Rising Bank Fraud: How FBN ‘Decline Transaction’ Disturbs Nigerian Students
By Wale Abydeen/LAGOS//Decline transaction is a system failure and when this happens, how long should it takes a bank to refund such money to its customer. This is the question First Bank of Nigeria, FBN failed to answer when SECURITY MONITOR asks Folake Ani-Mumeeni and Ismail Omamegbe, the duo of corporate affairs department of the FBN.
On the 2nd March, 2023, Ogunsiji Abiodun Olawale, a 300 level student of Criminology and Security Studies at the National Open University paid for his school fees through FBN debit card account number: 312209021 in an online transaction. Ogunsiji account was debited of the N44, 397, 75 (Forty Four Thousand, Three Hundred and Ninety Seven Naira and Seventy Five Kobo).
According to Ogunsiji, “I was disappointed when I got to the school in preparation for an examination and I was told I cannot be allowed into the examination hall, reason for nonpayment of school fees. I brought out my phone to show them my debit alert but the school bursar checked again and again and affirmed the payment was not successful. I was angry, sad and ran helter skater in furious attempt not miss the exams. I have to beg a neighbor who helped me to make the payment through her Zenith Bank account before I could be allowed to join my other colleagues in the exams hall. It was a horrible experience as I could not put myself together throughout the duration of the exam that day. I was so disturbed and destabilized.”
Ogunsiji who laments he has been having issue with his neighbor over the money said he had complained to FBN online and they promised to work on it but they did not till date. He said, “I have called FBN Customer line times without number but there is no result. I have complained at the FBN branch in Bolade area of Oshodi, I was told to fill a form which I did but my money was not refund. The person who borrowed me the money taught I don’t want to refund her money, claiming no decline transaction will take such longer months to get refund. But I have made series of complain both physical appearances at the FBN branches and online complain, all to no avail.”
Ogunsiji who told SECURITY MONITOR how things were difficult for him at home as his neighbor keeps disturbing him over her money thereby made a passionate appeal to FBN to refund his money. “Four months after a decline transaction, I cannot get a refund. That is too bad of a first generation bank like the FBN. I taught the bank has standard but I was disappointed”, he said in anger.
In an attempt to seek clarification, SECURITY MONITOR contacted FBN through their corporate affairs officials but the duo of Ani-Mumene and Omamegbe declined response and could not address their customers’ grievances two weeks after such enquires was sent to them.
About Author
