The word “cheque drop box” is now an haunting factor for all Indian bank customers. Earlier it used to be just private banks, but now the government banks are joining in too.

What is this problem ??

When you walk into your branch to make an account payee Cheque deposition, the bank branch may ask you to drop the cheque on a drop box by just attaching the deposition slip with it. There will be no proof of deposition given.

When you ask your Branch Manager for proof, he may insist that, as per new rules, all banks have stopped providing proof of deposition and its now mandatory for all customer to deposit the cheque on the drop box.

What happens if there is no proof ??

Yes, a valid question. What may get wrong if you don’t get any proof as its A/C Payee cheque, as theoretically only your account can encash it.

How ever thats only theoretical, Now some hard facts,

  • Suppose if you deposit a cheque which is from a bank branch of same city, as per RBI (Reserve Bank of India) guide line, your bank is bond to encash the cheque within 3 days and credit the amount under your account. As there is no proof of deposition you will not have any power to ask the bank why the cheque is not yet been encashed !!

  • The bank will no longer take any responsibility after they lose a cheque, as you will never be able to prove that you really deposited a cheque !!

What to do then ??

Please note, there is no such rule which says one must have to drop the cheque in the drop box without deposition proof.

Infact, as per RBI guide line, it is mandatory for all banks operating in India to provide proof (acknowledgment) of cheque receipt. Drop box is completely a voluntary decision of a customer, banks have no right to direct a customer to drop the cheque on the drop box without proof of deposition.

RBI Guide Lines

Cheque drop Facility-RRBs

Cheque Drop Box Facility and the facility for acknowledgment of cheques

My problem and my fight with SBI

Date 07.03.2008

I went to deposit a cheque at local branch of SBI and faced the same issue, as SBI refused to receive the cheque.

I spoke with the manager who informed me that same bull shit, that rules had been changed !!!

I came back home, wrote this bellow letter to him (Branch Manager Local SBI) SBI Letter to Branch Manager. I used a local courier for delivery !!

I sent this bellow Email “Email to SBI complain Desks” to appropriate authorities mentioned here > SBI Help Desk, and RBI Complain desk.

Date 08/03/2008

I have received this confirmation from SBI Zonal Office Kolkata, which says,

Dear Sir,

We acknowledge receipt of your e-mail dated 07.03.2008 and the matter has been referred to the branch We will revert you on hearing from them.

MANAGER
(C.G.R.C)

Date 10/03/2008

I have received a call from the branch manager of local branch, and he is begging on his knees requesting me to withdraw the complain. I am witting down our phone conversation,

BM (Branch Manager) : Hello, is this Mr. Saurav Basu.
Me : Yes, speaking !!
BM : What happened I see you have made a complain ??
Me : May I know who is this speaking ??
BM : I am calling from SBI
Me : Yes sir, but whats you name and which office of SBI are you calling from ??
BM : I am from ******* Branch (Local), and my name is, Mr. xxxx (the manager), and why did you make the complain, you should have come to me I would have solved any issue.
(he keep continues bugging)
Me : Sir will you let me speak ? I did visit you and I did asked you to provide me stamp.
(He cuts me off)
BM : Yes you asked me about the process and I explained, so please come and we have have a chat and I will solve any issue, if there is, you see I personally always try to solve all problem of customers.
(and he continues, blah blah !! so I cut him off)
Me : Listen Mr. xxx, I visited you not to know about the rule, I already know, what is the rule and I guess by now you are too feeling the heat of that rule, I specifically asked you to provide me a proof of Cheque deposition which you didn’t.
BM : There must have been some misunderstanding, I am telling you na, please come and I would solve the issue personally, and see I am here to help you, and see as I am telling you that I would solve the issue, so when SBI zonal office and RBI calls let them know the issue is solved… please come and you will see I would personally solve all your problems…
(me thinking geee, all my problems huh, what he could give some Rs. 12 lakcs of education loan so that I could fly to US to complete my studies)
Me : Thank you, I would try to visit today
BM : Yes sir, I am in wait and you please come, see I would solve all problems, and you please tell RBI / SBI zonal Office that issue is solved

I have sent my brother to visit the branch to see their policy now, and surprisingly the branch officials still are asking all customers to deposit the cheque on the drop box, and there is no information written on the drop box (which is violation of RBI Guide Line) that cheques can be deposited at counter with deposition proof.

It turns out to be a big game by the manager to just to provide the proof to me as I know about their fault and also I know where to raise the issue.

No, I have not visited the branch, the manager and SBI zonal office is suppose to provide me a reply for my questions which I have asked, I would be reminding them that I am still in wait for their reply.

Date 11/03/2008

I was in my way to some where and in the bus, the time is 9.30 when I received a phone call from Kolkata Zonal Office (Manager Central Grievance Cell) SBI asking me whether the issue was shorted out with my branch as the branch informed them that and I was suppose to visit them.

I replied that I went to the branch and they were still asking all customers to deposit the cheque in the drop box, and there was no information written on their drop box that where can a customer deposit the cheque with proof.

He had replied that, he would follow up the issue.

Within 30 mins I received a call from Branch Manager my local Branch !! I would be listing our conversation bellow.

