I am an ICICI Bank Credit Card customer for more than 5 years now. I was issued a silver card back then and was upgraded to Gold Card 3 years back owing to my clear credit record. I am a Gold customer since then and have maintained the same clean record.
Last month, I forgot to make the payment on time (just slipped out of my mind) and made it 2 days late. On Friday, I received my bill on which I was slapped a Rs. 400 fine and some service tax on it, taking the total to Rs. 440 something. When I called the customer service, I was told that bank is not considering any reversal. I asked to speak to the manager and was told as he is busy with some other call, I cant speak to him. I told the customer support guy to atleast take my complaint which he did. I was given the assurance that I will hear from the bank about this by Saturday night.
Since I did not receive any reply, I called the helpline once more few minutes back and told my case. The phone agent told me that no complaint was lodged on Friday and no communication is pending from bank's side. I was shocked to say the least! The previous guy had blatantly lied to me. I told this person about fine reversal and he too told me the same about no reversal being possible. I told him, well in that case ICICI should cancel my card and I will clear the outstanding without paying the fine. Then I was told to hold the line.
After 3 to 4 minute of holding the line, I was informed that my reversal is accepted and a confirmation SMS will come to me within an hour. I also lodged the complaint against the person who bluffed me on my last call on Friday. Lets see what happens.
I think ICICI should take some lessons from their competitors in customer service.
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Monday, August 10, 2009
Class Statements III
After publishing the second edition here, following are 3 more brilliant statements made in some of my classes this term.
3. There is a concept of Class Participation (CP), wherein, an individual is evaluated on the basis of valuable inputs made during the discussion in a class. Since it involves marks, everyone tries to pitch in. So, sometimes people just speak for the heck of it and it is labeled as DP or desperate participation. Though, CP marks are given on the basis of contribution made throughout the course, some people realise it very late in the course that they have not done any CP till date. This happened with one of my classmates in one of the subject called "Strategic Human Resource Management in Services." In one class, he just started to make "too much" contribution to the discussion and the Prof. understood this. So, after some time, Prof. finally said, "Enough for today, you have already got 0.00001% of your CP marks today." ;)
2. In the same subject, we were discussing a case on a particular Airline and discussion was on how to motivate different employees of an airline - crew, staff, ground handling people, pilots etc. For every category, we came up with solutions to motivate them except for pilots. The argument was that pilots are already well-paid, command a premium as they are rare, given facilities etc., so nothing extra can be done to motivate them to perform in their job. This is when one of my classmates came with this - "Pilots have a personal interest in performing in their job." Implying non-performance will result in death ;)
1. I have taken a subject called "Fixed Income Markets." As the name suggests, it deals with fixed income instruments like bonds, T-bills etc. So, we had an excel based quiz in which questions needed to be solved using Excel. The test was really tough and all of us were really hit hard by it. After the test was over, the faculty understood the situation and said, "Now you know why are bond traders paid so much!"
3. There is a concept of Class Participation (CP), wherein, an individual is evaluated on the basis of valuable inputs made during the discussion in a class. Since it involves marks, everyone tries to pitch in. So, sometimes people just speak for the heck of it and it is labeled as DP or desperate participation. Though, CP marks are given on the basis of contribution made throughout the course, some people realise it very late in the course that they have not done any CP till date. This happened with one of my classmates in one of the subject called "Strategic Human Resource Management in Services." In one class, he just started to make "too much" contribution to the discussion and the Prof. understood this. So, after some time, Prof. finally said, "Enough for today, you have already got 0.00001% of your CP marks today." ;)
2. In the same subject, we were discussing a case on a particular Airline and discussion was on how to motivate different employees of an airline - crew, staff, ground handling people, pilots etc. For every category, we came up with solutions to motivate them except for pilots. The argument was that pilots are already well-paid, command a premium as they are rare, given facilities etc., so nothing extra can be done to motivate them to perform in their job. This is when one of my classmates came with this - "Pilots have a personal interest in performing in their job." Implying non-performance will result in death ;)
1. I have taken a subject called "Fixed Income Markets." As the name suggests, it deals with fixed income instruments like bonds, T-bills etc. So, we had an excel based quiz in which questions needed to be solved using Excel. The test was really tough and all of us were really hit hard by it. After the test was over, the faculty understood the situation and said, "Now you know why are bond traders paid so much!"
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Samhar 2009: IIM Calcutta v/s IIM Bangalore
It was ‘Samhar’ time in IIM Calcutta for two days. Samhar is an annual sporting event between IIM Calcutta and IIM Bangalore with each campus hosting it every alternate year. It started in 2007 with IIM C playing the host.
IIM B had won the previous two editions and last year 15-2 overall score against IIM C was hurting to say the least. This year, the incoming batch showed a lot of enthusiasm right from the time of admissions on the Google group formed for them. They discussed the various sport facilities on the campus, people who had prior experience of playing at respectable levels offered their coaching skills etc. The enthusiasm level was visible this time when we reached the campus. All the courts were always occupied with both batches putting in their best of efforts. I am sure all the captains had a hard time in selecting the players this time!
