HDFC Bank first dragged my CIBIL Score down to 615, then an RBI Ombudsman complaint made the same bank start chasing me. I had applied for a Credit Card, but the bank rejected my application. Then, a few days later, the exact same card arrived at my doorstep with a ₹500 joining fee. I went to the branch to sort it out, and the employee told me "Just do not pay the fee and do not activate the card, it will automatically get cancelled." I trusted his advice. But that’s where the real nightmare began. The card was not cancelled. Instead, the bank kept reporting defaults for 3 months, and my CIBIL Score eventually dropped to 615. When I complained, instead of taking responsibility, I was given a lecture about being more financially responsible. So I waited, gathered all the documentation, and finally took the matter to the RBI Ombudsman. And suddenly, everything changed. Calls from the Branch Manager Calls from Senior Officers First, they offered an NOC Then, they requested me to withdraw the complaint The same bank that had earlier dismissed my complaint was now saying "Madam, we will completely clean your CIBIL history, just withdraw the complaint." But this time, I refused to back down. The result ? Within just 3 weeks, all the late payment and default remarks related to that incident were removed from my CIBIL report, and my credit history was restored. The same bank that had initially treated me as if I was at fault was now trying desperately to convince me. One small mistake can cause months of damage to your credit profile. So never blindly trust verbal advice from bank employees. Keep records of every conversation, monitor your CIBIL regularly, and if the bank refuses to resolve a genuine complaint, take it to the appropriate regulatory channel. Because sometimes, one properly documented complaint can completely change a bank’s tone.