Daijiworld Media Network – Kasargod

Kasargod, Jul 23: The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission has ruled in favour of customer Raju Stephen D'Souza in a complaint filed against the South Indian Bank's Seethangoli branch. The Commission directed the bank to refund the amount deducted from his account and compensate him for the mental agony caused.

According to the complaint, Raju Stephen D'Souza had opened a current account at the Seethangoli branch of South Indian Bank in 2022 and had maintained the prescribed minimum balance. However, the bank deducted money from his account towards SMS service charges.

As a result of the deduction, the account balance fell below the required minimum balance, following which the bank began imposing penalties for non-maintenance of the minimum balance. Claiming that he had suffered financial loss and mental distress due to these deductions, D'Souza approached the Consumer Commission.

The Commission observed that it is the bank's responsibility to clearly inform customers before, or immediately after, making deductions from their accounts. After hearing arguments from both sides, the Commission ruled in favour of D'Souza and directed the bank to refund the deducted amount, pay compensation for the mental inconvenience caused, and bear the cost of the proceedings.

Senior advocate Thomas D'Souza M S of Kasargod represented the complainant, Raju Stephen D'Souza, before the Commission.