I wanted to share this incident with every one who has a debit card and carry it with them.
Just because when I Lost my Card and searched on net for any case or any post with successful recovery of the money lost by swiping the lost debit card, I got no positive response which diminished my hopes to get my money back.
It was a Friday morning. The plan was to take up the job interview for VMware, ie: catch a bus from Hennur depot to Indian Express. Take a bus from there to J P Nagar, Kalyani Magnum Tech Park. Attend the interview and return back to Kammanahalli.. Plan was executed successfully but there was lot of unplanned events that happened the very day...One of the most happening days of my life
I reached VMware office, as I went through 3 rounds of interview, I was getting continuous calls on my cellphone from an unknown number. Though I didn't wanted to get disturbed in middle of the interview but as 3rd round got over I picked the call. it was from HDFC bank. The person said "mam I am calling from HDFC bank, have you made any transaction of 1104 rs in Khadi Bhandar, commercial street?" I said " no why?" instead of answering my first question he asked again "have you made any transaction of 3800 rs in Matadi Jewellers?", This time i was worried and told "no". He asked "mam please check if you have you HDFC debit card with you?". I searched all the corners of my backpack, there was no sign of my wallet. I felt like crying but I was so aghast that even tears did not came out. For a moment I stood frozen, there was a black out in my head.When I regained my conscious I asked that person "Can you please block my card? and also please tell me the total amount that was swiped from my card". Apparently he called me again and told the total swipe is of 31000 Rs/-, Almost my 2 months salary.
I left the interview and caught a bus for Majestic, since the daily pass that I had bought in the morning was still lying in the front chain of my backpack, I was able to board any normal BMTC bus. From Majestic I took another bus for Hennur. As soon as I reached my home, I searched my phone banking password to apply for a new card. since If it is not applied for on the same day as it is blocked then you need to visit your home branch and then apply for it. The person for the phone banking told me that I need to log an FIR for card theft in the same date on which I blocked my card and I might get my money back. Immediately I went to near most Banaswari police station for logging a FIR. After 15 minutes of wait finally the police called me and asked for the details. He asked me " where did you lost your wallet?" . It was then I started thinking where exactly It would have been taken out from my backpack. I realised that It could have been taken at Indian express where I waited for almost 25 minutes to catch another bus for J P Nagar and since I had the bus pass so I didn't noticed that my wallet is already gone. I told him the same. Then he replied " then madam Please go to the police station nearest to Indian Express and log the FIR". It was already 5:30 pm and a Friday and the complain should be in the same date. So immediately I went to commercial street police station. Inspector was not there, after waiting for almost 20 minutes the inspector arrived. I told him the whole incident, he told for logging an FIR you should have the exact details of all the transactions done on your card and that he wont be able to give the original FIR before Monday as it was already around 6:30. After begging to him and explaining that if FIR is not in today's date then the bank people will not consider it, he agreed to give me a hand written copy in the same date with his seal and signature.
On Monday I collected the original FIR and went to bank to submit it.They gave me 2 forms, One to be filled manually and the other one to be printed on a stamp paper. after wasting whole day I got this job done. on Tuesday I went to HDFC with both the forms and the FIR copy. The manager went through the document and asked me to get the signature and stamp of the same inspector, On the FIR page where few Kannada words were written. I went to the Police Station again, after few scoldings from the inspector like: "This is Karnataka, Kannada is the official language, every official task is done in Kannada, then why should I sign.......etc", finally he agreed to sign on the FIR.
Next day again I went to the bank again with all the documents. The manager reviewed the documents again and told " Madam this signature wont do, you have to get these kanada word translated to English/Hindi by a notary with his stamp and signature". I got a little frustrated and shouted at him " cant you tell every thing in one go", he some how assured me that I will get my money back if I just completed this step, otherwise I might not get my money back. I realised that at this moment I should focus on my goal "getting my money back" and overlook the obstetrical in the way.Next day I went to Mayo Hall to get this notary task done after negotiating with 3-4 lawyers, A lawyer did it for 200 Rs.
I submitted the document in the bank. The manager told me that it would take around 15 to 20 days for investigation and I may receive some calls from the investigator, then I will get back the money. after 16 days the whole amount was credited to my bank account. I went to Hanuman Temple and offered 21 coconuts as promised after getting my money back.
Thought I had to face lot of trouble for submitting the documents, I got all the money back. So I hope nothing like this happens to any one but if it does, this article can give them hope and positivity, that after all the paper work to be done they will get there money back.
