with interest, amounting to Rs 55133.32.

Dinesh approached the Consumer Education and Research Society (CERS) here which, in turn, took up the matter with the city consumer forum.

The Bank contended that the responsibility for the safe custody of the credit card and its personal identity number (PIN) rested with the card holder, and, consequently, the withdrawal of the amount using the card had to be borne by the card holder.

The CERS brought to the notice of the Forum that as per the terms and conditions of cash advance limit, a card holder, holding the card for less than six months, was entitled to only 15 per cent of the credit limit. Dinesh had acquired the card in April 2005 and lost it in May of the same year. He was, therefore, entitled to a cash advance of Rs 9,900 (15 per cent of his credit limit of Rs 66,000).

Yet, the Bank had allowed withdrawal of Rs 50,000 which clearly shows negligence and deficiency of services of Standard Chartered Bank, the CERS contended.

The Forum upheld the contention and, while holding Standard Chartered Bank responsible for deficiency in services, has asked the Bank to reimburse the amount paid by Dinesh in excess to his credit limit of Rs 9,900, which is Rs 45233.32, along with interest at nine per cent from July 8, 2005 - the date Dinesh made the payment to the Bank - till the date of reimbursement by the Bank.

UNI