The Government of India is a Sell Out

I always provide wrong information in almost all of the surveys and data collection forms that are presented in conferences and the likes. I do this primarily to avoid being spammed by various marketing agencies, whether on phone or email alike; since most of this data gets sold.

Every once in a while, there arises a situation when you cannot give fake information. These may include incorporation of a new company, giving a letter for a foreign national to make a business trip to India, etc. I am appalled to notice that the Government of India is selling information that would otherwise be deemed confidential.

Yesterday, my Private Limited got incorporated and within a few hours of that I got the following mail. Is the government just allowed to sell information in this manner to anyone?

Dear Sir,

Greeting from HDFC Bank !!!!


At the outset many congratulations for the incorporation of your new Company and we would like to welcome you to the world of HDFC Bank. HDFC Bank current account is designed to cater to your diverse & complex business needs. Now you can unlock the true value of banking with us, through a host of services and each one is a reflection of just how much we cherish your relationship with us.

I take this opportunity to give more details of the product and HDFC Bank.

Exclusive Benefit's for the HDFC Bank Account holders:-
• Payable- at par cheque book facility
• Free inter-city fund transfer across our network.
• Free online real- time Net Banking.
• Free collection of outstation cheque, payable on HDFC Bank locations.
• Huge savings on Bank charges.
• Cash pick-up at a nominal cost.
• 24 -hour phone banking access
• Business Debit Card
• Finer FX rates, Customized FX solutions & Telegraphic transfers
• CMS (Collections, Disbursements, At Par, Demand Drafts in large volumes)
• Free DD, Pay Oder.
• Free RTGS / NEFT
• Zero balance Salary Accounts with salary up load solutions.
• Payment gateway services.
• E-net Facility for TAX payment.
• Merchant Services (EDC Machine)
• Net banking – Manage your accounts from anywhere any time.
• Phone banking – Talk to a phone banking agent for all your queries.
• Mobile banking - Access, transact & inquire about your account
• InstaAlerts – Get account updates on mobile or e-mail.
• Term loans, OD, CC , Property mortgage

• Loan – Auto, home, Personal
• On-line tax payment.

In today's fast-paced world, your business regularly requires you to receive and send funds to various cities in the country. HDFC Bank Current Account gives you the power of inter-city banking with a single account and access to more than 819 cities and 1765+ branches.From special cheques that get treated at par with local ones in any city where we have a branch, faster collection of outstation cheques (payable at branch locations), free account to account funds transfer between HDFC Bank accounts to Free inter-city clearing, our priority services have become the benchmark for banking efficiency. Our country is going to become a great production and trading hub in the map of world, Bank shall definitely participate in the same , With the motto to provide fastest International banking services to our Importers, exporters and all other business houses.


Request you for an appointment to discuss about our Key account product for Newly Incorporated Companies. Please feel free to contact me or Mr. Nagaraj on +91 9164404753 for any further clarification.

Thanks and Regards.

Shabeer. P.

Manager
HDFC Bank Ltd.
Bangalore.
Mob: 9379185775.


HDFC Bank declared 'Best Private Bank in India' in the Euromoney Private Banking Survey 2010.
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Disclaimer:
"The information contained herein (including any accompanying documents) is confidential and is intended solely for the addressee(s). If you have erroneously received this message, please immediately delete it and notify the sender. Also, if you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution or taking any action in reliance on the contents of this message or any accompanying document is strictly prohibited and is unlawful. The organization is not responsible for any damage caused by a virus or alteration of the e-mail by a third party or otherwise. The contents of this message may not necessarily represent the views or policies of HDFC Bank Ltd."

Ok Ok. Private Limited companies are public entities and therefore, the information might have been available to the bank.

I had a similar instance last year when an associate from Europe had asked me to send a letter across to him, so that he could procure a business visa to come to India. The day that the letter was submitted to the Indian Embassy in Brussels, the same day I got a call from HSBC asking if I wanted a forex account. This is extremely confidential information is it not?

I feel the Indian Government is selling out every single piece of information that they get. Can this be allowed? Is there no way of addressing this?