Beware of Credit Cards!!
Im Rashmi, working in a IT concern and earning 1,50,000 p.a. One fine day I received a call from a gentle man stating that he is calling from one of the leading bank (I dont want to mention the bank name because all the banks are following the same method). First he confirmed that whether he is talking to me n congratulated me that “You got approval for the Credit card based on your salary account” and the first mistake I have done is, when he said this message I replied him “Ok”. Thats all he caught me. His next question is “Sir, did you received your creditcard, because we sent it two days before and by this time it would have reached you”. But I dint receive any couriers so I replied him no, then he said “ok sir, I will check with the concern executive who has sent it to you and call back” and formally he given his contact no (office landline) n disconnected the line”.
I waited for two days but still I dint receive any couriers. So I called him thinking that it may be delivered to a wrong address. This time also he is very friendly and answered me “It is confirmed that courier is sent to you and may be there will be delay in delivering it to you, dont worry sir you will receive it shortly”. Im not much interested in creditcard, so I dint question him more….
On the same day I received a call from Girl stating that she is from the same bank insurance section, and her first question is “Sir, did you received your credit card?” and I replied with the story mentioned above. She said “Ok sir you will receive it”, and there is good offer from the bank based on your creditcard, this is regarding Insurance Policy sir”. I asked her to go ahead. She explained full benefits of that policy, everything is fine. So i agreed to take the policy. She said that I will be receiving the documents through courier shortly. Remember that I dint even sign in any single paper to get my Creditcard and Insurance Policy.
Two days later I received the whole bunch of couriers which contains both the Creditcard and Insurance documents. I was shocked to know that the courier is sent after I agreed for the insurance policy whereas the very first gentleman said creditcard is already sent to me. Later I thought of cancel the Insurance, so I called the customer care and informed the executive, they replied that concern person from your area will call you back regarding this (since the customer care centre is nationalised one). And I received a call from Chennai asking the reason of cancelling the Insurance Policy, I replied that I am not interested so I want to cancel it. She started explaining the benefits of it but this time I dint accept her words, I just asked them to cancel. Finally she said that If you cancel your policy now, you will be charged Rs.1500/- as fine. I said that I want to check with my elder brother regarding this, but she dint allow me to disconnect the line and she added the reason that the call is being recorded as a proof for cancelling. Now no other way for me, so I said ok and disconnected the line. Meanwhile I sent a mailed to cancel my insurance.
Two weeks later I received a letter of cancelling the Insurance Policy. Im satisfied that some how I cancelled it and there will be no probs. Later I received a creditcard statement with the insurance cancellation charge of Rs.525/- only (whereas she said Rs.1500/-). I thought that there will some cheating behind this. So I dint pay my creditcard bill. Month by Month, my creditcard due amount is increased due to delay in payment, service tax, etc.,
Six months later my creditcard due amount reached around Rs.4000/- but I dint even pay any single due. Now I received a call from an senior executive and he said that there is no other go for you sir because all the calls you received from the banks will be recorded, so even if you move it legally also you cant win in this. He spoke to me as a wellwisher. And also he added that at present the bank wont take any action against you but once the credit card due reaches a bulk amount then you will have to face all the legal problems and that time you have to pay double the amount of your creditcard due as a fine. So its better to pay nowitself and even if you wish you can cancel the card.
But this time also there is no reaction from my side.
And now finally,
Two days before, I received a call from girl asking for my creditcard bill and I said what has all happened, now im not in a position to pay my bill. So this time she gave me another option to pay just Rs.180/- and she will get the revisal for the total due amount (i.e., Rs.4000/-). This time I agreed and paid Rs.180/- and now I am waiting for the next creditcard statement to know about the revisal or again I am cheated!!
So please friends, dont fall in like these type of problems. Be very carefull before get your creditcard or insurance policy, confirm with the executive that there will be any hidden charges.
