logo
Man loses money due to account number error, court orders banks to pay up

Man loses money due to account number error, court orders banks to pay up

Time of India26-06-2025
Hyderabad: What began as a routine health insurance payment turned into a two-year battle for 69-year-old Vanga Krishna Reddy, involving two banks, an insurance firm, and eventually a consumer court.
A single-digit error while transferring Rs 52,659 online for policy renewal in June 2023 led to the amount vanishing into the wrong account — and staying there.
Krishna Reddy, a Peerzadiguda resident, had used his bank's mobile app to pay for his health insurance renewal just three days before the deadline. In haste, he mistyped one digit of the beneficiary account number. Though the transaction showed as 'successful,' the funds didn't reach the insurer.
You Can Also Check:
Hyderabad AQI
|
Weather in Hyderabad
|
Bank Holidays in Hyderabad
|
Public Holidays in Hyderabad
Realising the mistake only after receiving no confirmation of renewal, he immediately made a second payment with correct details to keep the policy active. But the first transaction of Rs 52,659 was lost in digital limbo. Krishna Reddy acted quickly and informed the bank. 'They said they'd look into it. But after that, there was complete silence,' the complainant stated.
His bank initially acknowledged the mistake and raised a chargeback with the receiving bank.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Giao dịch CFD với công nghệ và tốc độ tốt hơn
IC Markets
Đăng ký
Undo
But things stalled when the other bank replied: 'Customer cannot be contacted for obtaining debit confirmation.'
Left with no resolution, Krishna Reddy approached the Ranga Reddy District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission in May 2024. During hearings, his bank claimed it followed procedure and bore no fault, having never received the money. The other bank failed to appear and was declared ex-parte.
The commission ruled both banks guilty of service deficiency.
It noted that even if the customer erred, banks are responsible for verifying mismatches between account numbers and beneficiary names — something neither did.
The court observed that the banks showed apathy despite being alerted. This caused financial loss and mental agony, the court said and directed the two banks to jointly refund the Rs 52,659 with 10% annual interest, along with Rs 10,000 each towards compensation and legal expenses.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Free sandwich, free wi-fi, Rs 1,200 bank bill: Inside India's airport lounge economy
Free sandwich, free wi-fi, Rs 1,200 bank bill: Inside India's airport lounge economy

Economic Times

time19 minutes ago

  • Economic Times

Free sandwich, free wi-fi, Rs 1,200 bank bill: Inside India's airport lounge economy

Synopsis Airport lounges in India seem free, but the reality is different. Banks and card networks cover the cost, paying operators between Rs 600 and Rs 1,200 per domestic visit, or $25 to $35 internationally. They use lounge access to build loyalty and drive spending. Lounges in turn profit from volume, partnerships, and limited paid passes. With usage soaring, overcrowding is pushing banks to tighten rules, capping visits and cutting guest access. Travellers still save money, but the fine print is getting stricter. TIL Creatives Representative AI Image Airport lounges have become a familiar sight for Indian travellers. They promise calm amid the bustle of terminals: free food and drinks, recliners, Wi-Fi, charging points, and sometimes even spa treatments or sleeping pods. The attraction is obvious. But one question lingers. If passengers are not paying directly, who is?Data analyst Suraj Kumar Talreja broke down the business model in a widely read post on X. 'Most people who enter lounges in India today don't actually pay anything out of pocket. You swipe your credit or debit card and walk in. It feels free.' That 'free' entry is anything but. As Talreja explained, 'Every time you enter a lounge using your card, whether it's HDFC, Axis, SBI, ICICI, or even Rupay, the lounge operator gets paid by the bank (or by Visa/Mastercard/Amex). This is part of your credit card benefit package, and the bank foots the bill as a loyalty and acquisition cost.' The numbers add up quickly. 'In India, it typically ranges from Rs 600 to Rs 1,200 per visit (domestic lounges) and 25 dollars to 35 dollars for international lounges (via networks like Priority Pass or LoungeKey),' he said. Even a quick sandwich and coffee can cost a bank that fee. — suritalreja (@suritalreja) So how do lounges profit when most visitors pay nothing upfront? Talreja was direct. 'They get paid per visit, get volume from credit card users, often save on cost by partnering with caterers and airports and some sell day passes (low share).' There are four main ways travellers gain access: credit and debit card tie-ups, international networks like Priority Pass or DreamFolks, direct paid entry (usually Rs 1,500–Rs 3,000), and airline tickets in higher classes. The first option dominates in India, driven by banks competing for customers. Banks are not simply covering costs out of generosity. Lounge access works as a powerful marketing tool. It creates a sense of privilege, encouraging cardholders to use their cards more often, which in turn earns banks transaction fees. Customers are also more likely to stay loyal or upgrade to premium cards. As Talreja put it, it is 'psychology + economics.' International lounge networks such as LoungeKey and Priority Pass play a different role. They do not own lounges. Instead, they act as middlemen, selling access rights in bulk to banks and settling payments directly with lounge has witnessed a boom in lounge usage. With every second traveller carrying a card promising entry, overcrowding has become common at airports in Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru. This is pushing banks to tighten restrictions include limiting access to four free visits per quarter, barring supplementary cardholders, restricting entry to domestic terminals only, denying guest access, and suspending lounge use if a card is inactive. Premium cards such as HDFC Infinia, Axis Reserve, Amex Platinum, and ICICI Emeralde still promise unlimited or international visits, but these remain travellers, lounges often remain worthwhile. A plate of food and drinks can save between Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 compared to airport restaurants. Free Wi-Fi, air conditioning, charging stations, and clean restrooms add to the value. 'Some lounges have beds and showers (especially in T3 Delhi or Bangalore International),' noted everyone is convinced. One user responded to his thread by saying, 'Airport lounges in India are now like a second-class railway station waiting room. Best skipped I think.' Others highlighted that many cards now demand a minimum spend before lounge privileges kick these debates, the model continues to benefit all sides. Travellers get comfort, banks build loyalty and earn fees, lounges secure steady payments, and airports manage crowds more one user summarised on X after reading Talreja's thread: 'What an awesome thread. Loved the details.' Another added, 'There is a B2B version of the lounge too, wherein you can buy a membership to get access to the lounge.'The economics may not be visible to passengers, but every swipe of a card is part of a carefully balanced system. It looks free, but it is anything but.

