File a complaint against Bank services

Banking Complaints

A bank refers to a financial institution that accepts deposits and creates credit. Banks are of utmost importance to the economy and are a safe place to deposit excess cash.

The Indian Banking sector is ranked 6th across the globe. With many private sector and public sector banks thriving in India, the banking industry is congruously capitalised and well-regulated by the Reserve Bank of India. The stats on market, credit and liquidity bespeak the handy preparedness to sustain any global crisis.

India is presently home to 34 banks out of which 22 are private sector banks, and 12 are public-owned banks. Multiple other Foreign Private Sector Banks are operating as part of the Indian banking sector as well. Let us take a look at the Top 5 Famous Banks in India.

Famous Banks in India

1. State Bank of India: SBI is the oldest and also the largest bank functioning in India and has been a Fortune 500 company for 14 long years. Post-Independence, the State Bank of India got enacted on 1st July 1955. It has its headquarters located in Mumbai, the financial capital of the country.

The bank has 57 Zonal centres and 14 Local centres with 85,356 branches and 59,291 ATMs pan India. SBI has a market cap of INR 2,93,218.11 crores with a market share of 23% with its presence in 36+ countries. It has been recognised as the Best Transaction Bank & Best Payment Bank in India.

Total Assets – INR 30 lakh crores
Revenue – INR 3.68 lakh crores
Number of employees – 2,64,041

2. HDFC Bank: The bank is well known for receiving first 'in principle' consent from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) which authorised it to set up a bank in the private sector. It was founded in August 1994 given the liberalisation that took place in the Indian Banking Industry.

The bank started its operations as a Commercial Bank from January 1995. With its headquarters in Mumbai, The Housing Development Finance Corporation Limited (HDFC) functions across 2,768 towns and cities with 5,314 branches and 13,610 ATMs in India. It has a market cap of Rs.6,25,666 crores as of 2019.

Total Assets – INR 11.89 lakh crores
Revenue – INR 1.17 lakh crores
Number of employees – 98,061

3. ICICI (Industrial Credit and Investment Corporation of India) Bank Private Limited: It occupies the second place when it comes to volume of assets operated by the bank. The bank is the second largest in terms of market cap and total assets, making it the leading private sector bank in India.

ICICI was formed in 1994 with the principal aim to offer medium-term and long-term project funding to Indian businesses. The bank has its headquarters in Mumbai with its registered office in Vadodara, Gujarat. It currently has its footprint across India with 5,275 branches and 15,589 ATMs along with its presence in 16 countries outside India.

Total Assets – Rs. 13.77 trillion
Revenue – INR 1.49 lakh crores
Total employees – 82,724

4. Punjab National Bank: The Punjab National Bank, PNB is the third-largest bank functioning in India. The bank serves more than 80 million customers with 7000 branches and 10,681 ATMs, expanding its footprint to 764 cities. It currently operates from its head office located in New Delhi.

Founded in 1894 from Lahore, the bank has served eminent freedom fighters of India. It later got nationalised in July 1969. As one of the oldest banks in the country, it has a market cap of Rs. 37,411 crores as in 2019. PNB recently bagged the prestigious IBA Banking Technology Awards.

Total Assets – INR 6 lakh crores
Revenue – INR 80,512 crores
Total employees – 70,801

5. Bank of Baroda: Bank of Baroda has now become the third-largest lender of the country after it merged with Vijaya Bank and Dena Bank into a single entity. It carries a pride of 127 million customers across 21 countries and growing bigger and better day by day.

The bank operates from its main office in Vadodara and has 9,500 branches and 13,400 ATMs across India. Founded in July 1908, it has a market cap of more than 35,000 crores currently.

Total Assets – INR 11.5 trillion
Revenue – INR 91,000 crores
Total employees – 48,807

Top Banking Complaints in India

According to a recent survey by Times of India, every hour 11 people complain against their bank. The most commonly reported banking complaints in India by consumers include bad customer service, checks/funds bouncing, extra charges levied, debit/credit card blocked etc.

Almost 30% to 37% of bank complaints occur due to the bank's failure to fulfill commitments and lack of fair practices. Banks reporting fraud or complaints have been on the rise more than ever before. What's more disturbing is the account holders face never-ending issues even after being connected with the banks for a long time.

