Next door to Haaris' Cyber Cafe, is a branch of Bank Niaga.
Last April, swiped once at ATM and withdrew RP750,000 = $102.20
Once home we found out that RP1.500,000 = $202.40 had been debited to our account TWICE, on the same withdrawal number, at the same time; this despite the fact that extra transactions have to be swiped separately.
Complained to my Bank here, who tried unsuccessfully to ratify the matter; no reply came from Niaga.
Unexpected by Niaga, I was able to confront them personally in two separate interviews, after only two months, in the person of the Branch Manageress. She even showed me the transaction roll for that day, which didn't show any of the transactions concerned, even the genuine one!
Conclusion, admitted by her, the machine has been faulty! Conclusion by me, "you owe me the money for faulty debit of $404.40" The usual reply, quite predictably, "I'll ask my boss". -Smile) It appears that non-Indo banks can be programmed to cheat foreign banks.
My Bank then became more vigorously involved, brought my records of interviews to the attention of Niaga in Denpasar and Jakarta. Result = Nil! They refuse to consider a claim.
My Bank then advised me that it was too expensive to pursue a claim thus small, the banks in Indonesia are aware of this and keep their programmed fiddles down below a certain level, where they know they won't be prosecuted! Apparently the level of ATM and C/C fiddling being attempted on a regular basis is pretty well a laughing matter among the Banks here.
My Bank is refunding my money.
Please be aware that this is apparently proved to be happening at NIAGA; don't patronise them. Stick to more reputable banks like BCA or BNI. Always keep an eye out at home. In my opinion this thievery is rampant because A they don't expect confrontation within a year or more, if ever. B As the bank advises, they keep the fiddles to a level where they are not worth prosecuting.
This is the second time this year that my Bank has come up trumps.
In January, I gave my C'C to Puri Raja to have a Deposit of one night, registered for a future trip. At home the Bank rang to ask us about two suspicious transactions, elsewhere in Asia on our C/C numbers, which they had not honoured. It seemed unlikely to them that, while I was in Bali, I was simultaneously in Hong Kong and Phuket, buying horse-riding gear. Apart from being simultaneously in three places at once (wouldn't I love it), the closest I've been to a horse has been the TAB over 60 years!
Puri Raja just smile and advise that they know nothing; probably happened at the bank, they say and I would support this supposition.
So, dear readers, be careful and Hati-Hatilah!