HSBC Bank directed to pay Rs 25,000 for deficiency in service

The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC) Ltd has been directed by a consumer forum to pay Rs 25,000 as compensation to one of its former credit card holders for not getting his name removed from a defaulters list even after he cleared all his dues. The New Delhi District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum observed that once the card holder paid all the dues, the bank should have closed the accounts and informed the Credit Information Bureau (India) Ltd (CIBIL) that nothing was outstanding. "We hold opposite party (HSBC Bank) deficient in service in not informing CIBIL of settlement of all outstanding dues of complainant...," the bench presided by C K Chaturvedi said. It directed the bank to issue a no-dues certificate to Delhi-resident Vinay Chola and to reconsider a fresh card for him. The forum also awarded him compensation of Rs 25,000 towards litigation charges and harassment caused to him. The order came on the complaint of Vinay who had alleged that his credit status with CIBIL showed him as a defaulter despite he having cleared all his dues with the bank. According to a settlement agreed upon with the bank, Vinay said, he had paid Rs 25,000 in three separate instalments one of which was collected late by the recovery agents and the same was shown as outstanding by HSBC. The bank, in its defence, had contended that the settlement amount was not paid within the agreed upon time. The forum, however, rejected the contention saying its recovery agents collected the last payment late.