Bengaluru man gets Rs 14L bill for credit card he never had; bank barred from recovery, Rs 2K costs imposed | Bengaluru News
BENGALURU: A Bengaluru-based fintech company employee’s life turned upside down after he was hounded for over Rs 14 lakh bill for a credit card that he never received or used.However, the legal route that he explored has provided him relief: The Bengaluru additional district consumer disputes redressal commission has restrained the bank from recovering the amount from him, holding that the transaction was “obviously fraudulent” and marked by glaring lapses on the bank’s part.
Polepally Avinash, a ClearTax employee since 2019 and a resident of Nayandahalli, said his troubles began on Jan 31, 2023, when a person identifying himself as Rizwan, an Axis Bank representative, called him with a credit card offer. The bank collected his Aadhaar, PAN and salary slips. Soon after, Avinash was told his application had been rejected and no card reached him.However, he received shockers when recovery agents started turning up at his doorstep between July and Aug 2023, demanding close to Rs 14.2 lakh in credit card dues. Avinash insisted he had never received a card, let alone spent such a sum.Bank officials, however, claimed the card was active and that payments had been made — allegedly by an unknown person.With recovery calls, visits and threats mounting, Avinash approached the Bengaluru East cybercrime police on July 6, 2023, filing a complaint against the bank’s authorised agent.Damage to CIBIL scoreAvinash also wrote to Axis Bank on Jan 10, 2024, flagging that the alleged fake card had damaged his CIBIL score.Though the bank initially assured action, it allegedly went silent. The recovery pressure, however, did not stop. Avinash was forced to file a consumer complaint in 2024, accusing the bank staff of unfair trade practices.Bank slapped with Rs 2k costsDespite receiving notice, Axis Bank failed to appear before the commission and was proceeded against ex parte. The bench noted that the bank neither conducted a proper probe nor lodged a police complaint, yet continued recovery efforts despite glaring inconsistencies.Citing WhatsApp chats with the alleged agent, recovery records and the police endorsement, the commission observed: “There is something fishy in the transaction, and it is obviously fraudulent.”In its order dated Nov 25, the bench — comprising president Syed Anser Kaleem and members Sharavathi SM and Jyothi N — directed Axis Bank to stop all recovery attempts for about Rs 14.2 lakh and pay Rs 2,000 as litigation costs.
