It was a a busy morning around 11 am at office. I had just completed my weekly project discussion with the team, I received a call on my office telephone. "How did you get this number?". Without giving a direct answer to my question, the tele-marketing executive continued after checking my name and mentioned that it is a corporate offer of a "free-for-life" Platinum credit card and started listing the benefits. My Dad has been using a platinum card (from a different bank) which offers cash backs for groceries! His savings were impressive every month. As he was moving out of Bangalore, I wanted some card that offers cashback so that I can stop using the current one that offers reward points worth close to nothing.
The mention of cashback by the TME (tele-marketing executive) drew my attention and I checked twice if it was a free platinum card. She mentioned that my company is listed with them(now, who creates that list?) and they offer the card free of cost for the employees of such companies. She also mentioned that this would be mentioned in the application form. I was glad and confirmed that I would submit the documents.
Within the next three days (lazy to get the documents), three different TMEs contacted from the same Bank and offered the same card!!! I stood to my committment to hand over the documents to the same TME who called me first. She sent a representative to collect the documents and I made sure that I wrote "Applied for Free Platinum card" on top of the application form.
The next day, I got a call from the Bank to confirm the details filled in the application. I wanted to be extra cautious (trying to act smart) and started recording the call. During the confirmation call, I mentioned that I am recording the call and its also a confirmation call for me to
validate that its a "free-of-cost" credit card. The agent told that it is as per the terms what the TME had told me earlier. It looks like they don't have a standard for all customers. The agent might not have known about the "listed companies" story!
I didnt hear anything from the Bank for two weeks and I almost forgot that I applied for the card. When I realized, I called the TME to whom I submitted the documents (luckily, I stored her number). She checked with the Bank and told that the application was rejected and had no information about the reason for rejection. I know that my credit history is extremely good so far. I havent defaulted even once (touch wood!) for any of the loan or credit card repayments. I followed up again to understand the reason for rejection but didnt get any straight answer. I was not sure if this rejection would become part of my credit history. I tried hard to think of possibilities for rejection and recollected what had happened! The confirmation Call!!!! I had mentioned to the confirmation agent that I was recording the call and mentioned about the SME selling the card as a free-for-life card. I was trying to act smart!!!
I had submitted my salary proof and address proof along with the application and didn't like this to be with the Bank or its outsourced agency unnecessarily. The TME refused to get the documents back and mentioned that the bank doesn't return the documents. She mentioned that If I desire, the Bank would use the documents after 6 months to evaluate if I am credit worthy to be provided with the card. Will they really use a 6 month old salary slip as proof!?
I realised that this whole thing was a trap that I escaped by a whisker!!!! Next steps... If I find time, I am planning to write to the Bank to get my documents back or the card!!!! :)