Me : Hello, who is this speaking ?
BM : Hello, sir, this is Branch Manager (Local Name). What happened you were suppose to visit me yesterday ? why didnt you come ??
Me : I did went and I did sent some one also to deposit a cheque and still you didnt provide any proof of deposition, and you have not written on the box.
(He cuts me off)
BM : No thats not true, I am always receiving any one’s cheuqe who is asking me to take, and I need to talk to you, please visit the branch. We are a happy family you see and you have made a complain without even knowing us.
(I am exited on top of my voice cut him off)
Me : No need for me to visit you, and I have not made any complain, at-least yet, just have asked you few questions so please reply them in written thats it.
BM : Why are you getting exited, see we are 2 cool people trying to short out some dispute, please understand he you do not visit my branch today, I will have to come down to your home today, we need to talk sir, we, the people of SBI always in process to help customers and there must be some misunderstanding.
(Me thinking ohh, just like old time when people used to come and complain to my MOM / DAD that I broke some one’s window of messed up the garden)
(I try to stop him how ever he continues)
BM : No No No, I wont listen any thing, please come today just for a chat and friendly visit or I will come to your home for a chat.
(Me thinking, now he is at-least the age of my father, and he is well educated also, what ever I do no harm in having a word with him, as now if I deny him, that would be an insult to him)

So the appointment was fixed at 3.30 PM today !!!

Me and my cousins, three of us, went to the bank at 3.45 to visit the manager. There were few people in the managers room, but he immediately recognized me and requested me to come and sit.

Once again I would list our conversation, 1st I thought to record it, but then I stopped my self as I had no idea about the legal side of that !!!

BM : Hello, really nice to meet you all, I am glad that you have come to visit me, my GM has asked me personally to make sure I visit you today.
(We shake hands and introduce each other)
BM : Now please tell me why are you so angry with me ?? I have come to this branch just now, its a new branch and we are shorted stuff.
(I try to say some thing, but he continues bellow lines again and again)
BM : We the people of SBI always try our best to make sure customer gets the most benefit, you see I am short staffed, still I am doing every thing by book to give all benefits to the customers.. I would sh0w you some many people who are happy with the effort I am putting in this branch, see we are like a small family..
(he calls a tender from counter, same person who last time informed me that there will be no cheque deposition proof)
BM : Mr. Such and Such, dont we receive any high value cheque when ever a customer feels unsecured about it ??
(He brings some cheque and continues)
BM : See sir, we have received 3 cheques today with stamp,
(Ayan, My cousin cuts him off and makes a protest)
Ayan : Huh ?? Rs. 7 lack is the cheque amount which can be high value to you, where as (he points to me) to him its Rs. 7 which is a very high value
BM : No no, I personally would provide him the cheque deposition proof, if he asks for.
(Nea, my cousin cuts him off)
Neal : But you didnt, he (point towards me) did ask you for the proof and you didn’t. Thats why today we are here.
BM : I would have if he asked for.
Me : Forget whether I asked or not, I am not here to argue with you, I have asked you just 3 questions and you can choose either to reply them or get ready to face the hard line now.
(I stand up and asked my brothers to leave)
BM : Mr. Basu, please seat down, we are noting fighting are we, we have a dispute and we are trying to solve that, please be seated, and I have asked for some snacks and tea, please please I request be seated.
(neal asks to me seat down, however I thought thats was the right time to leave, later on I find we just wasted our time)
BM : In SBI we treat all suggestions very attentively
(I protest with high pitch)
Me : Where do you find a suggestion ?? Bring my letter, its question which I have asked, 3 simple question (for you, my blog readers, just to remind you, this is the letter), and please lets talk on topic,
(He kept on going trying to convince us that he is on our side and he will try to make sure this SUGGESTION reaches the higher authority, on and on for 15 mins atleast continues talking)
Ayan : listen, you are trying to take it as a suggestion, but do remember as per IPC RTI act 2005, you have 7 days to make your reply on that letter, or else we know what to do.
(After words the bank manager kept begging for another 10 mins so that I give the cheque to him as he has to show some proof to his GM, and we tried to give him the hard fact that we have no grievance as person to him, we kept on arguing till the tea arrives and some biscuits arrives, the manager kept trying to find some of his staff to come and defend him but none seemed to be on mood to join !!!)
BM : I cant write that on that drop box as I dont have power to do so, its the central who has the power to issue a notice
Me : Fine, them reply my letter than you dont have right to put any such statement which is required by RBI in your drop box unless central asks you to do.
Ayan : What if I today claim that I deposited a cheque at your branch yesterday which you have lost, I did ask you for proof which you didnt give what will you do now ??
BM : Please sir, spear my branch, its a small happy family and please dont do this to your own people. You letter has some questions is a manner and I cant reply, I know, that you know the process and please let this branch go, I am taking any cheque from any one who has a doubt or fear of losing.
Neal : Why are you taking the matter personally, even if it would have been any other branch we would have did the same.
Me : The fight is against the SBI rules, not you or any single person, try to understand that
Ayan : you just reply the letter that you dont have any power to carry out the notice process on top of that cheque drop box, and we will short out the issue with your management !!!
BM : Sir please allow some time, I am replying you trying to cover all points which you have requested.
Ayan : Yes, certainly, you have 7 days from the date you have received the letter.

Finally we were able to established the fact that the fight is with SBI management, and the local branch manger agreed to provide a reply.

I still didn’t give him the cheque, he (the manager) seemed really unhappy !!! We once again greeted each other, we have a friendly chat, shock hands and leave.

My readers, do remember this is the same manager who almost kicked me out of the branch, saying there is no proof of cheque deposition.

So, the story stands, as off now, I am in wait for their reply, and doing some home work on next steps… I wont stop till I see that notice on the cheque drop box stating which counter is accepting cheques.

Continues

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