Dollar episode

I decided to close my BALIDOLAR account with Bank Bali's Pondok Indah branch on Feb. 17, 1999. After the usual deductions, the final figure I was to be paid was US$190.57. The bank staff informed me that they were not in a position to pay me my due since they did not have dollar bills in less than $100 denominations. I made a counteroffer to them by saying that I was willing to forego the loose change and would give them a $10 bill so that they could pay me $200 to square off the account.

The strange answer was, "Bookkeeping practice does not allow us to do this!"

The bank's intention was to partly pay me in rupiah, so it was willing to offer a $100 bill and the balance in rupiah converted at the bank's exchange rate. After I made some noise, the staff agreed to pay the full amount but brought in another clause which until then had not being exercised. I would now have to pay an additional 3 percent on the total amount, a charge the bank levies in case a customer wants his money in U.S. dollars.

I agreed to take this option, but then again came the question of the smaller denominations not being available. Finally, I relented due to paucity of time and the amount involved being too small to fight for. All along, I asked to see the manager, who refused to come out and hear my contention.

In conclusion, the positive side of this episode is that I am finally detached from this unprofessional bank. I would appreciate if the bank's PR or any other department did not waste its time in clarifying this episode (or even apologizing). Instead, they can spend that time in doing some introspection and finding ways and means to improve their services.

RAHUL KAPUR

Jakarta