Editor:
Yesterday I logged onto my email and there was an alert from Mastercard regarding my husband’s account. So I go on and there are over $700 bogus charges. I sat on hold for nearly two hours and then spent another 45 minutes (dealing with the issue. I hung up) thinking that this issue was settled and that the card was shut down.
This morning decided to check that account and there is another $1,000 in bogus charges. I spent another few hours on the phone and was told that I had to go to the nearest branch of my bank so that they could deal with it.
I went there and the response was beyond disgusting: “We cannot close an account that has a balance.”
So, here we are with a balance of $1,700 in bogus charges.
After I was somewhat belligerent, they agreed to freeze the account.
Frankly, I feel that we are giving crooks the advantage.
I am 80 years old and my husband is 87.
I am fortunate in that I can be aggressive and have a knowledge of the law, but think of those seniors who do not have the knowledge or the ability to deal with this.
For me, our banking institutions have enough money that they can protect their clients.
My answer is now “No more credit cards. Cash only.”
In fact, I am beginning to realize my old grandmother’s feelings that hiding money under the bed is safer than dealing with banks.
Christina Eden, Surrey