Paying for BPI’s mistakes
At the end of June last year, I was surprised to find that a service charge of one hundred and five pesos was debited from my payroll account at Bank of the Philippine Islands. I immediately reported this to the guy in charge of our payroll, who promised that he’d look into it.
Come end of July, another 105 pesos vanished from my account. Apparently the bank had overlooked the fact that it was for payroll purposes only, and therefore exempt from the charges incurred by accounts falling below the minimum bank balance. Like many other working people, I withdraw the bulk of my pay upon receipt, to deposit elsewhere, pay bills, and/or spend on various necessities. It irritated me no end that I should be wrongly penalized for this.
So I reported it once more to Payroll Guy. He was puzzled, both by the new charge and by the lack of a refund for the previous one, since he’d already talked to the bank about it. Nonetheless, he said he would talk to them again.
Months passed. No further charges were levied, but the two hundred ten bucks was never credited back to me. Busy at work, I contented myself with occasionally asking Payroll Guy what had happened to my missing cash. Once I called BPI’s ExpressPhone facility to ask what I ought to do, and the person on the other end said, “Tell the branch.”
In December I went to the bank myself to verify the status of my complaint. And the long-haired snippet at the counter told me I should just, you guessed it, “check with your Payroll section.”
Fine, fine.
But December was even more hectic than usual. And my follow-up, though duly made, got lost in the shuffle.
Today I went with Payroll Guy to the bank for another inquiry into the matter. And, according to the bank personage, they “can’t credit it back because the 2003 books are closed, taxes paid, income declared,” ad infinitum.
I see. Despite the fact that I repeatedly brought it to the attention of Payroll Guy, and the fact that he did indeed mention it to you, Ms. Personage, you ignored my requests for refund from the beginning. And now you’re sorry, but you just can’t give me my money back.
Payroll Guy was shocked at what you said. He had no idea your bank had such a policy. Why didn’t you inform him long ago, when the company first entered into this arrangement with your bank?
I bet I’m not the only one who’s heard that line from you, though. How many other depositors out there have had to say goodbye to their hard-earned cash, just because giving it back would disrupt your nice neat records (and possibly detract from your branch’s income)?
Sure, it’s a measly 210 pesos. Barely enough for milk or some canned goods. Does that mean it’s OK for you to write it off, even though you were in error? Of course not. You shouldn’t even have charged those fees in the first place. And once brought to your attention, you should have done something about it before your sacred books were closed. Six months is a long time, my dear Ms. Personage — certainly long enough for you to correct such a simple problem.
How would you like it if someone took “only 210 pesos” from your vault “by mistake”? Wait, what are those people called again?
Oh, yeah.
Thieves.
Thanks for your abysmal service.
And have a nice day.
Not.
This entry was posted on Tuesday, February 3, 2004 at 12:17 pm under Etc. Both comments and pings are currently closed.