Maneel’s Blog

Around a month ago, when I was still in Pune, I got to know that HDFC Bank in Mukherji Nagar told my parents that they were accepting a deposit for the last time and I will have to personally meet them to resolve the issue. The ‘issue’ ? Well, I’ve a large number of transactions.

So when I came to Delhi, I went to meet the bank manager. Apparently, he didn’t know he is no one to tell me how much I should withdraw at a time. It’s my wish if I want to withdraw 10,000 at one go or I withdraw 200 Rs. 50 times, isn’t it ? But, what I get from the bank manager is “Sir, your account is one of the few we’ve shortlisted and you have an large number of transaction. Please reduce your number of transactions and it’ll benifit both of us”. Perhaps he thought I was a college going idiot so I’ll say Yes Uncle, I’ll withdraw once in 6 months now, but I couldn’t stop myself from asking him if it was a rule made by RBI or HDFC.

And his reply made me laugh at what they call customer service. Apparently, if you use an ATM of another bank, the bank has to pay some charge. To cost-cut this cost, he had ’shortlisted’ my account, because I generally withdraw from whichever ATM is in sight. A couple of months ago, a friend’s account in HDFC was BLOCKED for similar reasons.

So, the point is HDFC (and maybe other banks too) are playing with the low awareness of people, so if your bank manager ‘reprimands’ you, tell him in his face this is NOT a rule, and the bank has no control over the number of transactions you make, nor do they have a right to restrict it.

P.S. I wonder what these banks do with the more-vulnerable credit card holders.