Dear Claudienne,

I have an account at Jamaica National Building Society (JNBS) for my 14-year-old daughter, with my name attached. My daughter lives with her mom, and attends high school. I deposit $40,000 to the account every month .end for her usage as lunch money, and to buy what she needs. She lives in Portmore, and for the most part, withdraws on average $5,000 most times. On February 12, 2024 her mother noticed that $55,000 was missing from the account that she knows nothing about.

I wasn’t able to visit JNBS until February 26, 2024, because each time before then there was a long line, and I was unable to wait. A male clerk at the bank did his research on her account ( #20xxxx), and advised me that the $55,000, the entire sum of money in the account was withdrawn at a JN ATM machine at the tax office on Constant Spring Road in St Andrew.

He was adamant that my daughter had given someone her card to do the withdrawal and that the money had not been stolen. However, my daughter has never been to the tax office. He took a statement from me, and informed me that the JNBS would review the camera footage, and turn it over to the police.

He said that I would get a call in 15 days.

As I did not get a call from the JNBS in the time frame, I went back to the bank on March 12, 2024. When I asked to speak to a rep, I was told that I needed to give them another 15 days to complete their investigation. However, I again went to the bank on March 26, 2024, and still nothing had been done.

What makes me peeved is that even though this bank has been encouraging young people to save with the institution, it has placed no value on young savers. Just imagine my daughter at 14 years old has been scammed at a bank that she felt a part of and thought that her money would be safe.

I felt very uncomfortable having to explain to my daughter that she was a victim of fraud, at a financial institution that she trusts. I think that the bank has very little, or no regard for its customers as they have not followed up on this issue. It has been very devastating for my daughter, and she keeps asking me when she is going to get her money back.

Trusting that her concern will receive your ever-thoughtful consideration.

NS

Dear NS,

Tell Claudienne has been in communication with JNBS and on May 14, 2024 the column received the following e-mail from the JN Corporate Communications office of the Jamaica National Group:

“We thank you for your patience and for continually bringing these matters to our attention. Following your e-mail, we were able to update the member on the matter, despite our previous attempts to make contact via the two telephone numbers the member had provided in the report filed.

Our investigation is now complete, and the member’s account has been refunded. The member has also been advised in this regard.

Thank you once again for informing us of this matter. “

We wish you all the best.

Have a problem with a store, utility, a company? Telephone 876-936-9436 or Cell/WhatsApp # 876-484-1349 or write to: Tell Claudienne c/o Sunday Finance, Jamaica Observer, 40-421/2 Beechwood Avenue, Kingston 5; or email:edwardsc@jamaicaobserver.com. Please include a contact
phone number.