BoM asked to pay compensation to its customer for negligence

The District Consumer Forum has ordered Bank of Maharashtra to pay Rs 10,000 compensation plus Rs 3,000 expenses to the bank customer Raju Adkar for service negligence and mental agony caused to him.

Raju is a local optician. In October 2008, the bank had returned a cheque of Rs 6,178 issued by Raju saying that there was no sufficient balance in his account, despite sufficient balance in his account.

Raju pointed out the bank's mistake to the officers concerned and they too accepted the mistake on account of faulty computer system.

But again, repeating the same mistake in the months of April and May, 2009, the bank returned Raju's two cheques of Rs 25,000 and of Rs 12,161 citing insufficient balance as the reason, though there was enough balance in his account.

Raju was agonized by the bank's repeated faulty service. In his complaint to the Form, Raju has said that the bank's act has spoiled his reputation.

The Forum, after listening both the sides, the forum president Sudhakar Binwade and member Manisha Khadamkar held the Bank responsible for showing negligence in its services and ordered to pay Rs 10,000 within 45 days to the complainant Raju Adkar.

If the bank fails to pay it within 45 days, afterwards, it will have to pay 10% interest on the compensation.

The Forum also asked the bank to pay Rs 3,000 as expenses to Raju.