Dear Editor,
It is out of frustration that I have decided to make public the travesty one has to go through when doing online transactions with Republic Bank Ltd (Guy). I have noticed that the bank has decided to compensate for the inconvenience caused due to the transition and upgrade of its electronic system, for which they should be applauded.
However, one issue that needs urgent attention is the online purchasing system using its card. As a Guyanese, I am not sure if it is applicable to other territories as well in which they provide similar services, for me to make an online purchase and/or transaction I must first make contact with the bank’s head office in Trinidad and Tobago for them to provide access to my account, which was opened in Guyana.
It is burdensome to make calls to Trinidad and Tobago every time one has to do an online transaction because access is given only for 24 hours.
Hence, a subsequent transaction would necessitate another call and note that not all times you will get through easily or may have wait and go through extensions to get to the individual authorised to open the account. In addition to the inconvenience, the cost to call to Trinidad and Tobago must be borne by the account holder.
The account holder is no way at fault if the bank cannot provide proper security for the transaction and payment; that is the responsibility of the bank and as such should be the one to provide such calls free of cost to the account holder or return the remittance.
It is unfair because I did not apply to any office outside of Guyana to initiate any process to open my account and I was never told subsequently, that I would need to make contact with its headquarters in Trinidad for any transaction.
Through this medium, I am calling on the Bank of Guyana to make the necessary declaration to protect the citizens from being unfairly treated and ensure that Republic Bank Ltd (Guy) compensates for all the calls made for this purpose over the years.
Yours sincerely,
Name submitted
