Introduction

The debt collection policy of the ICICI Home Finance Company Ltd (ICICI HFC) is built around dignity and respect to customers. ICICI HFC will not follow policies that are unduly coercive in collection of dues. The policy is built on courtesy, fair treatment and persuasion. ICICI HFC believes in following fair practices with regard to collection of dues and repossession of security and thereby fostering customer confidence and long-term relationship.

ICICI HFC’s Security Repossession Policy aims at recovery of dues in the event of default and is not aimed at whimsical deprivation of the immovable or movable asset. The policy recognizes fairness and transparency in repossession, valuation and realization of security. All the practices adopted by the ICICI HFC for follow up and recovery of dues and repossession of security will be in consonance with the law. Security repossession procedure would be set in motion only after all attempts by the ICICI HFC to discuss with the borrower the ways and means to overcome the financial hurdles have failed or if the customer is not contactable/avoiding contact for a reasonable period. As an exception, it is to be noted that the ICICI HFC has the right to possess the financed asset, as a preventive measure, even in instances where there has been no default but on account of violations of the terms and conditions of the Loan Agreement.

All the members of the staff or any person authorized to represent our ICICI HFC in collection or/and security repossession would follow the guidelines set out below:

1.     The customer would be contacted ordinarily at the place of his/her choice and in the absence of any specified place, at the place of his/her residence and if unavailable at his/her residence, at the place of business/occupation.

2.     Identity and authority of persons authorized to represent ICICI HFC for follow up and recovery of dues would be made known to the borrowers at the first instance. The ICICI HFC staff or any person authorized to represent the ICICI HFC in collection of dues or/and security repossession will identify himself/herself and display the ID card (which includes due authorization of the ICICI HFCissued by the ICICI HFC upon request.

3.     The ICICI HFC would respect privacy of its borrowers.

4.     The ICICI HFC is committed to ensure that all written and verbal communication with its borrowers will be in simple business language and ICICI HFC will adopt civil manners for interaction with borrowers.

5.     Normally the ICICI HFC’s representatives will contact the borrower between 08:00 hrs and 19:00 hrs, unless the special circumstance of his/her business or occupation requires the ICICI HFC to contact at a different time.

6.     Borrower’s requests to avoid calls at a particular time or at a particular place would be honored as far as possible.

7.     The ICICI HFC will document the efforts made for the recovery of dues and the copies of communication sent to customers, if any, will be kept on record.

8.     All assistance will be given to resolve disputes or differences regarding dues in a mutually acceptable and in an orderly manner.

9.     Inappropriate occasions such as bereavement in the family or such other calamitous occasions will be avoided for making calls/visits to collect dues.

10.     The ICICI HFC will also adhere to the extant regulatory guidelines on Fair Practices Code for Lenders, Outsourcing of Financial Services, Code of ICICI HFC's Commitment to Customers and Recovery Agents engaged by ICICI HFCs.

The ICICI HFC may utilize the services of recovery agencies for collection of dues and repossession of securities. Recovery agencies will be appointed as per regulatory guidelines issued in this regard. In this respect:

1.     The name and address of all Recovery Agencies on the ICICI HFC’s approved panel will be placed on the ICICI HFC’s website for information.

2.     Only recovery agencies from the approved panels will be engaged by the ICICI HFC.

3.     Employees of the recovery agencies, after completing the mandatory Debt Recovery Agent (DRA) training, will be issued valid ID cards authorizing them to collect dues from the ICICI HFC's customers.

4.     In case the ICICI HFC engages service of such recovery/enforcement/ seizure agencies for any recovery case, the identity of the agency will be disclosed to the borrower.

5.     The recovery agents engaged by the ICICI HFC will be required to follow a code of conduct governing their dealings with customers.

While written communications, telephonic reminders or visits by the ICICI HFC’s representatives to the borrower’s place or residence will be used as loan follow up measures, the ICICI HFC will not initiate any legal or other recovery measures including repossession of the security without giving due notice in writing with a provision for acknowledgment. ICICI HFC will follow all such procedures as required under law for recovery/repossession of security. The number of days to be given as notice needs to be mentioned and it should stipulate the minimum time that will be given to the borrower to pay the debt failing which the ICICI HFC will proceed to take possession of the asset. However, if the customer deliberately avoids acknowledging or establishing contact with the ICICI HFC then the ICICI HFC will be free to proceed with the repossession of the security.

Repossession of security is aimed at recovery of dues and not to deprive the borrower of the property. The recovery process through repossession of security will involve repossession, valuation of security and realization of security through appropriate means. All these would be carried out in a fair and transparent manner. Repossession will be done only after issuing the notice as detailed above. Due process of law will be followed while taking repossession of the property. The ICICI HFC will take all reasonable care for ensuring the safety and security of the property after taking custody, in the ordinary course of the business and necessary cost will be charged to borrower.

Valuation and sale of property repossessed by the ICICI HFC will be carried out as per law and in a fair and transparent manner. The ICICI HFC will have right to recover from the borrower the balance due if any, after sale of property. Excess amount if any, obtained on sale of property will be returned to the borrower after meeting all the related expenses provided the ICICI HFC is not having any other claims against the customer. ICICI HFC will give a notice before proceeding with the sale. Giving notice before taking possession of the property should not be construed as notice for sale.

In respect of cases under SARFAESI Act, as per the provisions of the Act, a notice will be issued to the customer giving 30 days’ time for payment. When sale by public auction or by tender is envisaged, a notice will be published in two leading newspapers out of which one would be a local vernacular newspaper.

As indicated earlier in the policy document, the ICICI HFC will resort to repossession of security only for the purpose of realization of its dues as the last resort and not with intention of depriving the borrower of the property. Accordingly, the ICICI HFC will be willing to consider handing over possession of property to the borrower any time after repossession and before concluding sale transaction of the property, provided the ICICI HFC dues are cleared in full. If satisfied with the genuineness of borrower’s inability to pay the loan installments as per the schedule, which resulted in the repossession of security, the ICICI HFC may consider handing over the property after receiving the installments in arrears. However, this would be subject to the ICICI HFC being convinced of the arrangements made by the borrower to ensure timely repayment of remaining installments in future.

If the amounts are repaid, either as stipulated by the ICICI HFC or dues settled as agreed to by the ICICI HFC, possession of seized assets will be handed back to the borrower within seven days after date of permission from competent authority of the ICICI HFC or court/DRT concerned if recovery proceedings are filed and pending before such forums.