Bengaluru: Harassing elderly for just 35 paise credit card due costs private bank Rs 5,000

A 68-year-old man from Bengaluru, who sued a private bank for harassing him over 35 paise credit card dues, was awarded Rs 5,000 as compensation. As per a report in the Times of India, a consumer court also asked the bank to give the elderly a no-dues certificate.

The ordeal began when Ramesh Kumar PV decided to close his long-standing credit card account with the bank on November 20, 2019. Despite his diligent bill payments over the years, he continued to receive unwarranted phone calls from the bank's collection agents, persistently demanding the clearance of purported dues.

This incessant harassment continued for an astonishing two years, as Kumar repeatedly pleaded with the bank to annul his card and put an end to his distressing experience. In September 2021, the bank astonishingly claimed that there was a paltry balance of 35 paise left unpaid on his account, in addition to an annual maintenance fee for the card.


Driven by frustration and desperation, Kumar decided to settle the matter by paying Rs 595 on September 17, 2021. However, to his disbelief, the bank suddenly demanded an additional Rs 6,000, alleging that these were his pending dues. Infuriated by this unjust demand, the senior citizen took matters into his own hands and approached the Bengaluru 3rd additional urban district consumer disputes redressal commission in Shantinagar.

In April 2022, Kumar's legal representative presented his case, highlighting the absurdity of a dispute revolving around a mere 35 paise. In a surprising turn of events, the bank's legal team admitted in court that indeed, there was a 35 paise due on the customer's credit card, along with the annual fee. It's worth noting that the bank typically does not issue statements for dues below Rs 100.

Ultimately, Kumar decided to resolve the matter by paying the 35 paise and the annual fee in cash in September. As a gesture of goodwill, the bank's lawyers claimed that the other pending charges would be waived.

Later, the Bengaluru consumer court ruled in favour of the aggrieved senior citizen, ordering the bank to compensate him with Rs 5,000 for the harassment he endured and to provide a no-dues certificate.