Free sandwich, free wi-fi, Rs 1,200 bank bill: Inside India's airport lounge economy
Free sandwich, free wi-fi, Rs 1,200 bank bill: Inside India's airport lounge economy

Time of India

time33 minutes ago

  • Time of India

Free sandwich, free wi-fi, Rs 1,200 bank bill: Inside India's airport lounge economy

Airport lounges have become a familiar sight for Indian travellers . They promise calm amid the bustle of terminals: free food and drinks, recliners, Wi-Fi, charging points, and sometimes even spa treatments or sleeping pods. The attraction is obvious. But one question lingers. If passengers are not paying directly, who is? Data analyst Suraj Kumar Talreja broke down the business model in a widely read post on X. 'Most people who enter lounges in India today don't actually pay anything out of pocket. You swipe your credit or debit card and walk in. It feels free.' Who really pays for the lounge access? That 'free' entry is anything but. As Talreja explained, 'Every time you enter a lounge using your card, whether it's HDFC, Axis, SBI , ICICI, or even Rupay, the lounge operator gets paid by the bank (or by Visa/Mastercard/Amex). This is part of your credit card benefit package, and the bank foots the bill as a loyalty and acquisition cost.' by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Worried About Bills? Learn How Pay-Later Loans Work TheDaddest Undo The numbers add up quickly. 'In India, it typically ranges from Rs 600 to Rs 1,200 per visit (domestic lounges) and 25 dollars to 35 dollars for international lounges (via networks like Priority Pass or LoungeKey),' he said. Even a quick sandwich and coffee can cost a bank that fee. — suritalreja (@suritalreja) Live Events How lounges stay afloat So how do lounges profit when most visitors pay nothing upfront? Talreja was direct. 'They get paid per visit, get volume from credit card users, often save on cost by partnering with caterers and airports and some sell day passes (low share).' There are four main ways travellers gain access: credit and debit card tie-ups, international networks like Priority Pass or DreamFolks, direct paid entry (usually Rs 1,500–Rs 3,000), and airline tickets in higher classes. The first option dominates in India, driven by banks competing for customers. Why banks want you inside lounges Banks are not simply covering costs out of generosity. Lounge access works as a powerful marketing tool. It creates a sense of privilege, encouraging cardholders to use their cards more often, which in turn earns banks transaction fees. Customers are also more likely to stay loyal or upgrade to premium cards. As Talreja put it, it is 'psychology + economics.' International lounge networks such as LoungeKey and Priority Pass play a different role. They do not own lounges. Instead, they act as middlemen, selling access rights in bulk to banks and settling payments directly with lounge operators. India has witnessed a boom in lounge usage. With every second traveller carrying a card promising entry, overcrowding has become common at airports in Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru. This is pushing banks to tighten terms. New restrictions include limiting access to four free visits per quarter, barring supplementary cardholders, restricting entry to domestic terminals only, denying guest access, and suspending lounge use if a card is inactive. Premium cards such as HDFC Infinia, Axis Reserve, Amex Platinum, and ICICI Emeralde still promise unlimited or international visits, but these remain exceptions. Do lounges still make sense? For travellers, lounges often remain worthwhile. A plate of food and drinks can save between Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 compared to airport restaurants. Free Wi-Fi, air conditioning, charging stations, and clean restrooms add to the value. 'Some lounges have beds and showers (especially in T3 Delhi or Bangalore International),' noted Talreja. Not everyone is convinced. One user responded to his thread by saying, 'Airport lounges in India are now like a second-class railway station waiting room. Best skipped I think.' Others highlighted that many cards now demand a minimum spend before lounge privileges kick in. A model with winners all round Despite these debates, the model continues to benefit all sides. Travellers get comfort, banks build loyalty and earn fees, lounges secure steady payments, and airports manage crowds more smoothly. As one user summarised on X after reading Talreja's thread: 'What an awesome thread. Loved the details.' Another added, 'There is a B2B version of the lounge too, wherein you can buy a membership to get access to the lounge.' The economics may not be visible to passengers, but every swipe of a card is part of a carefully balanced system. It looks free, but it is anything but.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store