Around half a million people have reported filing complaints in the last five years. From high interests to willful delay in processing payments (leading to penalties), and lack of fair practices to denial of closing accounts, banking customers are having a tough time continuing with the financial hassle.

The numbers of banking complaints see a double-digit rise in the past few years. The financial period of 2018-19 witnessed a surge of 20% in the complaints against banks. Non-adherence to fair practices saw the most number of complaints followed by issues related to pension, levy of charges, and debit and credit card issues.

1. Hidden fees
Customers feel cheated about the excessive fees and hidden charges by the banks. Most often, customers are not aware how they can choose to stay out of overdraft protection. Unexpected charges by bank remains a major issues for consumers from Bangalore, Pune, Mumbai to Patna. Reaching out to their bank is always a good idea to have a clear picture of fees and extra charges.

2. Bad customer support
This is something which every customer is concerned about. Even if the customers manage to reach out to the customer service, they don't see any credible solution. It gets quite worse when the bank employees are unable to resolve your issue. Being heckled from person to person, and being asked to wait at every desk test the best of temper.

The only solution you have is to stay calm and wait for the response from the bank to get the issue resolved.

3.Beneficiary does not get the money
This is one of the most common issues faced by banking customers in all the major cities in India like Mumbai, Bangalore, Pune, New Delhi and Kolkata. The amount gets deducted from their account, and it is shown that the transaction is successful, but it doesn’t get credited into the beneficiary’s account. EMI payers mainly lodged such complaints that the EMI would get deducted from their account but would not be credited to the beneficiary.

4. Fraudulent transaction
According to the Economic Times, there is a rise of 74% in banking frauds. Digital transactions via net banking and UPI are preferred over cash for a contactless mode of payment. But with an increase in online payments, there has been a rise in fraud cases.

Many customers complain that the money from their account has been deducted for things they have not purchased. Banks take a lot of time in addressing such complaints, and usually, customers get frustrated with the process.

5. Transaction failure
Transaction failures are very frustrating and embarrassing. When consumers are out, and they haven’t carried the cash, they will pay via net banking or UPI or ATM, but sometimes bank servers would go down suddenly, and the transaction would fail, or in some cases, the amount would get deducted, and the transaction would fail which can be misleading for both payer and recipient.

How to resolve Banking complaints?

1. First and foremost step should be contacting the bank’s customer care itself as they genuinely care about the customer satisfaction and would be willing to resolve the consumer complaints. Here are customer care number of some of top banks in India :

State bank of India (SBI) Customer Care - 1800 425 3800
Union Bank of India (UBI) Customer Care - 1800 22 2244
Allahabad Bank Customer Care - 1800 57 22 000
Bank of Baroda Customer Care - 1800 102 4455
UCO Bank Customer Care - 1800 274 0123
Bank of Maharashtra Customer Care - 18002334526
Bank of India (BOI) Customer Care - 1800 22 0229
Central Bank of India (CBI) Customer Care - 1800 22 1911
HDFC Bank Card Customer Care - 1800 266 4332
ICICI Bank Customer Care - 1800 200 3344
Punjab National Bank (PNB) Customer Care - 1800 180 2222
Axis Bank Customer Care - 1860 419 5555

2. Apart from calling customer care numbers, a customer can visit the bank and meet the officials or complain at the grievance cell to sort out the issue. However, you should try submitting your complaint to the bank in writing, to keep a record of your complaint. Also, some banks have an option of filing a complaint at their website also.

3. However if the bank is unwilling to address the issue then you can approach the Banking Ombudsman. A banking ombudsman is a senior official appointed by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to resolve consumer complaints against deficiency in the banking services. So far there are a total number of 15 Bank Ombudsman whose number can be found on the official RBI website.

The consumer has to file a complaint at the ombudsman under whose jurisdiction the bank branch is located. All the consumer has to do is write it down on paper, or send a complaint via email. There are no charges for filing a complaint. However if you are not satisfied with the settlement offered by the ombudsman, you can file an appeal before the appellate authority within 30 days.

4. Send Legal Notice:
A Consumer can send legal notices to the Bank in case it is unable to resolve his complaint. It is one of the efficient ways to handle consumer complaints legally. Check below to know how to send a legal notice to a Bank?

