“No charges! No commissions, as such, for the service we are meant to provide customers” – couple of Bank officials answered back to my ‘deliberate’ provocative query.
What a shame! I was made to learn and experience (more than once or twice) first hand, that there are certain embarrassing situations where one is made to come across situations very ‘bemusedly’, like any one else. Well, it was (on an errand) sometime just after 1:00 pm, on May 21, 2009, that I went to get the Seal and Signature of the concerned official for a “No Due Certificate”, from the Nagaland Rural Bank, Kohima (the fifth Bank of the day, I went seeking for the seal and signature). The gentleman and a lady behind the counter very welcomingly accepted my presence with the document to be signed. What happened next came as an unpleasant surprise, because, the gentleman coolly asked for Rs 100/- only, as commission. I was taken aback but, as I shelled out the hundred note, I (embarrassingly) asked, “Is this your Bank’s policy?” to which, the affirmative respond “Yes!” came back at me.
Furthermore, I wish to make it known that (out of the dozen Banks), none of the other Banks in Kohima asked for commission, nor indirectly hinted for charges, despite the fact that I, gentlemanly ‘provoked’ some Bank officials, whether I have to pay certain fees or commission, or if at all, there be a fee/charge/commission et cetera, to get the seal and signature? It was negative response all the way, with all the other Banks, which landed me in an awkward and uncomfortable situation. On the other hand, it made me all the more determined to keep on with the gentleman’s ‘provocation’ till the last Seal and Signature was obtained. (But again, I am being reminded that in the past, prior to state’s general election, aspiring candidates contesting in the election also needs “No Due Certificate”. Here also, I was a witness in the recent past, i.e. the last general election, where some Bank officials asked for commission, the rate also differs. Others simply gave the seal and signature - as if saying, it’s done, there you go!).
Well, situations are always being faced whether one like‘s it or not, so again, not so amusingly, one particular senior Bank official (from one of the three State Bank of India, which will not get mentioned here) shot a question at me, “If there is no account in this Bank, why are you asking for a ‘No Due Certificate’?” to which I replied, “It’s supposed to be the Banks’ policy”.
Moreover, what is being written and conveyed here for the readers is that, there are so much of embarrassing moments and situations where one is made to look like a fool, in a way - for being naïve, for all the wrong reasons.
Kopelo Krome, Kohima
