The Hyderabad Forum - III directed ICICI Bank Limited to pay ₹50,000 as compensation for seeking payment from an already full and final payment settled credit card account.
The forum was dealing with a complaint filed by M.J.S. Rama Krishna, a resident of APHB Bhagyanagar Colony. The complainant said credit card dues were cleared in 2007, but seven years later, the bank sought payment of ₹52,078.10 from him within 10 days. Further, the bank had a lien over the complainant’s saving bank account.
The forum noted that while on one hand, the bank claimed the account was not put in lien, a letter to the complainant stated the opposite. “It is glaringly obvious that the opposite party have committed a grave error and are willing to twist their facts to suit a devious act of negligence. Having issued this letter and then denying it only makes them look more foolish than necessary,” it noted.
Apart from ordering that compensation be paid, the forum asked the bank remove the lien, refrain from deducting the ‘alleged outstanding’ amount against the credit card dues and also play ₹5,000 as litigation costs.
CV to cough up fine
The same forum directed Country Vacations (CV) to refund an amount of ₹ 1.65 lakh and pay compensation of ₹30,000 for not delivering a plot of land promised at the time of taking membership.
The forum was dealing with a complaint filed by D. Giridhar Reddy, a resident of Motinagar, in which he said that the staff of CV, a divison of Country Club Hospitality & Holiday Ltd, had offered him lifetime membership. Apart from other facilities, he was also promised a plot of 200 sq yard which was not given. He added that the staff had also mentioned an annual maintenance of ₹5,000 would not be taken.
Quoting the Consumer Protection Act 1986, the forum said, “It is this of luring the innocent public with an ulterior motive of enrolling them as members of the Country Club, compelling them to pay membership fees and stating that it is non refundable and also denying the offer made in the agreement which amounts to gross unfair trade practice.”
The forum directed CV to pay ₹ 5,000 as costs.
