Considering STRONG LEGAL ACTION against RBL Bank – World Safari Card

[rapidboxer]

Hey everyone,


I wanted to share a serious issue I faced with RBL Bank’s World Safari Credit Card and get your thoughts on the best course of action.


During my recent trip to Paris and Switzerland, my card was blocked without any valid reason, despite me having confirmed with RBL’s customer support before departure that it would work internationally. This isn’t the first time—I had faced the same issue previously in Indonesia, but I gave them the benefit of the doubt and ensured all international settings were enabled this time. Yet, the same problem happened again.

To make things worse, RBL provided no direct helpline or WhatsApp support for international users, and their email response stated that resolving the issue could take 24-48 hours, which was of no use during an emergency. Even after this timeframe, the card remained blocked.
After multiple conversations with RBL’s team, they admitted that the issue was from their system’s end (they thought purchasing tickets at swiss stations was suspicious!!!) and not due to any fault of mine. I also have recorded phone conversations (mutually consented) where their employees acknowledged this. All they can provide on calls is "their most sincere apologies !" Of course they have a script to follow.

Since this has caused major inconvenience, financial loss, and disrupted our travel plans, I have decided to take legal action against RBL Bank for their negligence and misrepresentation. I will also be filing a complaint with the RBI Banking Ombudsman and escalating this issue further if necessary.

What are your thoughts on the legal process, and do you have any suggestions on how to proceed effectively? Would appreciate any insights from those who have dealt with similar cases before.

I wont back away from paying fees and want to make sure no other fellow Indian brother faces such issue while travelling to foreign lands. Because what I faced was nothing less than a nightmare.

 

[Dreams Of Desire 💓]

For legal better consult lawyer in your vicinity.
For RBI go through the threads of @sjmajumder
I forgot his name but there are threads of a person who had done multiple such cases in consumer forum on desidime platform

 

[rapidboxer]

For legal better consult lawyer in your vicinity.
For RBI go through the threads of @sjmajumder
I forgot his name but there are threads of a person who had done multiple such cases in consumer forum on desidime platform

Thanks but can you please share anything about the person since you know what to look for?
Because this is serious and I will make sure RBL takes notice of this and other Indian families are not harassed because of this.

 

[sjmajumder]

You cannot complaint to RBIO and take legal action in parallel. However, you can approach RBIO first and if not satisfied with the resolution then you can take the legal path.

Here's a similar case against Axis for blocking my Forex card

Thread 'RBIO: Received compensation of Rs. 20,000 from Axis Bank'

Nov 12, 2024

After ending my spree in May I lodged 2 fresh complaints against Axis and HSBC in September.

HSBC has paid me Rs. 1000 but the complaint is still open as it was done arbitrarily by HSBC. They simply added 1000 to my CC account and sent me a mail stating that a compensation of Rs. 1000 has been paid for the delay in dispatch of the addon card. Will update when the case is resolved.

This thread is focused on my Axis Bank complaint.

Axis bank blocked my Forex card without any intimation. Below is my complaint to Axis Bank PNO:




To which I received the below response...

• sjmajumder
• axis axis bank compensation rbi ombudsman
• Replies: 253
• Forum: Banking Complaint

• 
• 
• 

 

[n69b]

Seems like major inconvenience. You deserve to be compensated fairly.

 

[Dreams Of Desire 💓]

Thanks but can you please share anything about the person since you know what to look for?
Because this is serious and I will make sure RBL takes notice of this and other Indian families are not harassed because of this.

Sorry to disappoint you, i did a mistake of generalising by using "SUCH CASES" i meant to say filing cases in consumer forum in general but not against RBL. I'm also unable to find those threads on the platform. If i remember correctly those were around 2 to 3 years old.
What i remember is how he used to document everything from calls emails sms and the physical mode of complaint to his district court where he complained

 

[rojajimmy]

I had similar incident where my Indusind Debit card was blocked (exclusive account so 0 Forex + Unlimited free international ATM withdrawals). My case is pending after the bank's reply that there was a RBI notification for blocking cards in Kazakhstan.
My reply was
1. Why the heck did the bank NEVER SAID THE SAME to me when I emailed them 10 times from kazakhstan. They gave me stupid replies but never mentioned that RBI circular &
2. If it was a RBI circular then it should be followed by EVERY INDIAN BANK. So why the heck could I withdraw money using Fi (Federal Account) DC?

