SBI Ordered to Pay Rs 23,000 After ATM Dispenses Rs 10,000 Less Than Debited Amount
A consumer commission in Punjab has directed the State Bank of India (SBI) to refund Rs 10,000 to a customer after an ATM transaction debited Rs 50,000 from his account while dispensing only Rs 40,000. The bank has also been ordered to pay compensation and litigation costs.
The order was passed by the Pathankot District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, comprising president Kulwinder Singh Pannu and members Rachna Arora and Raj Kumar Shukla. The commission held SBI responsible for failing to provide crucial electronic records that could prove the disputed transaction was completed successfully.
The commission stated, “In view of the above, the present complaint of the complainant is allowed, and the opposite party No. 2 (SBI Bank) is directed to refund the disputed amount of Rs 10,000/- along with interest @ 6% per annum from the date of debit till its realisation. The opposite party No. 2 is further directed to pay Rs 10,000/- as compensation for deficiency in service and mental harassment & agony and also pay Rs 3,000/- as litigation expenses.”
How the Dispute Began
The complaint was filed by Shakti Singh Malhotra, an IndusInd Bank customer. According to the complaint, on August 6, 2022, he carried out five withdrawal attempts at an SBI ATM. While four transactions successfully dispensed cash amounting to Rs 40,000, the fifth transaction reportedly failed to dispense any money.
However, Malhotra later received an alert showing that Rs 50,000 had been deducted from his account. He claimed that despite repeatedly approaching the banks and lodging complaints, the issue remained unresolved.
The order was passed by the Pathankot District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, comprising president Kulwinder Singh Pannu and members Rachna Arora and Raj Kumar Shukla. The commission held SBI responsible for failing to provide crucial electronic records that could prove the disputed transaction was completed successfully.
The commission stated, “In view of the above, the present complaint of the complainant is allowed, and the opposite party No. 2 (SBI Bank) is directed to refund the disputed amount of Rs 10,000/- along with interest @ 6% per annum from the date of debit till its realisation. The opposite party No. 2 is further directed to pay Rs 10,000/- as compensation for deficiency in service and mental harassment & agony and also pay Rs 3,000/- as litigation expenses.”
How the Dispute Began
The complaint was filed by Shakti Singh Malhotra, an IndusInd Bank customer. According to the complaint, on August 6, 2022, he carried out five withdrawal attempts at an SBI ATM. While four transactions successfully dispensed cash amounting to Rs 40,000, the fifth transaction reportedly failed to dispense any money. However, Malhotra later received an alert showing that Rs 50,000 had been deducted from his account. He claimed that despite repeatedly approaching the banks and lodging complaints, the issue remained unresolved.
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