• Hey there! Welcome to TFC! View fewer ads on the website just by signing up on TF Community.

HDFC Deducted ₹5K+ in AMB Charges – Is Full Reversal Possible ?

Deepak_9155

TF Select
Hi TechnoFino Community,

I'm helping a relative who isn’t very familiar with banking procedures, and I’d really appreciate your guidance.

He has an old HDFC Bank savings account that’s been inactive for quite a while, and we’re trying to recover over ₹5,000 that’s been deducted as Non-Maintenance of Average Monthly Balance (AMB) charges - ideally without having to visit a branch, if that’s possible.
The required MAB for the account was ₹5,000.

Account Background
  • Account opened: 2017
  • Last active usage: Around 2020
  • Balance before inactivity: Approximately ₹4,500–₹5,000 (can’t confirm the exact figure as NetBanking isn’t accessible)
  • Current balance: ₹0 (since Jan 2024, due to accumulated AMB deductions - verified via WhatsApp banking today)
  • Ongoing alerts: Still receives SMS notifications every month asking to maintain average balance
  • Debit card: Not active — it was hotlisted in 2022
  • Email ID: Not linked to the account
  • NetBanking: Access is lost. Unable to reset password because there’s no active debit card or email on file
What We’re Trying to Achieve:
  1. Add a valid email ID to the account for smoother future access
  2. Get the entire ₹5,000+ AMB charge reversed, since the account was unused
  3. Close the account permanently

Steps Taken So Far:

  • Contacted HDFC Customer Care to request re-issuance of the hotlisted debit card
  • Verified the account balance through WhatsApp banking
Questions/Help Needed
  • Has anyone successfully received a full reversal of AMB charges in a similar situation? Any escalation tips or email templates that worked for you?
  • Can this account be closed immediately, considering the balance is already zero and AMB alerts are still being sent?
  • Is there any way to get all this done remotely — including reversal, email update, and account closure — or is a branch visit unavoidable at this point?
Would really appreciate any first-hand experiences or suggestions. Thanks in advance!
 
Hi TechnoFino Community,

I'm helping a relative who isn’t very familiar with banking procedures, and I’d really appreciate your guidance.

He has an old HDFC Bank savings account that’s been inactive for quite a while, and we’re trying to recover over ₹5,000 that’s been deducted as Non-Maintenance of Average Monthly Balance (AMB) charges - ideally without having to visit a branch, if that’s possible.
The required MAB for the account was ₹5,000.

Account Background
  • Account opened: 2017
  • Last active usage: Around 2020
  • Balance before inactivity: Approximately ₹4,500–₹5,000 (can’t confirm the exact figure as NetBanking isn’t accessible)
  • Current balance: ₹0 (since Jan 2024, due to accumulated AMB deductions - verified via WhatsApp banking today)
  • Ongoing alerts: Still receives SMS notifications every month asking to maintain average balance
  • Debit card: Not active — it was hotlisted in 2022
  • Email ID: Not linked to the account
  • NetBanking: Access is lost. Unable to reset password because there’s no active debit card or email on file
What We’re Trying to Achieve:
  1. Add a valid email ID to the account for smoother future access
  2. Get the entire ₹5,000+ AMB charge reversed, since the account was unused
  3. Close the account permanently

Steps Taken So Far:

  • Contacted HDFC Customer Care to request re-issuance of the hotlisted debit card
  • Verified the account balance through WhatsApp banking
Questions/Help Needed
  • Has anyone successfully received a full reversal of AMB charges in a similar situation? Any escalation tips or email templates that worked for you?
  • Can this account be closed immediately, considering the balance is already zero and AMB alerts are still being sent?
  • Is there any way to get all this done remotely — including reversal, email update, and account closure — or is a branch visit unavoidable at this point?
Would really appreciate any first-hand experiences or suggestions. Thanks in advance!
Few years back, experienced the exact same , with UTI bank, it was my first Salary Account, left the company, kept the account, with saving.

But, few things have changed now, lot of regulation are in force. Medium/access to connect with authorities are way better.
You should take action, People are with you.


New case @SJM
 
Hi TechnoFino Community,

I'm helping a relative who isn’t very familiar with banking procedures, and I’d really appreciate your guidance.

He has an old HDFC Bank savings account that’s been inactive for quite a while, and we’re trying to recover over ₹5,000 that’s been deducted as Non-Maintenance of Average Monthly Balance (AMB) charges - ideally without having to visit a branch, if that’s possible.
The required MAB for the account was ₹5,000.

Account Background
  • Account opened: 2017
  • Last active usage: Around 2020
  • Balance before inactivity: Approximately ₹4,500–₹5,000 (can’t confirm the exact figure as NetBanking isn’t accessible)
  • Current balance: ₹0 (since Jan 2024, due to accumulated AMB deductions - verified via WhatsApp banking today)
  • Ongoing alerts: Still receives SMS notifications every month asking to maintain average balance
  • Debit card: Not active — it was hotlisted in 2022
  • Email ID: Not linked to the account
  • NetBanking: Access is lost. Unable to reset password because there’s no active debit card or email on file
What We’re Trying to Achieve:
  1. Add a valid email ID to the account for smoother future access
  2. Get the entire ₹5,000+ AMB charge reversed, since the account was unused
  3. Close the account permanently

Steps Taken So Far:

  • Contacted HDFC Customer Care to request re-issuance of the hotlisted debit card
  • Verified the account balance through WhatsApp banking
Questions/Help Needed
  • Has anyone successfully received a full reversal of AMB charges in a similar situation? Any escalation tips or email templates that worked for you?
As far as I understand, they haven't done anything wrong. So only request may work. Check if any charges were debited post 2 years of last user initiated transaction - you can complaint against that (if any).
  • Can this account be closed immediately, considering the balance is already zero and AMB alerts are still being sent?
In all probability the account is inactive. Accounts become inactive if there are no user initiated transaction for 2 years. To close it you will have to first do a Re-KYC. Speak to RM/BM on how to do this most effectively and without paying anything additional.
  • Is there any way to get all this done remotely — including reversal, email update, and account closure — or is a branch visit unavoidable at this point?
Would really appreciate any first-hand experiences or suggestions. Thanks in advance!
Speak to RM/BM.
 
Last edited:
Few years back, experienced the exact same , with UTI bank, it was my first Salary Account, left the company, kept the account, with saving.

But, few things have changed now, lot of regulation are in force. Medium/access to connect with authorities are way better.
You should take action, People are with you.


New case @SJM
As long as messages were sent, they have the right to deduct NMMB charges till the balance becomes 0 or account becomes inoperative. Charges has to stop once balance falls to 0 as balance cannot go negative. The only way to get a reversal is by requesting the bank, which is very difficult to get for more than 1-2 quarters.
 
Last edited:
Branch visit is unavoidable and only branch manager can help in this case.

There is no legal remedy in this case as bank has the right to charge for non maintenance of AMB.

Reversal is at the discretion of the BM, so politeness and patience is required in handling such scenarios.
 
Back
Top