19 October,2010 07:08 AM IST | | Varun Singh
My daily commute turned into a nightmare for me when I realised someone had stolen my debit card. I boarded a fast train to reach Dadar. I kept my bag on the luggage rack and started chatting with the fellow commuters.
As I got ready to get down at Dadar, I pulled my bag from the rack only to find that a certain section of my bag where I keep my wallet was partially open.
When I opened my bag, I figured that my wallet was missing. Not only was I penniless, I had lost my pan card and debit card too. Thankfully, a friend lent me Rs 500 so that I could manage the day.
I immediately went to Government Railway Police Station in Dadar and filed a complaint. Subsequently, I left for work. As I was entering my office premises, I got a call from a hotel in Dombivli.
They told me that they found my wallet lying on one of their tables. They fished out my contact details and called me. While my pan card and other documents were left intact, my debit card and cash were missing.
I immediately called my bank's helpline number to inform them about the theft of my ATM card.
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However, the process took nearly 20 minutes as I couldn't remember my debit card number and I hadn't noted it down anywhere too.
While I was in process of blocking my card, I received a message on my phone about a transaction to the tune of Rs 1,089 using my debit card.
Theft insurance
Once you file a complaint and call the bank immediately, chances are you might just get your money back, all thanks to theft insurance policies.
However, RBI spokesperson Alpana Killawala, said, "There are no guidelines prescribed by the RBI for consumers for the usage of Debit or Credit cards. It is for the individual banks to decide on it."
Photo Identity on Debit Cards
The All India Credit Card Users Welfare Association, Mumbai claim that they have been demanding that the banks issue photos on the cards to prevent misuse.
Kumar Aiyer, spokesperson of the association said, "The photo on the cards should be made mandatory and the shopkeepers should check the person properly."
What to do when you lose your Debit Card?
- Always have the bank helpline number stored in your mobile phone.
- Call the bank and block your card
- Always note down your debit card number so that the process of blocking the card is quicker
- Avoid keeping your debit card in your wallet or in any place from where it can be easily stolen
