ICICI Bizarre 'Names' Policy

thigger

I'm posting this as advice to anyone trying to open an ICICI HiSave account and a warning to people considering it. Personally I'm refusing to have anything more to do with ICICI over it.

I opened my account before the interest rate drop, and was told if I sent them a cheque in time I'd still be guaranteed the 7.2%. However they have rejected cheques from two different accounts on the basis that the names don't match. This is because my chequebook is issued with my initial and surname (eg Mr J Smith) which they do not accept as being the same name as that on the account (eg Mr John Smith).

I've contacted them by phone and email and the only option they could give me was to close the account and open a new one using exactly the name on the chequebook ('coincidentally' losing my higher rate). I told them if a bank is being this difficult about me giving them money I'm not interested any more.

I'm not sure if this is an attempt to get out of paying a favourable interest rate, or a genuine policy of theirs. Either way it's idiotic and not something I've encountered before (my name, and the name on my chequebook, haven't changed for some time). So if you're thinking of opening an account, be very careful that the name on your application matches your chequebook identically. Or take your business elsewhere.

PJD

I dont think they're trying to get out of the rate, - it's just that they're ability to speak English is abysmal. They can't make the connection between your names.

I was on the phone to them recently, they asked:

"for security, can I have your phone number thankyou please?"

Which phone number do you require?

"please we would need your phone number please?"

yes, which one, my mobile, work or home phone number?

<silence>

"without your phone number we are unable to process your request"


And so it went on, - compete nightmare.

eeja

thigger wrote: »

I'm posting this as advice to anyone trying to open an ICICI HiSave account and a warning to people considering it. Personally I'm refusing to have anything more to do with ICICI over it.

I opened my account before the interest rate drop, and was told if I sent them a cheque in time I'd still be guaranteed the 7.2%. However they have rejected cheques from two different accounts on the basis that the names don't match. This is because my chequebook is issued with my initial and surname (eg Mr J Smith) which they do not accept as being the same name as that on the account (eg Mr John Smith).

I've contacted them by phone and email and the only option they could give me was to close the account and open a new one using exactly the name on the chequebook ('coincidentally' losing my higher rate). I told them if a bank is being this difficult about me giving them money I'm not interested any more.

I'm not sure if this is an attempt to get out of paying a favourable interest rate, or a genuine policy of theirs. Either way it's idiotic and not something I've encountered before (my name, and the name on my chequebook, haven't changed for some time). So if you're thinking of opening an account, be very careful that the name on your application matches your chequebook identically. Or take your business elsewhere.

..............................................

I am so very pleased you raised this very point about Mr J. Smith , a very British traditional way of giving one's name not being acceptable say, in the Indian subcontinent . The fact is I have come across the very same problem with the USA where this British custom seems also unknown. Not in fact in the US but on a US website where my credit card was not accepted as the name on the card Mr J . Smith did not match the name of the cardholder John Smith.
I thought about this a long time and decided that the fault and solution lies with Visa and Mastercard who should inform their merchants of this British custom. After all there are even 'wierder' ways of writing ones name in Japan and China so merchants would have to know these if they want to sell their goods on the internet let alone banks reading a signature written in Chinese characters on a travellers cheque or even using a 'hanako' ( special seal or rubber stamp) to prove ones identity.

chardir

PJD wrote: »

it's just that they're ability to speak English is abysmal.

I know I'm being pedantic but this made me chuckle

amistupid

PJD wrote: »

I dont think they're trying to get out of the rate, - it's just that they're ability to speak English is abysmal.

I've had the same communication problems with the Newcastle Building Society. When I asked them to confirm that my account had been opened I was told "Whey aye man!" Can anyone translate please?

PJD

chardir wrote: »

I know I'm being pedantic but this made me chuckle

And there I was double checking that i'd spelt abysmal right :rotfl: :beer:

neil324

Had the exact same thing happen last month when trying to open a Birmingham Midshire esaver account.

soulsaver

It's not personal and its not stalling; they are just pedantic at applying whatever rule they have set. There appears to be is no leeway for even senior clerks making a judgement call. They were the same with proof of identity when they had a photcopy of a driving licence from me, stamped officially by LLoyds TSB counter staff, with name, address & telephone numberof the branch and they wouldn't accept it without the named persons job title - even though I'd told them on the phone & they could phone the branch, and had the ability to check easily that the telephone number was genuine. For them to write the job title on was impossible- nor would they return the document for me to annotate! It's just the different culture - not trying to stall. They are fine when you have an account open. I got the higher rate after applying even though the rate had been pulled on the same day. However they do things a little differently than you expect with a uk bank. My advice FWIW with Icici is don't leave it late to try to grab headline rates in a rush - get an easy access account open with a few quid so you're ready to transfer funds in when the best buy fix gets launched.

amistupid

thigger wrote: »

However they have rejected cheques from two different accounts on the basis that the names don't match. This is because my chequebook is issued with my initial and surname (eg Mr J Smith) which they do not accept as being the same name as that on the account (eg Mr John Smith).

Dear John,

My wife and I have always had tremendous difficulties in the acceptance of our idenities.

Yours sympathetically, Barney and Betty Rubble

Must dash it's almost opening time at The Arms. :T

Prav

I'm not sure why the fact they're Indian has anything to do with this.

I had exactly the same problem with Co-op bank over the counter with an English person. It was an inconvenience, but actually I'm glad they had watertight procedures as its my money they're dealing with and I'd want them to be as secure as possible.

flaura

amistupid wrote: »

Dear John,

My wife and I have always had tremendous difficulties in the acceptance of our idenities.

Yours sympathetically, Barney and Betty Rubble

Must dash it's almost opening time at The Arms. :T

I had an even more ridiculous one they wouldn't accept my building socitey cheque because the sort code was different from my individual account although it stated my account code and my sort code on it, they said i should apply for a cheque book for my account s that i could open my savigns with them...

i got so fed up in the end that i just asked them to retunr the cheque and that i no longer wanted to btoher with them i'd open an account with someone who did want my money....