I have a SBI ( State Bank of India ) credit card that I don’t use much. Since I got the card, I used to receive statements every month on time, until I made a transaction. The month I made a transaction, I didn’t receive the statement.

While I remembered that I had a transaction in SBI card that I have to pay, I didn’t remember the amount. After few days, forgot the whole thing.

Last month I received a statement from SBI asking me to pay late payment charges for that transaction.

I called-up their customer care . It went on like this.

Vijay: blah… blah..

Sweet voice customer care officer: Let me check sir. blah.. blah… Sorry sir, the statement was not generated last month, it was our mistake. I’m reverting the finance charges. It is enough if you pay Rs. 589 , instead of Rs. 1005 (Yes!!! that’s Rs. 416 charges on Rs. 589)

Vijay: Great. thanks.

The “Sweet voice customer care officer” took me by surprise, by being open about them not generating a statement in the first place, and by accepting that it was their mistake.

Moral of the story:

1. Do not forget credit card transactions ( it’s better to keep the counterfoil or a copy of the bill )
2. Do not pay late payment / finance charges, unless you really owe them
3. Always ask. The finance charges are typically quite high, and the banks often cancel them, if you can pay them back.
4. At least one person on earth had a pleasant experience with customer care.
5. Credit card statements may not come, However late fee /finance charges will certainly come