Sorry, we’ve no client by your name, says bank

• We got in touch with Co-operative Bank, seeking to understand why it had taken long to reverse the transaction so that you could get your money back
• The response left us wondering because, on the one hand, you claim that you have an account with Co-operative Bank
• Since we have talked with Co-operative Bank, who claimed not to be aware of your problem, we would advise that you engage Sony Sugar Company on this matter

I am a farmer who supplies sugar cane to Sony sugar factory. In February this year, the sugar miller was supposed to deposit Sh546,085 to my Co-operative bank account in Migori, but unfortunately, the amount was wired into someone’s else account in Kisumu.

Since then, I have tried following up the issue with the bank but my efforts have all been in vain. My frequent visits to the lender have equally bore no fruit. Please help me get my hard-earned money back.

Hellen

Hello Hellen,

Thank you for taking time to write to us and expressing confidence that we can help you resolve the issue you are having with Co-operative Bank.

We are sorry that your hard-earned money found its way into someone else’s account, which has to date caused you pain and suffering.

Your email, however, did not give full details of what transpired before this incidence occurred. As such, it was not clear to us whether it was your fault that Sony Sugar Company got the incorrect account number or if it was the company’s mistake.

That aside, our attempts to contact you through the telephone numbers you provided in order to get the above details were not successful as you could not be reached on your mobile line.

That notwithstanding, we got in touch with Co-operative Bank, seeking to understand why it had taken long to reverse the transaction so that you could get your money back.

Surprisingly to us, according to the bank, this case has never existed. In a statement, the bank said that it has no pending issue with any customer by the name Hellen Awino in Migori, Kisumu, or in any other branch in Kenya, either on Sony Sugar payments or any other payments for that matter.

The response left us wondering because, on the one hand, you claim that you have an account with Co-operative Bank whose details were mistaken, thereby erroneously wiring money into another person’s account while, on the other hand, the bank disowned having knowledge of this issue.

As we noted earlier, our failed attempts to get in touch with you on telephone were to clarify if indeed you meant Co-operative Bank.

However, this does not mean an end in finding a solution to this matter. Since we have talked with Co-operative Bank, who claimed not to be aware of your problem, we would advise that you engage Sony Sugar Company on this matter.

Let Sony Sugar explain and give evidence, say, deposit slips or any other form of evidence, to prove that it indeed deposited the money in the said account.

Once this is available, please enlist the services of a lawyer or any other relevant authority on the issue with both institutions, the bank and the miller, so that it can be clear where your payment disappeared into.

This is a huge amount of money and we are sure that as a farmer, just as you said, losing it might be a big blow to your business.

Do not hesitate to contact us for further assistance. This forum will try to be of help, where we can.

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