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504 days ago

Banking Regulations and Large Corporates - Beware

Mike from Papanui

Found out some pretty shocking information.... I cancelled my insurance policy with AMI and they owed me a refund.
Instead of paying the refund, they set up a direct debit on my bank account with BNZ without my authority and withdrew the amount they were supposed to refund me.
Called the bank to find out how that could have happened and they told me that "a number of large organisations were allowed to set up direct debits without any authorisation from the customer".
I called the Banking Ombudsman and they confirmed that was correct. They said it was done to "reduce the amount of paperwork for the organisations and they depended on the fact it would reflect badly on these organisations if they abused the plan" to prevent any issues.

So anytime they want, telcos, insurance companies electricity companies, etc can set up a direct debit on your accounts and deduct money. If you want to dispute it, you have to go through a disputes resolution process, so there goes hours, days or months of your time to get your money back.

Unbelievable!!!!!

More messages from your neighbours
3 days ago

Poll: Are our Kiwi summer holidays helping us recharge, or holding the economy back? ☀️🥝

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

There’s growing debate about whether New Zealand’s extended Christmas break (and the slowdown that comes with it) affects productivity.

Tracy Watkins has weighed in ... now it’s your turn. What’s your take? 🤔

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Are our Kiwi summer holidays helping us recharge, or holding the economy back? ☀️🥝
  • 73% We work hard, we deserve a break!
    73% Complete
  • 16% Hmm, maybe?
    16% Complete
  • 11% Yes!
    11% Complete
688 votes
7 days ago

Poll: Pedestrian access is being extended to the Ōtakaro Avon River - good idea?

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

Pedestrian access from one of Christchurch’s favourite streets is being extended all the way to the Ōtakaro Avon River. This new 12m-wide pathway will give you a direct, easy route from the street to the river promenade ... perfect for a stroll, a coffee run, or just soaking up the riverside vibes.

We want to know: In your view, what makes a city people-friendly?
What else should our urban areas be doing to support better community connections?

Curious about the full plans? You can check them out here.

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Pedestrian access is being extended to the Ōtakaro Avon River - good idea?
  • 90.1% Yes
    90.1% Complete
  • 9.9% No
    9.9% Complete
91 votes
15 hours ago

Secure your homes over summer

The Team from New Zealand Police

Police are reminding people to keep their homes secure during the summer months.

Inspector Glenda Barnaby, Christchurch Area Prevention manager, says daytime burglaries are just as common as nightime burglaries.
“Burglaries can be committed at any time of the day, and coming into warmer months there is more opportunity for thieves."
"Although a majority of burglaries involve forced entry through windows and doors, we are starting to see more incidents at insecure premises. Police deal with cases where burglaries are committed in broad daylight, sometimes even while the victim is at home. Good weather means open doors and windows, which makes homes more vulnerable to burglars.”

Inspector Barnaby says there’s a few things people can do to reduce their changes of a burglary being committed.
⚠️ If you’re going outside for gardening, relaxing in the sun, or working in the garage, take a moment to lock your doors and secure your windows first.
⚠️ Do the same at night when you go to bed - keep your doors and windows secure and close your curtains. Fitting window stays means you can get a breeze coming through, while keeping your windows secure.
⚠️ Get to know your neighbours - let them know if you’re going away and look out for one another.”

If you see any suspicious activity, people or vehicles in your neighbourhood, don't hesitate to contact Police.
If you witness or suspect any illegal activity, please call 111 if it is happening now, or make a report through 105 either online or over the phone, if it is after the fact.

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