Surprising but a true story where a trusted bank forged my signature and replaced my credit card application with their own copy.
SHORT VERSION
Note:
- There is only one tick mark to send physical statement to residence
- Marketing Consent is not selected
- Statement only by email is not selected
Note:
- This is a totally different form with different content than the one I submitted
- Aadhaar consent is added which was not there in the form I submitted
- Marketing consent is tick marked which was not there in the form submitted by me
- Also note variation in the tick mark style
- Statement only by email is tick marked which was not there in form submitted by me
- Forged signature
- Variation in the style of how S is written
- I write “s” & “m” in continues, whereas here you can see m is written attached but separately
- Change in writing style of letters g, d and e
LONG STORY
Based on recommendation of my close friend Aadil, I wanted to get HDFC Diners Black Credit Card. I had submitted an application for HDFC Credit Card and Saving Account on 5th August 2019. Documents for the same was collected from HDFC bank official representative.
I don’t sign such applications blindly leaving it for someone else to fill it. Instead I take time and fill all the fields personally and then sign it. In the form there was option for e-statement(only by email) which I had not opted. Like every time, I had even taken photos of the said application from my mobile for my reference.
A month later I learnt that I had not received physical statement of the credit card from HDFC Bank. I always write emails and never call for customer service. It saves me time and also acts as documented evidence. I wrote a complaint email to HDFC Bank customer care on 16.09.2019
For this I received a response saying I had opted for e-statement and they wanted me to submit another form to remove official ID.
There was no way I could agree on that and so I replied back asking proof on application page.
Finally after months of time HDFC Bank official executive emailed me the copy of application they have at their end.
I was suprised to see that the application page was different than what I had submitted, with different options than what I selected and a forged signature.
With the documented evidence given above it is pretty clear that HDFC Bank replaced my application with their own different copy and even forged by signature. Unbelievable activity from bank like HDFC, yet true!
SIDE STORY
I had also submitted application to open Savings Account along with credit card. I use another private bank for my primary account(zero charges for everything and best forex rate in the market) and pretty happy with their unlimited ATM withdrawal services. Since I use credit card for all other transactions, I did not opt for debit card while submitting HDFC Bank Savings Account application.
But later I received the debit card with a shock and HDFC bank charged me for Rs. 590 on 27.08.2019. In that regard I made a complaint to HDFC bank on 29.08.2019 and after verifying my complaint, HDFC bank has reversed the said amount of Rs. 590 to my account on 03.09.2019
I thought the debit card fees was charged by mistake and had asked reversal by sending picture of application I had. I should have probably asked copy of application from them here as well. After getting to know signature forgery for Credit Card application, I have asked HDFC Bank to email me copy of my savings account application as well. Still waiting for their response on that.
It looks like HDFC Bank just want to keep charging people without their consent. I’m sure there are millions of people in India who will not notice it(I wouldn’t, if it was not a new account) and hence generating revenue for HDFC Bank.
I have also not enrolled for aadhaar because it cannot be by sole identity and will resist it as long as possible. Saving Bank Account Application had consent for aadhaar and I has struck off that part. This is posted on twitter as public evidence on 5th August 2019(date I submitted application).
I’m also surprised to see that aadhaar consent which was not there in the credit card application submitted by me is added in the document given by HDFC Bank with forged signature.
I’m not sure what was the need for HDFC bank executives to do such an illegal thing. May be its a common practice for them to do it for millions of other people. But this time they messed with a wrong guy. I spoke with my school friend, Karnataka High Court lawyer Ashok Mesta and taking legal steps.
HDFC bank officials have committed breach of trust and other offences which will attract the provisions contained under Indian Penal Code, 1860.
I have filed a complaint with Police(surprisingly they were approachable and friendly).
I have also sent legal notices to the Branch Manager, Nodal Officer and Principal Nodal officer. So far HDFC Bank has not responded to my complaint. My lawyer friend Ashok will be taking the matter to court and will keep updating this post with future events.
Reading this post, it might have already come to you thought to be careful with any banking/finance guys. I suggest you to fill up the forms yourself and keep a copy for your reference. It may also be a good idea to start asking online customer care executives for copy of document in their system(that is the only way to make sure).
UPDATE 1
HDFC Bank says their employee forging my signature is a human error!
If you had similar experiences do comment on the post.
Also share this article on social media to create awareness and ensure safety of millions of people.
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13 Responses
Thanks for the awareness suggestions and for writing detailed steps you have taken after..
Thanks for the awareness, suggestions and for writing detailed steps you have taken after..
Hdfc bank opp civil hospital is a mahan bank once I had applied for a loan and the bank staff misplaced my entire file with original documents.. I guess they buried the file in grave yard behind the bank
Hi, I was shocked to see this post as I am myself thinking of filing an FIR against HDFC bank,Chennai as the manager has conspired with my husband in forging my signature to close the current account we held being directors and joint owners of a Pvt Ltd co. I wasn’t notified nor asked for permission to close it. Thanks for posting your experience here,it gives me strength to do the same knowing I was in the right.
Hey, it was a shock to read your article wherein you have gone through the same kind of experience as me. I had a current account in the name of the company I owned along with my husband who I am fighting a divorce case with . The HDFC bank manager ,Chennai,colluded and conspired with my husband along with his staff and closed the account without notifying me or taking my signature as it’s a joint account. My husband forged my signature and was helped by the bank staff as I mentioned above. I intend taking this matter to the law and get justice as these kind of fraud and malpractices are harmful for the public and for the reputation of the bank. Thanks for inspiring me to take a legal recourse.
Same happened at our shop in Kolkata, forgery was done by ICICI Bank. Didn’t file a police/court complaint because (of reasons i can share personally).
Worst bank, worst customer service. Thanks for the article, will stay away from HDFC bank.
My son had an issue too. When he went abroad for higher studies he informed them that he wanted to close the account as it was a salary account.
But since he could not personally go to the branch there was some problem and the account could not be closed. And it was much late he realised that they were deducting money regularly as the minimum balance was not maintained.
I followed it up from my town and with a few mails finally the amount was reversed.
File case in obdusman a arbitrary body of RBI with all detail If case is filed in obdusman than u cannot go to court of law U can file case online but be careful give all detail
Thanks for sharing. Recently I received a call from HDFC Bank requesting for a credit card. As the phone number is from unknown number I refused to accept the request. As I maintain a SB Account I should be more cautious in dealing with the financial transaction with HDFC Bank in future.
dm engineers
I just have a similar incident that just happened today. I gave an application form for investment into NHAI Bond and HDFC has forged a totally a new application and filled in REC application form. This came to my notice because they forgot the fact that they left NHAI in the cheque while the form was for REC which got detected by the processing branch.
I had a photo copy of the original form and i got the copy of filled-in forged application form. Now I registered a complaint and waiting for action.
Lesson 1: ALWAYS take a copy of your own application form and cheque if any before handing over to give anything to the branch or their representatives.
Lesson 2: do NOT let the representatives to fill your form even if they say – we will take care. Fill-up everything yourself
Lesson 3: Keep following up on your status of the application form – they may easily misplace and fill-up something on their own forgiing your signature.