Lets see what the reply

 

[rapidboxer]

You cannot complaint to RBIO and take legal action in parallel. However, you can approach RBIO first and if not satisfied with the resolution then you can take the legal path.

Here's a similar case against Axis for blocking my Forex card

Thread 'RBIO: Received compensation of Rs. 20,000 from Axis Bank'

Nov 12, 2024

After ending my spree in May I lodged 2 fresh complaints against Axis and HSBC in September.

HSBC has paid me Rs. 1000 but the complaint is still open as it was done arbitrarily by HSBC. They simply added 1000 to my CC account and sent me a mail stating that a compensation of Rs. 1000 has been paid for the delay in dispatch of the addon card. Will update when the case is resolved.

This thread is focused on my Axis Bank complaint.

Axis bank blocked my Forex card without any intimation. Below is my complaint to Axis Bank PNO:




To which I received the below response...

• sjmajumder
• axis axis bank compensation rbi ombudsman
• Replies: 253
• Forum: Banking Complaint

• 
• 
• 

Thanks majumder da for the clarification! Members with experience like yours bring a lot of value. I will definitely fight this case because these banks just cant get away with everything.

I would like to share more light on this case:

On talking with their support, I understood that the reason they blocked the card is because they found my international transactions: "suspicious"
This is wrong specially because I turned on the international settings and this card is literally meant for this purpose.
They are of the view that they tried to protect me whereas in reality they caused me endless harassment.
And if the system is incorrectly marking legit payments as suspicious then it is their systems / their own fault - not my concern.

Also not a single mail I got from them regarding the card blockage. It was days later that I found out about it.

Connecting with them from outside India is IMPOSSIBLE.

Their circus doesn't end here though.
Yesterday after 1 hours of heated arguments, they said they will unblock the card (within 24-48 hours!)
And today I got a call from them saying they cannot unblock the card as their has been a data breach and they will reissue new card.

So if your card is blocked then you have to wait indefinitely.

 

[sjmajumder]

Thanks majumder da for the clarification! Members with experience like yours bring a lot of value. I will definitely fight this case because these banks just cant get away with everything.

I would like to share more light on this case:

On talking with their support, I understood that the reason they blocked the card is because they found my international transactions: "suspicious"
This is wrong specially because I turned on the international settings and this card is literally meant for this purpose.
They are of the view that they tried to protect me whereas in reality they caused me endless harassment.
And if the system is incorrectly marking legit payments as suspicious then it is their systems / their own fault - not my concern.

Also not a single mail I got from them regarding the card blockage. It was days later that I found out about it.

Connecting with them from outside India is IMPOSSIBLE.

Their circus doesn't end here though.
Yesterday after 1 hours of heated arguments, they said they will unblock the card (within 24-48 hours!)
And today I got a call from them saying they cannot unblock the card as their has been a data breach and they will reissue new card.

So if your card is blocked then you have to wait indefinitely.

Don't spare them. They can't block your card without contacting you like that. They should first try to establish the fact if the transaction is really fraudulent and if unable to reach you and there are repeated 'so called suspicious' transactions on your card then they might block the card to safeguard your interest.

I will suggest not to indulge in any verbal communication. You will not get anything out of it apart from raising your BP. Communicate professionally through mails only. It might take slightly longer but you will also have concrete evidence of the delay from their side.

 

[Talkwithfino]

I will suggest not to indulge in any verbal communication. You will not get anything out of it apart from raising your BP. Communicate professionally through mails only. It might take slightly longer but you will also have concrete evidence of the delay from their side.

These are by far the most important lines when dealing with Banks/ escalating your case to the RBI BO.

RBI BO has cases pending since months. Better not to go in phone/ call recording and stuff.
Get it written. Period!