Finally, on last Friday (August 8, 2009), the contingent from IIM B arrived and was a ‘grand’ welcome (can’t explain here for obvious reasons ;)). There was nothing scheduled for Friday night and the matches started on Saturday morning.
Some of the events were held outside the campus like cricket, hockey, snooker and swimming. Other events like carom, basketball, volleyball, badminton, chess and tennis were held inside the campus. Cricket was one sided in favour of IIM C for a long time but B did a fight while chasing 190 in 25 overs. They lost 7 wickets under 100 runs but ended up with 200 runs odd. Football was 0-0 till the end of the match but C lost 3-0 in the penalty shootout. Girl’s basketball team from B was too good for us but the reverse trend was seen for men’s basketball. One result which we did not expect was losing men’s volleyball and that too in straight sets. C won in snooker, chess, men’s TT and B won in badminton (both men and women), girl’s TT and carrom. C completely dominated athletics and swimming and were easy victories for us.
The final score line read 9-7 in favour of IIM B. Tennis was not completed owing to rains and was tied at 1-1 with one more match to go. In the end, C showed great improvement from last year but B took the trophy third year in a row.
IIM B had won the previous two editions and last year 15-2 overall score against IIM C was hurting to say the least. This year, the incoming batch showed a lot of enthusiasm right from the time of admissions on the Google group formed for them. They discussed the various sport facilities on the campus, people who had prior experience of playing at respectable levels offered their coaching skills etc. The enthusiasm level was visible this time when we reached the campus. All the courts were always occupied with both batches putting in their best of efforts. I am sure all the captains had a hard time in selecting the players this time!
Finally, on last Friday (August 8, 2009), the contingent from IIM B arrived and was a ‘grand’ welcome (can’t explain here for obvious reasons ;)). There was nothing scheduled for Friday night and the matches started on Saturday morning.
Some of the events were held outside the campus like cricket, hockey, snooker and swimming. Other events like carom, basketball, volleyball, badminton, chess and tennis were held inside the campus. Cricket was one sided in favour of IIM C for a long time but B did a fight while chasing 190 in 25 overs. They lost 7 wickets under 100 runs but ended up with 200 runs odd. Football was 0-0 till the end of the match but C lost 3-0 in the penalty shootout. Girl’s basketball team from B was too good for us but the reverse trend was seen for men’s basketball. One result which we did not expect was losing men’s volleyball and that too in straight sets. C won in snooker, chess, men’s TT and B won in badminton (both men and women), girl’s TT and carrom. C completely dominated athletics and swimming and were easy victories for us.
The final score line read 9-7 in favour of IIM B. Tennis was not completed owing to rains and was tied at 1-1 with one more match to go. In the end, C showed great improvement from last year but B took the trophy third year in a row.
Saturday, August 1, 2009
Airlines plan strike on Aug 18, 2009 - Will it work?
India's leading private airlines - Jet, Kingfisher, IndiGo, SpiceJet and GoAir (as of now) - have decided to go on a nationwide strike on August 18 to compel the Government to reduce tax on ATF and reduce rentals on various services availed by the airlines. This would mean around 12,000 cancellations on the D-Day. The strike is planned as airlines are continuously losing money and it is estimated to the tune of Rs. 10,000 crores.
Is the strike really a good idea? First of all, Jet and Kingfisher cannot blame the Government for their losses. The reason of their losses, to a large extended, can be attributed to the takeover of Air Sahara and Air Deccan respectively, which were loss making entities. Jet made a blunder by acquiring an all Airbus fleet when it had its owning Boeing fleet.
Second, the so called LCC (low cost carriers) in the country are NOT LCC in principle. They are just LOW FARE airlines. As compared to other countries, such LCCs have a different business model. Those airlines operate out of less congested airports, hence pay less airport tax and even pay lesser salaries to their pilots, crew and ground staff.
Even if the strike goes through, Government still not might relent. Rather, it can see this as an opportunity to add few bucks to NACIL, which is under heavy losses currently. Also, NACIL has extensive reach in the country and passengers, in principle, can avail their services.
Finally, the airlines need to realise that they are digging their own grave by doing such an act. If they go an indefinite strike, they need to refund passengers which will be adding to more losses.
Personally, I feel that Airlines stand to lose with this act of theirs!
Is the strike really a good idea? First of all, Jet and Kingfisher cannot blame the Government for their losses. The reason of their losses, to a large extended, can be attributed to the takeover of Air Sahara and Air Deccan respectively, which were loss making entities. Jet made a blunder by acquiring an all Airbus fleet when it had its owning Boeing fleet.
Second, the so called LCC (low cost carriers) in the country are NOT LCC in principle. They are just LOW FARE airlines. As compared to other countries, such LCCs have a different business model. Those airlines operate out of less congested airports, hence pay less airport tax and even pay lesser salaries to their pilots, crew and ground staff.
Even if the strike goes through, Government still not might relent. Rather, it can see this as an opportunity to add few bucks to NACIL, which is under heavy losses currently. Also, NACIL has extensive reach in the country and passengers, in principle, can avail their services.
Finally, the airlines need to realise that they are digging their own grave by doing such an act. If they go an indefinite strike, they need to refund passengers which will be adding to more losses.
Personally, I feel that Airlines stand to lose with this act of theirs!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
