Dealing with Unsolicited Calls from Banks: Guidelines from TRAI and RBI

Receiving unsolicited calls from banks can be frustrating and even harassing for consumers. Fortunately, there are guidelines in place from regulatory bodies such as the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to protect consumers' rights.

According to the TRAI, telemarketers are not allowed to make calls to a customer who has registered on the National Do Not Call (DND) registry. Additionally, customers who receive unsolicited calls can file a complaint with their telecom operator, who is responsible for ensuring that the customer's privacy is protected. Customers can also register a complaint directly with the TRAI at daca@trai.gov.in

The RBI has also issued guidelines for banks regarding personal loans and credit cards. When a customer declines an offer for a personal loan or credit card, the bank is not allowed to force the customer to take the loan or card. If the bank continues to harass the customer with unsolicited calls or messages, the customer can file a complaint with the bank's customer care department. If the issue is not resolved, the customer can file a complaint with the RBI's Consumer Education and Protection Department at crpc@rbi.org.in.

It is also important to note that customers have legal rights in such cases. According to Section 509 of the Indian Penal Code, any person who intends to insult the modesty of a woman or makes any unwelcome sexual advances can be punished with imprisonment or a fine. In the case of unsolicited calls from banks, customers can file a police complaint if they feel that the calls constitute harassment or intimidation.

Steps to protect your rights :

If you are receiving unsolicited calls from a bank, you can take the following steps to protect your rights:

1. Register on the National Do Not Call (DND) registry to prevent telemarketers from calling you.

2. File a complaint with your telecom operator or directly with the TRAI at daca@trai.gov.in

3. File a complaint with the bank's customer care department

4. If the issue is not resolved, file a complaint with the RBI's Consumer Education and Protection Department at crpc@rbi.org.in

5. Consider filing a police complaint if the calls constitute harassment or intimidation

How I Was Affected

The constant barrage of phone calls from banks offering personal loans had a significant impact on my daily life. As I mentioned earlier, I received 5-7 calls per day from various private banks such as HDFC, IndusInd, and Axis Bank, despite repeatedly telling them that I was not interested in their offers.

The calls would come in at all hours of the day, even when I was working on something important or driving somewhere. The constant interruptions were highly distracting and stressful, and made it difficult to focus on anything else.

As the months went by, the situation became increasingly frustrating and demoralizing. It felt like the banks were ignoring my requests and forcing their services upon me, which only added to my stress levels.

In addition to the impact on my daily life, the repeated phone calls also caused me to lose trust in the banking system. I began to question how my personal information was being used, and whether these banks were truly looking out for my best interests as a customer.

Overall, the experience was highly negative and had a significant impact on my mental health and overall well-being. It's important for banks to understand the impact their actions can have on their customers, and to take steps to ensure that they are not causing undue stress or harm.