Saturday, March 8, 2008

The Ordeal.. begins..!!

I didn't even need this loan, however just thought of inquiring about it, thinking it will actually help in case I finally do need it. So, a recommendation lead me to the best bank - Oriental Bank of Commerce, Sushant lok (Orhcid) branch. The branch office looked impressive, the staff certainly was not as I found in the next half an hour. The manager, a Punjabi Pot-bellied fellow was the worst of the lot. I hate these fellows who give entire community of 'Punjabis' a bad name.

The fat man was more interested in chit-chatting with some builder-type fellows who were sitting with him. With all his experience, he tried to sound helpful to me and told me what I need to do to get this loan. Just that he added a few things that would dis-courage any sane man from coming to this bank again. He asked for a 3 year bank statement along with other documents, no bank needs that and I know that for sure. He also commented, don't you have this little sum of money in your savings as you are working for the last 5 years. The fat PIG was so un-willing to do the paper-work for this little amount of loan, and wanted to deal only with the Builder-Mafia, I understood and never went back.

The same day I happened to visit an HDFC branch to get a statement of my account, the guy over there was extremely helpful and I was pleasantly 'shocked'!! So, I dropped my query regarding Education loan to him too, he happily forwarded me the Education Loand division's Manager's mobile contact. I called up immediately and they promised a call back. I received the call back in record half an hour and they promised to send an executive to my residence the next day. I was elated at their efficiency, just that I realised later on that this efficiency was just to meet their Targets...

The HDFC bank Education Loan deptt. - An Ordeal

Let me start on a positive note, the things are finally starting to improve but not before I have complained and literally shouted on the moron & ill-informed/ un-trained customer care executives for no fault of theirs actually. I sincerely believe that the rot starts from the Top, but the CURE can be started from either side. The e-care guys at HDFC seem to be much better informed guys and they seem to be well aware of the policies and procedures.

The Education Loans department at HDFC had literally made me cry with their lack of knowledge regarding their own policies. I believe the Managers are to be blamed and they should be brave enough to accept their mistakes and bring about improvements. However, I'm sure the Cowards are never gonna do it. They are happy ogling at and chit-chatting with their female juniors and would hardly ever train them properly, probably because if they get properly trained they will never come back to them a bit too frequently with their little problems. LOL..

Need time to put togather the pieces of my Ordeal.. will do it the next time I log in.

Thursday, March 6, 2008

The reason Behind..

Privatisation was touted to be the CURE that sick India and sick Indian economy needed. However, 15 years later.. it all seems to have bounced back. What the Indian Govt. machinery did in 50 years, the private sector seem to have achieved in 15 only. Highest levels of inefficiency and insensitivity to the customer's/ public's convenience. This I am saying after an Ordeal of having to communicate a thousand times to get the things done in the right manner, with banks like HDFC and ICICI. In comparison the Tax office, Municipal office and LIC offices seem much better equipped to help the customers, the public.