Why make it so hard?
Andy Ho
Thu, Jul 03, 2008
The Straits Times
MY GRANDMOTHER, Madam Lim Hong, received a letter dated April 29 from the Central Provident Fund (CPF) Board which contained a cheque for growth dividends in the amount of $300.
The validity of the cheque is 90 days for encashment with any OCBC branch office. The last day is stated as July 28, both on the cheque and the payment advice.
My grandmother is now 99 years old, bedridden and staying in a nursing home. I have two affidavits from the management that she has appointed me to handle her private matters. Armed with the cheque, the two affidavits and her IC, I went to one of the OCBC branch offices.
The officer told me that the bank was willing to encash the cheque but could not do so after checking with the CPF Board.
They made the phone call from their back office while I was waiting at the counter.
It seems that I had to visit the CPF office personally to get an authorisation from them in order that the cheque could be encashed.
I had already spent two hours on this matter. If I were to visit the CPF office and then OCBC again, I would have to spend at least another three hours on such a trivial matter.
With much regret, I am returning the original cheque with copies of the two affidavits and a copy of my grandmother's IC.
While I appreciate the kind gesture from the CPF Board on rewarding our senior citizens who have indeed built up this country, I cannot help feeling disappointed at the way the board is handling the administration of this matter.
On behalf of my grandmother, I thank the board for recognising the generation of solid citizens who have played a vital role in making Singapore what it is today.
Juliet Hasselblad (Ms)
Juliet Hasselblad (Ms),,,sounds like a foreigner.