Bank penalised for deficient services

Legal Correspondent

Ludhiana, October 15

The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum has penalised IndusInd Bank, Ludhiana, for deficient services in a case and ordered it to pay a compensation of Rs 5,000.

Besides, the forum also ordered the bank to refund Rs 11,450 charged from the aggrieved consumer with the observation that the bank was not entitled to deduct the amount, especially when the wire transfer failed due to their incompetency and negligence.

Forum president KK Kareer and its member Jyotsna Thathai ordered the bank to make the payment within 30 days from the date of the receipt of the copy of the order, failing which the complainant would be entitled to interest @8% per annum on the aforesaid amounts from the date of its order till realisation.

The orders came on a complaint moved by Suchita Tanotra of Gagandeep Colony, Ludhiana.

In its order, the forum held that from the records, it transpired that the complainant applied for admission for a degree of doctor of philosophy with the University of Lethbridge, Canada. She was required to remit 10,200 Canadian dollars by way of wire transfer to Scotia Bank under the Scotia Bank Student GIC Programme.

“It is also in evidence that the complainant requested OP (Bank) for wire transfer of 10,200 Canadian dollars, which is equivalent to Rs 5,40,610 in Indian currency. The said wire transfer was, however, rejected due to filling in the wrong particulars by the officials of the OP in as much as the ordering address of customer did not match with the beneficiary customer address in the records as is mentioned in the mail sent by Scotia Bank. It, thus, stands established in the evidence produced on record that the error was committed by the official of OP Bank while attempting the wire transfer of money to Scotia Bank,” said the forum order.

The complainant has further claimed the compensation of Rs 1,50,000 on account of deficient services given and another sum of Rs 50,000 on account of expenses incurred for applying for the Scotia Bank Student GIC Programme. However, these claims do not appear to be justified, as the money could have been resent by filling the correct particulars, said the forum. Despite issuance of the notice, the bank did not appear and was proceeded against ex parte.