Step 1: Firstly, get a legal notice drafted by a lawyer.
Step 2: Check it properly and make sure it is signed by a lawyer.
Step 3: Keep a copy of it for future purposes.
Step 4: Send the legal notice to the Bank by registered post.
Step 5: Keep the slip or delivery report for evidence.

5. File consumer forum case:
Consumer forum deals with consumer complaints and you should approach the consumer forum if you feel that your rights as a consumer have been violated.

If your Bank is not responding to your complaint even after sending legal notice by a lawyer then you should file a case against it in a consumer court.

Here is how you can file a case against the Bank in the consumer court?

Step 1: Intimate the aggrieved party via legal notice.
Step 2: Draft the consumer complaint
Step 3: Attach all the relevant documents and proofs to support your complaint.
Step 4: Select the appropriate court for filing the complaint.
Step 5: Pay the prescribed court fee that is required to be paid along with the complaint.
Step 6: Submit the case along with the affidavit & fees in the court.

There are strong chances of nothing being done against your complaint if you're not serious about it. So, if you are still left stranded with nowhere else to go then you can always file a consumer complaint at Voxya. We at Voxya, generally receive around thousands of Banking complaints in a month.

So how do we actually resolve these Banking complaints? We start a social media campaign and then send an email to the Banks to resolve the complaint amicably. Moreover if strict actions need to be taken then we draft a legal notice and send it to the concerned Bank.

Most Common Issue Reported for Banking Complaints

Fraudulent transaction

Beneficiary not credited

No Cashback

Bad customer support

Unauthorized Wallet transaction

Amount deducted but transaction failed

Paytm fraud (PayTM) ^Open

We find Paytm is doing KYC and enrolling customers but owns no responsibility for allowing their one customer to use paytm for fraudulent debits. in our cae me and my husband Sudhir, got duped via paytm where paytm customer took away Rs **** fr...

Jul 01, 2020 by Sudhir Gurtoo

Refund (Reliance Finance Limited) ^Open

I am submit a loan application. I am take a loan of ****** But last me agreement charges pure na dene par hum cancel krwa diye loan unhone **** rs. Cancellation charges bhi le liye lekin cancel nahi kar rhe hai ulta hum par loan lene ke liye...

Jun 30, 2020 by Achchhelal prajapati

Fraud (Bajaj Finser Company) ^Open

Dear Sir, I have already pay for my emi amount but they are doing deductions from my account for the same emi. My last emi date was */**/****, I had already paid advance cash payment to close my account but I was updated from Bajaj end , so ...

Jun 29, 2020 by Amit Singh

Fraudulent bank transaction (Pasfar Tech Pvt Limited) ^Open

I have installed credit cash app, I tried to get loan though app, so that it reguested to pay insurance for loan approval.. after paying the amount it's routed to other apps..now I want take any amount..it's was fradulant and cheating me .mplea...

Jun 28, 2020 by Sikumar

Reversal of financial charges (Sbi Cards ) ^Open

I have made **% due payment with in the due date and the remaining amount is in * days after duedate due to lockdown situation in the month of April *st week. As soon as I observed there is financial charges of *****/- april month after bill g...

Jun 28, 2020 by Kiran babu G

AMOUNT DEBITED FROM MY ACCOUNT (Hdfc Bank) ^Open

I received sms your case has been closed ok I will suisaid ok ur not give money back really you people dont know what I am HDFC IS A CHEATING BANK FOR **** COLLECT HOLE MY LIFE I WILL SEND THIS MAIL TO RBI ALSO Really very worst service b...

Jun 27, 2020 by S M RAGHAVENDRA REDDY

Illegal charges pre payment charges received by bank (ICICI Bank Limited ) ^Open

Dear Sir/Madam, I am providing you necessary requested details regarding the issue so that it could be resolved smoothly:- *. Personal Details:- -Name: Ashok Kumar Natani (Borrower) ; Mohan Kumar Natani, Santosh Natani, Kalpana Na...

Jun 27, 2020 by Mohan Kumar Natani

Money view emi paid but not reflecting (Money View Loans) ^Open

Hello I have not availed the Moratarium and have paid the emi on time but it's reflecting as I have not paid tough I have received a receipt on my email that my emi has been paid and due to that the tenure is increased which is rediculous....

