International bank transfer help

longtimegoalover

Im going to Kerala for the first time in February, staying at Kovolam. I thought I d have a few days in Varkala, and arranged a bank transfer payment to the hotel. This was four weeks ago, and the money has not arrived at the hotels account. Has anyone had a similar problem? Although the hotel bank address is in Kerala, my bank has for some reason trasnferred the money to Mumbai, could this be whats holding the payment up?

Thanks in advance

Indojingai

4 weeks is too long, even for Indian standards.

If the end-beneficiary account isn't known for sure/not clear enough - swift codes and all that, the bank that will forward money to the end-beneficiary account, 'parks' the money. If the hotel can call that bank in Mumbai or you could do that too, that will perhaps sort things out for them.

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livinhimalayas

All the money transferred to India goes through Mumbai. What bank does the hotel use? I had a similar problem last month when the money transferred into my account could not be traced for 5 weeks. After a wait of 10 days (it normally takes 3 - 5 days for money to be credited into your account) I lodged a complaint with our bank here and the bank in UK (from where the money was transferred). 200 calls (or so it seemed) and a lot of problems later the money was transferred into our account but after 5 weeks and then an enquiry was set up which found that the remitting bank had transfered the money into a wrong account even though the swift code and all other formalities were completed and furnished and we have done this umpteen times before without any hassles. You may have to do the same with your bank and also ask the hotel to lodge a complaint with their bank.

longtimegoalover

Thanks everyone

My bank is Barclays, the hotel banls with ICICI

I'll speak to my bank again tomorrow

livinhimalayas

I had thught that the bank in india would be ICICI. We bank in India with ICICI and our problem too was with ICICI. All the money transferred goes to their main branch at Mumbai and from there it is transferred into other accounts.
You will have to get a swift copy of the transfer from your bank and send it to the Hotel so they can persue the matter with ICICI. It may take some time for the entire thing to unravel and set right.
The swift copy from your bank should be enough to convince the hotel of your payment and confirm your booking. Best of luck.

longtimegoalover

Ive spoken to my bank again. Although they charged me for the original transfer request, they now ant to charge me again to put a trace on the money. Has anyone else experienced this?

The manager of the hotel hotel in Varkala has told me that he will keep speaking to his bank and not to worry,but it doesnt seem right that he has to do all the work

livinhimalayas

That is strange they should not charge you again. Just ask them for a swift copy of the transfer if you don't have it already. With the help of the swift copy, the Hotel could approach ICICI and trace the payment. ICICI didn't charge me anyting for the trace and I found out that the money was placed in the wrong account by our foreign bank so they would have to compensate us for the loss of interest for the period and also for any inconvenience if we chose to do so. In the end we didn't but that was our choice.
Please mail a soft copy of the swift copy to the hotel or to NRI services of ICICI along with a letter describing the mode and date of payment etc. and they will take up the matter. The mail id for the NRI services is nri@icicibank.com. Remember to give all the details and send a copy of the swift copy you received at the time of remitting the funds.

longtimegoalover

Thanks for the advice, I have emailed ICICI and am waiting for a response

livinhimalayas

You may have to call them up at the customer care to follow up the email. But I am sure it will be done.
Do let me us know the progress.

longtimegoalover

Still no luck in tracing the money. I have emailed ICICI many times, each time they reply asking for additional information, which I always give

I asked Barclays to trace two weeks ago, but they seem to be having no luck either!

livinhimalayas

Sorry to read that your money is still missing. The banks are happier with the money sitting else where or using the money for someother purpose at your expense. It is misappropriation of customer money and you can send a legal notice to both the banks or send a mail that threatens to do so.
Keep calling ICICI up several times a day harass them and ask to speak to the top boss, also write an email to the CEO with a CC to the NRI service of ICICI. That should do it. I had to do all this and then threaten them with a law suit in the consumer forum before I heard fro mthem and the money was transferred.
Best of luck.

karuna

I've not had this particular problem, but when I did have a problem with Barclays I only got a decent response by sending a written letter (not an email) to their complaints department. Try that.

You're not an ICICI customer so you have less leverage with them, but a similar tactic might work.

Good luck.

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