Dear Claudienne

My business has a number of stores. I rent point-of-sale machines from the National Commercial Bank (NCB) to facilitate my clients with credit cards. Recently, I realised that for three years the amount being taken by the bank from my account each month for the rental of the machine at one of the Kingston outlets, was three times the actual rent. The actual rent for the machine was $1762.50.

When I pointed out the discrepancy to NCB, they said that I was due a refund of over $100,000.

I have two types of point-of-sale machines at different stores. Whenever I opened a store without a landline, NCB would rent me a mobile point-of-sale machine, and the rental on it was twice the rental for a landline machine. I would use the mobile for a maximum of three months until I got a landline.

The refund of $100,000 was specifically for a point-of-sale machine I rent for one of the stores in Kingston. However, there is another account for a shop in a rural town on which I am also due a refund, as for two years they have been overcharging me for the rental of the machine for this shop. I should have got the refund on the account for this rural shop three weeks ago, but they said they are still investigating.

At the same time, I have loans with NCB and I have to pay interest and bank charges. For example, for every credit card a customer uses at one of my stores, I have to pay the bank a percentage.

I believe that I should be paid interest on the refund since it was the bank’s mistake. However, the manager in question has informed me that no interest will be paid as the machine made a mistake.

What do you think?

MD

Dear MD

Tell Claudienne spoke with an NCB executive. We note that the executive immediately phoned you and arranged a meeting for the following day. We see that the matter was amicably settled and that you are satisfied with the response you got from the bank.

Good luck.

Dear Claudienne

My baby who was born at the Jubilee Hospital is nine months old and I am yet to get the free copy of the birth certificate that the Registrar General’s Department (RGD) promised me. The RGD has told me that they can’t find the batch number and they don’t know when I will be able to get the birth certificate. I have also paid for two copies of the birth certificate and for the seven-day express service, but I have not heard from the RGD.

You advised me to call the number 1-888-991-2752 at the Cabinet office in the Prime Minister’s office for help with this matter. However, whenever I call the toll-free number, I keep getting a recording that the number is out of service.

What should I do ?

DD

Dear DD

We called the Cabinet Office and gave them your number and asked them to call you. We note that someone from the Cabinet office phoned and is helping you to resolve this matter with the RGD.

Good luck.

Have a problem with a store, utility, a company? Telephone 936-9436 or write to: Tell Claudienne c/o Sunday Finance, Jamaica Observer, 40-42 1/2 Beechwood Avenue, Kingston 5; or e-mail: edwardsc@jamaicaobserver.com. Please include a contact phone number.