Visa electron

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