The Thoothukudi District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission has ordered a public sector bank to pay ₹30,000 to a customer for failing to address a service lapse linked to an ATM cash withdrawal issue, according to sources on Thursday.The complainant, Karthikraja of Vilathikulam in Thoothukudi district, held a savings account with the bank and used its ATM card for cash withdrawals. During one such transaction at an ATM located within Thoothukudi South police limits, he received a message confirming that the amount had been debited from his account. However, the ATM did not dispense the cash.
Despite his immediate complaint to the bank, officials assured him that the debited sum would be reversed within a couple of days — but the issue remained unresolved.
Following repeated attempts to recover the amount, Karthikraja sent a legal notice to the bank, which also went unanswered.
Subsequently, he approached the Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission seeking redress. After reviewing the case, Commission President Chakravarthy and Members Sankar and Namachivayam ruled in favour of the complainant.
The panel directed the bank to pay ₹20,000 for mental distress and service deficiency, along with ₹10,000 towards litigation expenses.Sources added that the verdict underscored the bank’s accountability in promptly addressing customer grievances arising from failed ATM transactions.
