I wanted to open a current account in AXIS bank sometime in May 2010, so I went to the M.G. Road, Bangalore branch with all the relevant documents and was told that within 5-7 working days my account will be activated and I will receive my welcome kit, internet password and debit card. 2 weeks went by and nothing happened, I called up the business development executive and was told that my application has reached Mumbai for processing but since they are doing a system migration it is causing a delay (I mean system migration is not my problem, I want my account functional). So anyway, like a good understanding customer I waited for their system migration to get over.
I think 1st week of June is when I got my welcome kit, whereas I had gone to the bank sometime in the 2nd week of May. The letter had 31st May as the account opening date and contained nothing more than a cheque book. So I waited again, thinking in few days I will receive the rest of the things. Weeks went by but nothing came so I called up the Business Development Executive (BDE) who said that he will check and revert which he never did. I called up the phone banking which took 30 minutes to lodge a complaint and asked me to check after 48 hours. I e-mailed to the grievance e-mail listed on their website but that also did not solve my problem. Few more days passed, I called up the phone banking to know the status on my complaint and was told to call up the BDE because they will not be able to help me. So I call up the gentleman again and by this time I had lost my patience. It was the 3rd week of June and I had no way of checking my account balance or do any online transaction. The BDE then sent an executive to my home to get the forms filled again. Now, here is another example of their proactiveness. Since, it is a current account, I thought a company seal might be required along with my signatures on the form. I asked the executive who had come to my house, but he had no clue whether the seal was required or not so I again call up Mr. BDE to find that out and then he tells me, “Yes, Yes madam, seal is also required.” If I were not more pro active and called him, this form again would have got rejected and caused further delay. Anyway, last week of June I finally got my Debit card and internet password (which is a month after my account got opened) however, I am still waiting for my Debit card PIN.
I also happened to call their FOREX number to get a swift transaction details and they were the least helpful to begin with. I had to make 3 calls and in every call they gave me just 1 information each time. When I asked the bank details the lady obliged me by giving me only “half” the bank’s name. Finally my husband called up and requested them to e-mail us all the information which thankfully they did.
Thats the whole story…I just hope in future I do not have to deal with the bank in person.