Hi Sushma,
At the outset, let me clarify that this site is designed by a group of senior Banking Professionals to assist Bank Customers at large to provide guidance for resolution of any complain/query/grievance in respect of financial services. This site does not belong to any Bank or a regulator, which may please be noted.
Firstly, I regret the delay in responding your query. I understand your concerns. However, you have to admit that you were partly responsible for the current situation. The moment you had left the employment under which your salary was being credited to the account opened for the purpose, you should have informed the Bank. Now, the good news is that banks cannot create negative balances in your account. I am appending the relevant RBI guidelines published by Times of India on 11th May 2016 for your information.
Times of India 11th May 2016
MUMBAI: Negative balances in savings accounts due to penalty charges are now history following a directive from the central bank. The RBI has asked banks to stop imposing charges for non-maintenance of minimum balance once the balance in a savings account touches zero.Although the norms came into effect last year, some banks were continuing with the practice of creating negative balances in savings accounts until recently. According to the RBI, if any bank continues to debit charges on a savings account creating a negative balance, customers can approach the banking ombudsman. Most banks contacted by TOI said that they do not create a negative balance in savings bank accounts.
Savings accounts usually go into negative balances when the customer changes his job and his 'salary account' ceases to receive funds. Most banks offer special facilities for salary accounts, waiving the minimum balance requirement. But when the customer quits his job, the account ceases to be a salary account and the bank begins to apply minimum balance requirements. Since there is no regular salary flowing in, The bank begins to debit a penalty for non-maintenance of minimum balance, which often results in the balance turning negative. Although banks do not pursue recovery of the amount due under negative balance accounts, the customer stands to lose if he deposits funds into the account.
Unquote
I um unable to comment on your statement that the bank opened another account without your knowledge in the absence of relevant information.
While you may not escape liability for the prior to issuance of RBI instructions to banks, in respect of debits during the last year, that is post RBI instructions not to levy charges, you can approach the bank not only for refund but also closure of your accounts without any hassles.
You can bring the TOI news item to notice of your branch. In case the branch officials express helplessness, you can write to Nodal Officer of the bank for doing the needful. Contact details of both can be found on the Bank's website.
In case you can establish that there was not justification for the bank to debited the charges and you are not getting relief from Nodal Officer, you can write to the Banking Ombudsman for resolution 30 days after your first complaint to your bank. While writing to the BO, please provide complete details and also enclose the communications exchanged with the bank.
For address of the Office of the Banking Ombudsman, Area of Operation (jurisdiction) and the procedure for lodging complaint, you may access the website https://bankingombudsman.rbi.org.in/
Regards
J R Mohandas
