Standard Chartered's Poor Banking practices

asad.javid
By asad.javid

My company normally reimburses my expense claims directly to my account. This month when I got my claims reimbursed, it was deducted as loan. I was surprised as this was the second time the amount was deducted. Call center is pathetic, none of their statements match. I was told that as this amount is tagged as salary and that was the reason that this amount was deducted. This doesn't make sense as I have a standing order on the 1st of every month. First I am told that it will be reversed immediately. When I call the next day to follow up I was told that it will take at least a week. I was asked to come to the bank to solve the problem. I was told that this is an operational mistake and is happening with a lot of people. They told me that they will solve this problem same day but nothing happened.

If the credit card or the loan payment is late one day, the bank is quick in charging a fees. But reverting back what they have deducted by mistake, it takes a week. I believe that they require competent people to handle day to day business. It has been a week now and there has been no solution yet.

How many of you are facing problems with banks?

By asad.javid• 27 Sep 2007 00:34
asad.javid

So i guess that this is a problem with all the bank in qatar in general. But Standard Chardered, being a multinational bank, should have better service. Anyways i got my amount reversed back. But i am seriously think about changing my bank to HSBC...What do you think about it?

By tiger9p• 26 Sep 2007 11:00
tiger9p

So many problems. I guess that I have to choose wisely on who to bank with in Doha.

By novita77• 25 Sep 2007 22:50
novita77

We once had our cheque bounce ... because the clever manager hand in the new cheque book to my husband with the wrong number. Then my husband complained to the bank ... the manager just tip-ex the number to altered and telling my husband that we will have no problem with it. Low and behold ... our cheque got returned by the 'angry landlord' (2nd time).

Our first Doha Bank was in the main branch ... because my husband moved to mesaieed he transfer his account to messaieed bank. The bank did not close the account in Doha ... and somehow when we cashed in the cheque being told that we have no fund in our bank ... (that was the first 'angry landlord').

Paid our Qtel MVDS bill through Doha Bank few yrs back ... Qtel never received it. Since we had the receipt from Doha bank we always thinking our bill was settled. Our MVDS got cut off by Qtel ... said that we never pay our bill for the past 3 mths. Complained to the bank ... the bank said they never had a record we paid or something like that. We show our receipt to them ... Then Doha bank imburse the fees back after my husband complaining here and there ... but we still lost QR 50 for the connection fee.

And i can go on ...

By Muhammed12• 25 Sep 2007 21:54
Muhammed12

what kind of problems u got in doha bank?..plz share it.Anyways i dont have experience of doha bank..i can assure of Commercial bank of qatar..only thing is there minimum bank deposit is a bit higher than other banks.

Ramadan kareem.

By novita77• 25 Sep 2007 21:48
novita77

Wont recommend Doha Bank either ... !!! We always have problem one after another continuosly ... I cant be bother to write it on here because it will take me all night.

By Muhammed12• 25 Sep 2007 21:47
Muhammed12

Though i didnt read everything, all i can say is if its bad go for the altenative.I can recommend u doha bank and commercial bank of qatar, their services rock!!

Ramadan kareem.

By qatexpat• 25 Sep 2007 21:44
Rating: 4/5
qatexpat

I faced a similar situation with Mashreq Bank and it took innumerable telephone calls and three visits to the bank - the last of which ended up with me threatening them with dire consequences and advising them to close shop and get lost and etc etc and BANG ON ... the amount was reversed within an hour......

GT is probably not publishing your letter bcoz they may be getting hundreds of such letters daily !!!

By asad.javid• 25 Sep 2007 20:47
asad.javid

I have been to the bank, spoken to the customer service, spoken to managers...... no luck...... they come up with stupid reasons..though i need results to resolve the problem not reasons. I plan to go to the bank tomorrow...and do whatever it takes (even if it takes to show my not so good manners)to get the issue solved. and after that close my account and shift to another one. I have sent a letter to the editor of gulf times but they haven't published it yet. any idea why??

By Grantley• 25 Sep 2007 08:12
Grantley

... but I wouldn't know. I can't get them to answer the phone! Likewise CBQ & ABQ. Looks like I'm keeping my money under the mattress for a while yet.

Veni, Vici, viva.

By tiger9p• 25 Sep 2007 04:31
tiger9p

Thank you for your information. Now I know that I should not bank with Standard Chartered Bank in Doha. Guess that HSBC has better service.

By Jammy• 25 Sep 2007 02:17
Jammy

I also had a bad experience with this bank. Early this year, I applied for a savings account, I told them that I had the money with me and would like to make my first deposit. They told me to keep my money since the account was not yet opened and I have to wait for 2 weeks. I expected a call from the bank that my account was opened but I didn't receive any. What's funny is I received a PIN no mailed to me for the ATM but nobody informed me to claim it. After a month I received another letter informing me that my account is being charged 50 QR for not claiming my ATM. Is it my fault that nobody informed me that the account was opened and where to pick up the ATM? After a month, another 50 QR deduction. My purpose for opening a savings account is to earn interest for my money, I already lost 100 QR and I didn't even make a deposit yet. Really pathetic. They should change their name to "Not Standard Chartered Bank".

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