I'm quite happy and relieved today. Not because I have a got a promotion or a hefty salary hike (I wish it was true). But simply because I can 'proudly' re-enter the ATM unit of one of India's largest public sector banks and withdraw cash after a long wait of two months.
You must be wondering what I'm talking about. Let me explain.
I lost my wallet in Central Mumbai during mid-February this year. After waiting for two days - hoping that someone may return it - I finally blocked my bank ATM-cum-debit cards (One each of a private and a public sector bank) and applied for new cards. I also had two credit cards, of the same banks, which i reapplied for.
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Within five working days, three of the four cards - two credit and a debit card - were delivered to me and the respective secret PINs followed. The other debit card which did not come was of the public sector bank. Interestingly, I had to personally go to my home branch here in Mumbai to apply for a new card (though it was not required with other lost cards). That was my first visit to the bank since the collapse of Lehman Brothers.
One of the executives in the branch told me, "It would not take less than 15-20 days to get the card and its PIN." I was a little aghast but responded, "No problem, Sir. I'll wait."
What followed was a nightmare. Forget 15 or 20 days, it took 25 days only for the card to reach me. I'm not joking, but it was only half the journey. The 'secret' PIN was still awaited.
As instructed, I visited my home branch after seven days of card delivery to get the PIN. To my surprise, my bank did not have a system which could instantly tell me whether it has come or not. Rather, the lady executive handed me a big, heavy register, and asked, "Find out if your name is there." The register had handwritten names of those customers whose PINs had arrived in the branch. I kept turning the pages but did not find mine. I was told to visit again after five days.
http://wap.business-standard.com/article/opinion/can-getting-an-atm-pin-cost-you-rs-300-it-s-possible-115041500223_1.html
You must be wondering what I'm talking about. Let me explain.
I lost my wallet in Central Mumbai during mid-February this year. After waiting for two days - hoping that someone may return it - I finally blocked my bank ATM-cum-debit cards (One each of a private and a public sector bank) and applied for new cards. I also had two credit cards, of the same banks, which i reapplied for.
Advertisement
[http://c13]
Within five working days, three of the four cards - two credit and a debit card - were delivered to me and the respective secret PINs followed. The other debit card which did not come was of the public sector bank. Interestingly, I had to personally go to my home branch here in Mumbai to apply for a new card (though it was not required with other lost cards). That was my first visit to the bank since the collapse of Lehman Brothers.
One of the executives in the branch told me, "It would not take less than 15-20 days to get the card and its PIN." I was a little aghast but responded, "No problem, Sir. I'll wait."
What followed was a nightmare. Forget 15 or 20 days, it took 25 days only for the card to reach me. I'm not joking, but it was only half the journey. The 'secret' PIN was still awaited.
As instructed, I visited my home branch after seven days of card delivery to get the PIN. To my surprise, my bank did not have a system which could instantly tell me whether it has come or not. Rather, the lady executive handed me a big, heavy register, and asked, "Find out if your name is there." The register had handwritten names of those customers whose PINs had arrived in the branch. I kept turning the pages but did not find mine. I was told to visit again after five days.
http://wap.business-standard.com/article/opinion/can-getting-an-atm-pin-cost-you-rs-300-it-s-possible-115041500223_1.html