Jun 27, 2020 by Aishwarya Krishna

FALSE CHARGES (Hdfc) ^Open

I purchased an ac from tatacliq on **th june **** on price of ***** after applying code of **** rs. I had opted for no cost emi for * months. Amount was ****. But after checking emi details , they are charging **** rs. It was clearly written th...

Jun 27, 2020 by Gaurav Chauhan

Commercial car loan (Indusand) ^Open

I am not paid due correctly.so they repo my car.afterthat I clear my dues in March ** -****.after *months gone.still they r make me to beg and not give my commercial car to me tn**bx**** maruthi swift dezire tour s pearl white color...

Jun 26, 2020 by Vetrivel M

Bank Loan Issue (Hdfc Bank) ^Open

I am regularly paying my loan EMI's on time . Just before the COVID situation my March Month last EMI was pending which I paid on **th March. But the bank is continuously calling and telling me that they have not received the payment whereas I ...

Jun 26, 2020 by Chaitanya Kumar

Bank branch refuses to open account (Hdfc Bank) ^Open

Bank branch refused to open my current account after several attempts for my businees. I have provided all the necessary documents to bank. The branch manager told me that they does not want more petrol pump accounts at their branch....

Jun 24, 2020 by Haiderali patel

Taking money before approval of loan (Bajaj fineserv) ^Open

I have applied for a loan on their website on Dt. **.**.****. Then their customer care executive called me on Dt. **.**.**** and asked to send me all the documents. I have sent all the documents. Then they call me for approval of loan and asked...

Jun 24, 2020 by Rohit Meher

Credit Card Closure NOC (Sbi Credit Card) ^Open

I sent my credit card closure request via mail to Sbi credit card customer care dated **/**/****. Since that day onwards I have sent several mails to them several message exchanges in Messaenger social site. But, they haven't gave my NOC til...

Jun 22, 2020 by Shirshendu Dutta

Not Getting refund from HDFC Smartbuy (HDFC SMART BUY) ^Open

Dear Sir/Madam Greetings of the day I booked my flight but the flight was cancelled by goa air , But i didn't receive my refund money. It's More than three months. Below is details for flight : NAME DESTINATION MEALS BAGGAGE SEAT ...

Jun 22, 2020 by Arpan Singh

PAYMENT OF MATURED FIXED DEPOSITS (SAHARA INDIA OFFICE BRANCH NO 2702JALANDHAR PUNJAB) ^Open

Respondent Party :Branch Manager/ Cashier Sahara India Office, *nd floor, Vijaya tower, civil lines, near SBI main Br-Jalandhar-****** "NOT GIVING PAYMENTS against already matured fixed deposits". *. FD a/c no.***********/**-**-**: *****-** ...

Jun 22, 2020 by JASWANT RAI SAINI

EMI Debited after Loan Full Paid (Hdfc) ^Open

I have paid the full home loan amount to the HDFC bank however even after full payment EMI has been debited from my account. Ban is returning amount even after multiple complaints. ...

Jun 22, 2020 by Narender Kumar

They are charging unnecessarily on my credit card Not picking up my calls (Hdfc Bank) ^Open

I have Hdfc bank credit card. I'm paying my bills on time. But still they put the interest on my bills. It is happening with me from more than past * months. I tried to contact but call is not getting connected. And on the helpline number they ...

Jun 22, 2020 by Vivek Pandey

Money is not refund (sky blue finance private limited mumbai) ^Open

My Name Is Ananthan T. Suddenly Sky Blue Finance Limited Call Me And Tell Me That My * Lakh Rupees Loan Is Approved And Tell Me **** Rupees Processing Fee Will Be Payment So I Paid **** Rupees In Their Ac No I Asked Her How Much Money Also Paym...

Jun 22, 2020 by Ananthan T

Fraud with intraday calls (Delight Financial Services) ^Open

This company called me to take their basic intraday equity calls the person to whom i spoke jayesh called me and made me to take this services first i took only ** days package because i wanted to gain trust but later jayesh gave me *-* days ca...

Jun 22, 2020 by Kalpesh d sanghvi