Banks can't levy charges for transaction not done

"To debit transaction charges from the account of a person who has never made any transaction is unfair trade practice," Commission President Justice J D Kapoor said.     

The Commission allowed an appeal of a city resident Deepak Kumar Goyal, from whose account UTI Bank deducted Rs 860 for non-maintenance of average quarterly balance and transaction charges.     

Goyal had sought the reversal of a district forum's order of 2005 rejecting his plea for a refund of the Rs 860 debited from his account.     

"Admittedly, appellant did not make any transaction and 30 number of ATM transactions above the free limit were allowed and, therefore, a sum of Rs 308.56 was charged. We fail to understand as why this debit was made when there was no transaction," the Commission noted.     

It directed the bank to pay Rs 2,500