HDFC Credit Card Division — Harassing Collection Agents

HDFC Credit Card Division — Harassing Collection Agents

Dear Sir/Mam,

I am Sandeep Pandey a credit card holder with your bank since the year 2011. I was received this card enrolment form by one of your representatives who was distributing and enrolling people, right outside my office building. I have used the card and was regularly paying back the bank for quiet some time as the records would show.

However, I have lost jobs since January 2018 and my financial condition has been very bad since then. I have a family of 6...my mother ( housewife), my father(declared unfit and ill since 2017 by the doctors). My wife ( housewife) and one daughter aged 3.5 years and 1 son aged 1 year jobs. There are all depend on me for family expenses. We don't have a house, hence we are staying as a terant.

I have been earning just 15000 rupees per month since 2018...sometimes not even that. I have been trying to get myself a better paying job since then, in order to be able to pay back the bank.

Credit Card: 4893772401512468
Mobile #: 7208456399.

I do want to repay all the amounts owed to the bank. However, I am not able to pay anything more than Rs 2500/- per month. I have informed this to various customer care representatives and collection agencies as well.

However, below mentioned are some serious issues faced by me, my family, my neighbours due to your collection representatives.

On dated 06th August 2018 1 ladies and 3 person at time 11.00am they forcefully entered at my home and try to continue warning and telling that leave home immediately they want to seal flat now. They are also catch my daughter’s hand very tightly, her age is only 3.5 years and she studying in nursery class. They aggressively talking to her . Because of this my daughter is afraid and start crying. That is very very pathetic. They are also trying to harassing my wife that they telling “ Anjaam achha nahi Hogaa.” Now tomorrow dated 07th August 2018 me with my room owner going to raised police complain again HDFC credit card and against agency. On that same time I was received various call from number 02246123796. Such behaviour on the part of your agents is an illegal move as per the RBI rules.

They has called me over 5 times already and been very rude.

Also I was informed this thing to phone banking officer on same at time of 16.03pm.

Below mentioned are some rules sent to me by my father's lawyer for my reference.

RBI Rules:

(iii) Fair Practices in debt collection

(a) In the matter of recovery of dues, banks / NBFCs may ensure that they, as also their agents, adhere to the extant instructions on Fair Practice Code for lenders (circular DBOD. Leg. No. BC. 104 /09.07.007 / 2002–03 dated May 5, 2003) as also IBA’s Code for Collection of dues and repossession of security. In case banks / NBFCs have their own code for collection of dues it should, at the minimum, incorporate all the terms of IBA's Code.

(b) In particular, in regard to appointment of third party agencies for debt collection, it is essential that such agents refrain from action that could damage the integrity and reputation of the bank / NBFC and that they observe strict customer confidentiality. All letters issued by recovery agents must contain the name and address of a responsible senior officer of the card issuing bank whom the customer can contact at his location.

(c) Banks / NBFCs / their agents should not resort to intimidation or harassment of any kind, either verbal or physical, against any person in their debt collection efforts, including acts intended to humiliate publicly or intrude the privacy of the credit card holders’ family members, referees and friends, making threatening and anonymous calls or making false and misleading representations.

Like I have already suggested, I do want to pay, however, I need help from you as a bank officer in stopping such maligning and disturbing incidents.

However, I need some help as I dont trust these guys, and i dont think that they will help me. Kindly help.

Thanks .

Sandeep Pandey