@helloworld - HDFC charges at the end of the statement year, isn't it? I think many other banks too charge annual fees at the end, rather than at the beginning. HSBC seems to charge at the beginning like Axis.
@helloworld - Wait a sec. Technofino's complaint seemed to be that ICICI had charged him at the start of the year, isn't it? So, ICICI too is in the same group with HDFC, HSBC, AXIS...