Credit card overcharge

In September, 1995 my parents stayed at the Arcadia Hotel on Jl. Wahid Hasjim for one night and they paid with their credit card. After receiving the credit card statement, we unfortunately did not check the charges made by the Arcadia Hotel, and only did so a year later by accident.

Strangely, we were charged twice, once for one night's accommodation and another time for an amount of Rp 1,522,180. From the credit card statement, it was not clear what this additional charge was for.

I asked the hotel staff if they could produce a copy of the bill. They said it was impossible because the incident had happened too long ago. After insisting that the copies had to be stored somewhere, they put me through the accounting department.

After a week, the accounting staff told me there was no copy of the credit card charge and I should contact the front manager. The front manager told me he would inquire into this matter and let me know as soon as possible. After another week, the front manager said the amount charged to our credit card was that of another customer. He apologized to me and ensured that the amount would be reimbursed to the credit card account.

I was quite happy that things worked out so smoothly and thanked the front manager for his cooperation. But after a month, nothing has happened and after contacting him once again he said the bank had some difficulties but the transfer would be made as soon as possible.

Needless to say, after three months no money has been transferred. I tried to talk to the front manager again but he refused to speak with me and referred me back to the accounting department -- where I started my inquiry months ago.

MARCUS GLIWITZKI

Jakarta