Rs 12,400 penalty for a '6 paise' due; shocked SBI Silchar customer says, "I am not the only one"

State Bank of India that markets itself as a banker for every Indian has few upset credit card customers in Silchar. Though SBI Card is a separate entity that sanctions credit cards to customers, the bank has long wedded to it for lucrative commissions. A credit card is a globally used phenomenon where the customers are sanctioned a certain amount depending on the eligibility. Customers need to pay the interest on purchases that they have signed while getting the card. Apart from that, there are late payment penalities and yearly fees among many others.

In almost all the SBI branches in Silchar, the customers are approached by sales executives with various credit card offers. One such customer is Rongpur resident Anwar Hussain. He was sanctioned a credit card with a limit of Rs 10,000. Recently he paid a bill of Rs 12,400.

“On October 24, 2019, I had due of Rs 0.06 paise on my credit card which I have not used since September last year. This September, almost after a year, I have got a call from the bank and they have told me that I have a due of Rs 12,388,” informs Anowar Hussain.

He immediately rushed to the SBI’s Silchar branch with the text message that he has received on his phone. “They did not give me any answer and instead started telling me that it is a different entity and I must approach the helpline number and make the payment online,” informs Hussain.

It is worth mentioning here that he was sold the card during one such visit to the bank. “They forced me take the card. They started pleading and then made several attempts to convince me about the benefits. It is a type of manipulation, that happened inside the bank. However, when I went to seek help, I did not get any support from the bank,” asserts Anowar Hussain.

As per his statement, on Rs 0.06 which was SGST, the bank has added late payment charges month after month. Then there was a charge on the outstanding amount and it kept getting added month on month. By September 2020, the total outstanding was Rs 12,388 with a credit limit – 2388. “I did not get any call from the bank saying that I have due. Why did they not deduct Rs 0.06 from my savings account lying with them? Why did they not inform me about my bill when it was Rs 1000. They would call me again and again and pressurise me to pay the bill. Strange that they did nothing till it was Rs 12,000 plus,” adds Anowar.

He has written to RBI, CM’s office and requested many other highly placed officers for intervention. Hussain says he was both mentally and financially harassed by the bank. “I am not the only one. There are so many people, illiterate and mostly women who have been scammed in this manner. This is a trap and nothing else,” Anowar concludes.