How can you beat the crook who stole your cheque from the bank’s drop box? Easy. Write down the account number of the person after his name in the column ‘Pay’ on the cheque leaf.

The Banking Ombudsman (Delhi, J&K and some parts of UP and Haryana), M. Rajeshwar Rao, told Business Line : “People, while depositing, do write the name, account number and phone number on the reverse of the cheque. However, when the cheque is sent for clearance, normally the front portion is photocopied or scanned and sent. If details are ok and there is no alteration, the cheque is cleared.”

So, it is advised to write the account number of the person on the same line where the receiver’s name is written. When somebody steals a cheque from the drop-box, usually he adopts two methods for encashment.

More information

First, opening a bank account in the name in which cheque has been issued. Second, alter the name on the cheque and present for encashment. “Since RBI’s directions clearly say that a cheque with alteration is not acceptable, safety can be ensured by bringing in additional information,’ Rao added.

He also emphasised that opening a new account requires ‘Know Your Customer (KYC)’ norms to be followed in detail. So, this has route has become more difficult for crooks.

Rao is one of the 15 Banking Ombudsmen in the country. He is responsible for providing an inexpensive forum for the expeditious redressal of grievances relating to deficiencies in customer services rendered by banks (both public and private).

“No one is required to pay a single rupee or hire an advocate for putting up his matter before us. Not only this, if somebody sends a legal notice for a bank to us, we simply reject the complaint,” Rao explained. Banking Ombudsmen normally takes two to three months to redress the complaint.

Ombudsmen hear complaints on all kind of services, be it related to deposits, loans, cards, lockers or even charges collected without prior notice.

Ombudsman’s remit

However, one should not approach an Ombudsman directly. First, he should go to the branch, then to the Bank’s nodal officer and, if not satisfied, can then approach an Ombudsman, within a month after disposal at the nodal officer level.

During the year ending June 30, 2011-12 Rao’s office handled 15 per cent of complaints received all over the country. Among the maintainable complaints (where proper procedures were followed), 48 per cent were resolved through mutual settlement and awards.

>Shishir.Sinha@thehindu.co.in

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