 

[rojajimmy]

Also Adding to the "suspicious transaction block", I had that once for a transaction I did with Samsung Pay instead of Tapping the actual card and it was blocked (Samsung pay shows it on the app itself) and I got a text as well. Since I was not in international romaing, I did get email as well and I replied to the email stating it was a genuine transactiona nd it was unblocked almost immediately.
I also have a RBL World Safari.

 

[ritziveer]

I had similar incident where my Indusind Debit card was blocked (exclusive account so 0 Forex + Unlimited free international ATM withdrawals). My case is pending after the bank's reply that there was a RBI notification for blocking cards in Kazakhstan.
My reply was
1. Why the heck did the bank NEVER SAID THE SAME to me when I emailed them 10 times from kazakhstan. They gave me stupid replies but never mentioned that RBI circular &
2. If it was a RBI circular then it should be followed by EVERY INDIAN BANK. So why the heck could I withdraw money using Fi (Federal Account) DC?

Lets see what the reply

when was this. 2 years back I used my card left and right in Kazhak. Which is the Indus Debit which gives unlimited free ATM Withdrawals

 

[ritziveer]

Thanks majumder da for the clarification! Members with experience like yours bring a lot of value. I will definitely fight this case because these banks just cant get away with everything.

I would like to share more light on this case:

On talking with their support, I understood that the reason they blocked the card is because they found my international transactions: "suspicious"
This is wrong specially because I turned on the international settings and this card is literally meant for this purpose.
They are of the view that they tried to protect me whereas in reality they caused me endless harassment.
And if the system is incorrectly marking legit payments as suspicious then it is their systems / their own fault - not my concern.

Also not a single mail I got from them regarding the card blockage. It was days later that I found out about it.

Connecting with them from outside India is IMPOSSIBLE.

Their circus doesn't end here though.
Yesterday after 1 hours of heated arguments, they said they will unblock the card (within 24-48 hours!)
And today I got a call from them saying they cannot unblock the card as their has been a data breach and they will reissue new card.

So if your card is blocked then you have to wait indefinitely.

I think initially ICICI bank used to call if there was any suspicious transaction. Then HDFC also started. Now if they are unable to reach you. HDFC sends a whats app Message to confirm the transaction. this will be useful when we are abroad.

 

[rojajimmy]

when was this. 2 years back I used my card left and right in Kazhak. Which is the Indus Debit which gives unlimited free ATM Withdrawals

Dec 2024 and Jan 2025. I landed on 28th dec and it was blocked on 29th already. They unblocked my card on 8th Jan I guess

 

[rapidboxer]

Don't spare them. They can't block your card without contacting you like that. They should first try to establish the fact if the transaction is really fraudulent and if unable to reach you and there are repeated 'so called suspicious' transactions on your card then they might block the card to safeguard your interest.

I will suggest not to indulge in any verbal communication. You will not get anything out of it apart from raising your BP. Communicate professionally through mails only. It might take slightly longer but you will also have concrete evidence of the delay from their side.

I didnt get any email and I am not sure if they tried to contact me because my indian sim was not working outside India.
However working of CC should not be tied to working of Indian SIM.

@sjmajumder I have one query, I bymistake applied for a DC in BOB it is Opulence debit card the card was issued to me although on their website it says it's only for those who have maintained 10L QAB. I've never maintained the MAB required yet the card got delivered. When I asked them to block and not charge the fees they denied then I wrote a mail explaining that I'm not eligible yet the bank issued me the card then they said we'll reverse the charges this was in Feb later on after 30 days and no satisfactory response I tried raising a complaint to the RBI Ombudsman now I received an email that the fee reversal is rejected. Anything can be done in this case or I'll have to pay the fees anyhow!!?

Will really appreciate if you don't open a new problem/separate discussion inside my thread which is not directly related to the OP. Thanks.

 

[rapidboxer]

@sjmajumder

I have sent them a mail and its been 3 days - no reply except the automatic response (as expected)
Do you think it will be needed for me to follow up with them?