Dear Editor,
IT is not often that I choose to go public with things that affect me personally, but I think that I should bring this issue to the fore as it seems to be the only way the powers that be would pay attention to persons affected. So please permit me some space in your paper in the interest of all concerned.
I had a master card account closed with Scotiabank two months ago and I find myself still receiving statements showing interest charges. I visited the bank after receiving the first statement and the officer assured me that the company that manages the MasterCard account in Barbados will be notified to revert the charges. The following month I received another statement for the said account, this time the charges were increased.
I am in the bank as I pen this letter as I have had to leave work to attend to this matter for two days in two months and the wait time in the bank is one hour minimum. I requested assistance from one of the “express” staff who just casually told me that you have to join the line and wait as “there must have been a justifiable reason for the charges to be made to my account.” I was not happy with this answer and I let him know it. When one hour after I spoke to one of the officers I was again assured that I had received the statement in error.

I am beginning to wonder if the bank is benefiting in some way by having people wait in line or if it is a power play by some members of staff. I have seen the management of the bank making efforts to reduce the time customers spend at the bank, but I don’t think the staff has gotten the memo. While I have been banking at that institution for decades, of late I am being made to rethink my relationship because of the attitudes of some of its staff.
Further, while in the line I was advised that other persons had similar issues where errors by the bank/staff have resulted in them having to be wasting hours and cash travelling back and forth. Someone needs to remind the staff that the reason for the staff being there is the customers, without whom there will be no bank. Customers should not be made to feel insulted when enquiries are made about their accounts. I am therefore appealing to the powers that be to assist customers.
Regards
Rev’d Fr Raymon E Cummings