debit cards

When i told this story to Mr Shajeel, he laughed and laughed..So i thought i should write it down. 

It happened in 2002 or so. In order to push technology to people or is it to push people away as part of crowd management or whatever it may be..somebody at HO decided to give that yellow debit cards to all, whether they wanted it or not, but they know pretty well that the address, telephone numbers and many details are as much as old as the account opening is...

So it would be wise to send the cards to the branches instead of the account holders inspite of poor manning of branches..Tripunithura branch is known for its personal segment strength. We received one or two parcels..and we knew it to be Debit Cards.

Branch manager burnt his midnight oil and even though he is a post graduate and university first in science, he managed to learn various models and theories in maths for a solution to somehow push these cards..The covers had name and account numbers. So this was sorted in alphabetical order..somebody sorted some of the covers - account number wise...Finally Mr Shenoy, brnch manager managed to make a bunch of covers with all the staff members..Their duty was to jot from the system the phone numbers.. But who will call these customers...they may be house-wives, students, busy officials...etc..Time of calling is also important.  The Branch Manager found that there are five security guards who is almost glued to their seats, though it is said that they are smart militiary personnel..I felt sorry when i learned that the organisation for their registration does not know any other method than the registration wise..there is no provision to segregate from that list...and because of this  the soldiers who had fought in the forefront does not get any priority over any other category including the soldier who irons the clothes..i.e. he need not be an expert in firing..

anyway the BM gave to each of them a list of names and telephone numbers and instructed them to tell that they should come to the bank and take the cards and pins ( some of the customers woould have wondered why Bank is giving pins..)

Being honest and hardworking retired militiary personnel, they obeyed BM and many old people were seen coming to branch fearful as if their accounts will be not allowed to be operated if they do not take these cards..and they were seen cursing and telling that they do not want to use cards..Still we pushed these cards and the bold people who did not want cards never turned up and their cards were seen destroyed years after due to pressure from auditor and fraud department.

One day i received a telephone and i could see anger at the other end, though he knew me and do not want to hurt me.. I apologetically asked what went wrong because i anticipated a cheque return inspite of credit balance/drawing power..and i was totally in the dark as to the issue  of implementation of issue of debit cards..

He then enquired of the duty of the security guards and then asked who gave them the power to call the customers..He was also telling me not to harass customers...I again asked what went wrong..

He told this story..

"you know me..I am the Managing Director of M/s...and i will have to attend parties also and will at times rise from bed only after the sun reaches me desk..Yesterday,, was such a day.. I was sleeping and my telephone ( i dont remember whether he had a mobile ) rang at about 6 am. when it rang for a third time, thinking it was an important call, took and when i heard that it was from SBT, my adralin level shot up..I wondered what went wrong that i receive a call from SBT in the early morning.  I confirmed that it is from SBT...and then i said proceed..the voice said..Sir, this is from SBT and you have to come to the Bank and take the debit card..my heart sunk down..then i asked who he was...he told "I am the security staff".

He then requested me not to play such jokes to customers..

I then told him sorry and enquired and found out that it was the implementation of the debit card scheme..

I have witnessed many bad incidents after issuing the cards..