Dear Claudienne

I completed a baking course at the University of Technology (UTECH), Jamaica in 2017.

There is a negative balance of $25,000 on my account and I have applied for the amount to be refunded several times.

I have been informed by UTECH that for me to get a refund I will have to produce all the receipts showing proof of payment.

I do not have all the receipts but I was able to provide most of them. However my documentation has been refused.

I have loans and bills to pay and this money would be of great help.

Your assistance would be appreciated.

PM

Dear PM

Tell Claudienne contacted UTECH and also suggested that you try to obtain the missing receipts from the bank at which you made the payments.

We see that you tried to get the receipts from the bank but you said that they were unable to locate any of the transactions on their system.

Furthermore the money it would have cost you to obtain the missing receipts from the bank would have added up to more than the $25,000 owed to you by UTECH.

When Tell Claudienne spoke to a senior officer in the Student Finance Department at UTECH, she suggested that you request a partial refund of the $25,000 on the basis of the receipts you were able to produce.

We see that your request to UTECH for a partial refund has been refused. The refusal letter you received from UTECH states the following:

“It is not possible for you to get a part of the refund due to the receipts missing.”

According to UTECH the missing receipts are for the payment of $100 on October 18, 2016,$15,400 paid on November 15, 2016, $62,000 paid on January 20, 2017, $70,000 paid on February 23, 2017, $25,000 paid on May 29, 2017 and $8,500 paid on August 22, 2017.

In the meantime please continue your search as you may be able to negotiate with them for a partial payment if you are able to find the receipts for the larger fees you paid in January, February and May 2017.

We wish you all the best.

SHORT PAYMENT OF MY NIS

Dear Claudienne

I worked with the government between the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Agricultural And Development Authority (RADA) for 35 unbroken years from July 1970 – November 2005.

I retired in November 2005 from RADA at the level of an accountant.

On retiring I applied for my National Insurance Scheme (NIS) pension and submitted the relevant documents. At that time the NIS discovered that I had 2 NIS numbers. I was told that the two numbers would be merged in computing my benefits.

Since that time I have been receiving a weekly pension of $2607.24 which does not reflect either the level or the salary at which I retired.

Numerous attempts have been made to have the matter rectified but without any success as I am being given the runaround.

You were highly recommended as someone who could assist in having this matter resolved so I am seeking your assistance.

CP

Dear CP

Tell Claudienne has been in communication with the NIS about your issues for over 18 months.

On June 26, 2018 Tell Claudienne received the following e-mail from the NIS:

“CP was awarded an initial award pending outstanding contributions for some missing years. The file should have been sent to the Kingston and St Andrew parish office in order for the inspectors to investigate those missing years. However, the file was put away in error. I have since retrieved same from the file room and will be forwarding to the Ripon Road office.

Tell Claudienne has continued to follow-up this matter and on October 31, 2019 the NIS informed the column that the NIS inspectors have found four additional years of the NIS contributions you made while you were at RADA. The contributions found are for the years 1991 to 1994.

The NIS said that your benefit has been recalculated and is now with an insurance officer awaiting approval for second payment.”

Tell Claudienne will continue to follow-up onthe matter so please let us know when you receive the second payment.

We wish you all the best.

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.