Visa electron

I am writing in response to Monopolies still exist, of March 7, concerning the usage of Visa electron card.

Being a Bank Bali client, I am entitled to a program where one is appointed points called Kualiva, which can be redeemed at certain outlets. I called the Bank Bali PIP Center and asked for information on this on Feb. 25, and was advised that Hero supermarkets were one of the chain of outlets accepting this program.

Armed with the electron card and the points available to us, we visited the Hero supermarket in Kemang, South Jakarta, and did our shopping, only to be refused the usage of the electron card issued by Bank Bali and its Kualiva points.

No amount of trying to convince the teller and the on-duty manager that we did not want to debit our account, and that we wanted to use the points program, was of any help, and, therefore, we had to settle our bill by other means.

I called the Bank Bali center for an explanation and was advised that indeed Hero did not accept the electron card. Now Bank Bali, the issuer of this particular card, which had its customers change their ATM cards to electron cards, should take responsibility of advising its customers that Hero, although a participant in this Kualiva program, will not accept the points on a Visa electron card.

Although I called to enquire beforehand, this information was not given to me, and I had to face an embarrassing situation at a supermarket, compliments of Bank Bali.

On lodging a complaint with the bank's PIP center, I was advised not to make a written complaint; the officer accepting my complaint on the phone would, I was assured, take care of the matter and have an answer for me within three days.

That was on Feb. 26. To date, there has been no answer from Bank Bali and I wonder if they realize just how many hours are needed to make up three days.

S.L. ADWANI

Jakarta