Hello All,
I have visited Country Club Kukatpally on 9th Feb 2017 as per their invitation that I have won some lucky draw and I would get some prize. On my visit, they explained about the membership and land plot provided along with the membership which will be developed as a resort near Yadagirigutta. I have refused their offer and upon their repeated requests and promise that I have 3 days time to decide whether to become member or not and the offer is valid only for that day, I have filled the membership form and swiped my credit card. I went to a movie theatre from there without completing the transaction. Their executive came to the movie thetre as well and I refused to complete the transaction. After making me stand on road for 1 hour, he requested that it is the last day of month closing and If i agree for the transaction, they would not debit to my credit card till 3 days. To my shocker, I have come across debit in my credit card next day itself. Since then I have started visiting their office regularly and met their branch manager, customer care, team leader etc. Everyone told me that refund is being processed in few days and the same answer was continued. I have submitted a written complaint on 17th Feb and got an acknowledement as well. Since then, Every alternate day I had been following up and realized that I am being cheated. I spoke to Citi bank in April 2017 and they have informed that as the timeline to file the dispute was over, they would need mail confirmation from the merchant. I had obtained the mail confirmation from the merchant and filed a dispute request with Citi in July 2017. Citi had mentioned a TAT of 55 days to close the dispute and I had been regularly following up to check the status every alternate week.
In Aug 2017, I have received enquity from Country club to check whether I have submitted the dispute and I have confirmed the same and sent multiple mails reconfirming and checking the status. On 31st Aug 2017, I have received mail from Country Club that my account is overdue as I have not paid the dues. I was very happy and assumed that bank has not paid to amount to Country Club and my dispute was settled. TAT provided by them was over on 10th Sep 2017. I thought of checking the status so that the case can be closed in totality and I have been following up even later as well and on 15th Nov, Citi has mentioned that second level investigation is under progress and they would require 10 business days to respond. TAT was over on 25th Nov 2017 and I assumed that transaction is settled.
Now on 10th Jan 2018, I see that Citi has debited this amount to my card and on multiple follow ups, response I have received from the Citi was that merchant bank has declined the charge back that dispute outside the timeframe.
Need your views
1) Can Citi avoid giving any status even after my regular follow ups and suddenly charge to my account after TAT provided has crossed multple times
2) Can the charge be done without discussing with me
3) Why should Citi accept the dispute at the first point If they feel it is out of time frame and why should they take 7 months to communicate the simple fact that dispute is not valid
4) What is the legal recourse available to me? (Right now I have reached out to Nodal officer of Citi and my plan is to approach RBI Ombudsman later)
5) What will be the impact If I do not pay the debit to my card (Which was not accepted by me though!)
