Update: Today (24/02/15) one HDFC representative contacted me after reading this complaint and explained to me the circumstances under which they levied AMB penalty. She explained me, HDFC had sent me a post about the change of account status from salary A/C to normal savings A/C but the postal address listed in the bank details pointed to my old office. Unfortunately, they changed the office in the meantime and couldn't deliver the post. She also informed me HDFC doesn't intimate customers about account change via SMS but only through the post.
For those who are managing multiple bank accounts may don't recognize the white collar theft by banks in the form of hidden charges and penalties. I have been facing such a situation for the past few months, but yesterday I found it.
I have one HDFC account which was started as a salary account and then transformed into an ordinary savings account later. They told me it's a salary account and the minimum balance can be 0 rupees at the time of account opening. However, after leaving the job, HDFC converted my salary account to a regular savings account automatically.
The problem is, they didn't inform me the minimum balance I should keep on the account. According to Reserve Bank guidelines, every bank is required to inform the customer about the minimum charge he should maintain prior in his A/C to levy penalties.
I have added a link to the Reserve Bank guidelines for levy of penal charges on non-maintenance of minimum balances in savings bank accounts at the end of this article under resources. Now let me explain my situation.
Instructions To Delete DDFC Bank Beneficiary
Yesterday I logged on to my HDFC bank account to purchase an item from Snapdeal and got confused with the final amount after finishing the purchase procedure. So I decided to have a look at the mini statement to check the last 20 transactions. Everything looked fine until I found small withdrawals in the code name of AMB CHRG INCL ST & CESS.
They reduced the same amount in last month also. HDFC is charging 393.26 rupees per month under the same code name. I was confused about the meaning of the term - AMB CHRG INCL ST & CESS FOR JAN2015- and found that it is the short form of -Average Monthly Balance and they wanted me to keep 10,000 rupees in average a day in a month.
So in a month, the net amount I should keep must be 3,00,000 or more. The irony here is that they could have informed me about not having a minimum required balance. Instead of that, they deducted 393.26 rupees every month. The screenshot I have provided below will explain it.
I have marked two AMB CHRG INCL ST transaction on the bank statement screenshot. One is just above the NWD code and the other is above CHQ DEP - MICR CLG statement.
PS: If you have seen the code NWD DEC CHG on your account statement, it means the charge deducted for the withdrawal through ATM. The code "CHQ DEP-MICR CLG" describes the cheque deposited.
According to RBI guidelines, there are no guidelines for making a minimum balance, but it is mandatory to inform their customers about the same. You can read the story by visiting the RBI page below.
http://www.rbi.org.in/scripts/NotificationUser.aspx?Id=1022&Mode=0
Despite the strict guidelines, HDFC is taking my money without informing the reason. No one can tolerate such an attitude. They should have at least send me SMS regarding non-maintenance of minimum balance.
However, HDFC publishes the minimum required balance for every type of accounts on their website. The link below will show the current HDFC minimum balance requirement for different accounts.
http://www.hdfcbank.com/nri_banking/accounts/savings_accounts/nre_savings_account/nre_savings_account_fees.htm
For those who are managing multiple bank accounts may don't recognize the white collar theft by banks in the form of hidden charges and penalties. I have been facing such a situation for the past few months, but yesterday I found it.
I have one HDFC account which was started as a salary account and then transformed into an ordinary savings account later. They told me it's a salary account and the minimum balance can be 0 rupees at the time of account opening. However, after leaving the job, HDFC converted my salary account to a regular savings account automatically.
The problem is, they didn't inform me the minimum balance I should keep on the account. According to Reserve Bank guidelines, every bank is required to inform the customer about the minimum charge he should maintain prior in his A/C to levy penalties.
I have added a link to the Reserve Bank guidelines for levy of penal charges on non-maintenance of minimum balances in savings bank accounts at the end of this article under resources. Now let me explain my situation.
Instructions To Delete DDFC Bank Beneficiary
Yesterday I logged on to my HDFC bank account to purchase an item from Snapdeal and got confused with the final amount after finishing the purchase procedure. So I decided to have a look at the mini statement to check the last 20 transactions. Everything looked fine until I found small withdrawals in the code name of AMB CHRG INCL ST & CESS.
They reduced the same amount in last month also. HDFC is charging 393.26 rupees per month under the same code name. I was confused about the meaning of the term - AMB CHRG INCL ST & CESS FOR JAN2015- and found that it is the short form of -Average Monthly Balance and they wanted me to keep 10,000 rupees in average a day in a month.
So in a month, the net amount I should keep must be 3,00,000 or more. The irony here is that they could have informed me about not having a minimum required balance. Instead of that, they deducted 393.26 rupees every month. The screenshot I have provided below will explain it.
I have marked two AMB CHRG INCL ST transaction on the bank statement screenshot. One is just above the NWD code and the other is above CHQ DEP - MICR CLG statement.
PS: If you have seen the code NWD DEC CHG on your account statement, it means the charge deducted for the withdrawal through ATM. The code "CHQ DEP-MICR CLG" describes the cheque deposited.
According to RBI guidelines, there are no guidelines for making a minimum balance, but it is mandatory to inform their customers about the same. You can read the story by visiting the RBI page below.
http://www.rbi.org.in/scripts/NotificationUser.aspx?Id=1022&Mode=0
Despite the strict guidelines, HDFC is taking my money without informing the reason. No one can tolerate such an attitude. They should have at least send me SMS regarding non-maintenance of minimum balance.
