Dear Editor,
Reading the comments in the case of the woman who lost a large sum of money just withdrawn from the bank brought to mind my experience in Guyana in the mid-1990s.
Over a period of time I had grown dissatisfied with the poor service offered at a commercial bank, with overseas headquarters, and decided to close my account there. The proceeds were the equivalent of £4,000 (four thousand pounds sterling) and I asked for a cheque, because I intended to deposit the sum in an account held with another bank. I was taken aback when the teller, having consulted with colleagues in a side room, returned and told me I could have the money in cash. I saw counting all those bills as a tiresome exercise and insisted on a cheque.
Later on, I wondered about the bank’s cash suggestion, something many of your bloggers touched on. What if there was a teller-arrangement with ‘money grabbers’ just waiting in the vicinity to relieve unsuspecting people of substantial withdrawals? What if I had been identified as a prime victim and had had my hard-earned money snatched?
When I read bloggers’ thoughts in the comments column of your issue of Friday, 17th October, I realised how wise my choice was. The people who look after our money are supposed to be honest and trustworthy. We take this for granted when we choose them.
Hopefully, this woman’s loss was a case of sneak thieves at work and they are soon caught. Poor Guyana.
Yours faithfully,
Geralda Dennison