However, HDFC publishes the minimum required balance for every type of accounts on their website. The link below will show the current HDFC minimum balance requirement for different accounts.
http://www.hdfcbank.com/nri_banking/accounts/savings_accounts/nre_savings_account/nre_savings_account_fees.htm
Resources
- RBI urges banks to inform their customers about the non-maintenance of minimum balance prior to levy penalty.
http://rbi.org.in/scripts/NotificationUser.aspx?Id=9343&Mode=0
- Some interesting threads which discuss the same issue.
- http://www.consumercourt.info/topic/hdfc-deducted-more-than-4000-rs-from-my-saving-account
- http://www.consumercomplaints.in/hdfc-bank-amb-chrg-incl-st-amp-cess-for-apr2014-c894201
- https://forums.digitalpoint.com/threads/why-is-hdfc-bank-deducting-amb-charges.2650630/
- http://www.complaintboard.in/complaints-reviews/hdfc-bank-l4627.html
- http://www.consumercourt.info/topic/hdfc-deducted-more-than-4000-rs-from-my-saving-account
- Adding Beneficiary to Start Money Transfer Process
west bro hdfc bank
ReplyDeleteDid you get your money back? I have just faced the same issue and my balance is now -2000 Rs from 5000 6 months before.. I did not verify my HDFC account for nearly 1 year
ReplyDeletechutiya h sala hdfc bank..dont know how to pronounce them...hdfc bamk has deducted same amt for me also.dont go to hdfc.choose sbi.
ReplyDeleteevery time they hv deducted lot of money..without prenotice.
shailesh k singh.....
ReplyDeletewithout informeation mere bhe account se 9 january ko 531 Rs deducted kar liya , jab ke mere account me 4372.36 Rs hai....
bekar bank hai...
Hdfc provide totally pathetic service Hdfc has deducted my 1200 rs in same month . I don't know for wt?
ReplyDeleteTell me wt should i do against this
@ Ajay Kumar
ReplyDeleteYou must visit your HDFC branch and enquire the manager about this deduction. If he is not much helpful, you may contact Banking Ombudsman
This is really pathetic they deducted like 599 every month
ReplyDeletewest bank paniki malina bank
ReplyDeleteHDFC doing fraud with customer, corrupted HDFC bank...I withdrawn all savings from HDFC...You should also withdrawn and deactivate a/c from this frauding banking..
ReplyDeleteEven they have deducted 987 rupies from my account. It's very bad.
ReplyDeleteEven they have deducted 987 rupies from my account. It's very bad.
ReplyDeleteI also withdraw all my money from account. Chutiya sala hdfc bank. They hv deduct more than 1200rs from my account without informing me.
ReplyDeleteMera vi 2 months peisa debited hoa hai without informing how to debited money from my account.one time 708 rupees and another is 354 suppose money no refund my account is closed and my office salary account and office correct account also closed.
ReplyDeleteMera bhi two times debit huva hai in a same day so . without informing how to debited money from my account one time 453 and another is 354 rs
ReplyDeleteAmb charge is substraction
ReplyDeletepolice complain karo..hdfc bank ke upper
ReplyDeletebabut gadbadi karte hai ..hdfc wale..dont leave them with out doing anything against them
hfc bank ne --2month se complains ki koi response nhi dihe mujhe
ReplyDeletefinally putting penalty on my credit card..and behaving rudely..like beggar
so why we sd leave them without doing anything
plz do some more transactions on credit card n don't pay the money simply ..they will get to know ..what is value of someones money while dedudting that from our account without my permission.
They deducted INR 531 from my account even there is more than 10000 rupees in my account , Please inform me anyone have what is reason behind this . And deducting narration is AMB CHRG INCL GST FOR SEP2018-MIR1XXXXXXXXXX .Is it acceptable to deduct by HDFC ,if account having more than 10000 rupees .
ReplyDeleteThe HDFC bank is deducting some amount in the name of AMB CHRG. But am holding more than minimum balance. It's happening from so many months and I noticed it now. what to do with these white collar thieves? How to get back my money?
ReplyDeleteThe HDFC bank is deducting some amount in the name of AMB CHRG. But am holding more than minimum balance. It's happening from so many months and I noticed it now. what to do with these white collar thieves? How to get back my money?
ReplyDelete@ Unknown
ReplyDeleteYou must visit your HDFC branch and enquire the manager about this deduction. If he is not much helpful, you may contact Banking Ombudsman.
Hdfc bank sabse ghatiya wahiyat bekaar lutera bank h without any notice paise deduct krti h choor h HDFC bank Request h kbhi use mt krna sale choor h choor SBI YA PNB ka use kr lena hdfc nii mere itne paise kha gyi h mere to paise month me bi double paise cut kr li... Chor ho tm hdfc walo choor saale 🤬🤬🤬🤬😡😡😡😡
ReplyDeleteMara bhi bahut buri tarikase jata h Oct me- 1416
ReplyDeleteNov- 531 rupees Kiya kar rha h kuch oata nahi Bal ki mare account me 10000se jiya da Paisa h vary phataic sarvice h
I had faced above AMB chg deductions(531/-Rs) even maintained 5000+.
ReplyDeleteI Called 18002583838 number and scolded them. they returned it. :)