The next time you want to apply or pay off loans from your bank, especially with the Consumer Finance Company (CFC) at any of their branches in the country, make sure you thoroughly investigate whoever facilitates or sign your Settlement of Account letter, as some of their banking executives have designed modes of siphoning loan monies to line their pockets, the New Crusading GUIDE has been told.
Mr. Kelvin Ane Abem, a civil servant in Tamale, in the Northern Region, took a loan facility of GH10, 000 from the Consumer Finance Company in January 2015 with a monthly installment of GH¢491.30 for 60 months with an early settlement option.
An amount of GH¢12, 000 was paid in October at their branch in Tamale and a settlement of account letter issued and signed by the Loans officer. Accordingly, the deductions were stopped from the controller and Accountant Generals Department.
However, in January 2016, a direct debt transaction of GH¢200 affected his account which stated it was deductions for “a certain CFC loan”.
According to him, a letter of demand was sent to the company in Tamale with a grace period of 14 days for refund of the money deducted from his account else he would proceed to court.
“A follow up was made to my facility and I was called by one administrative staff on the matter. I told him I don't need a meeting with the company; they should refund my money that was all I was asking for. I was later questioned by the administrative staff about who authorized the loan. On the day of taking the loan I did ask how they could fast tract their loans and I was told they pre-arranged with heads of the various departments who endorse their forms. Therefore, when this issue came up, I followed up to the finance department to check the name of the person who endorsed the forms. It was then discovered that such a person does not exist within the accounts department. My checks with other colleagues who took loans from CFC but in other facilities also revealed that same person authorized or endorsed their forms”, he narrated.
Mr. Abem continued that he was later contacted by a staff of CFC in Accra to report the matter to the police “But I refused because the loans officer is their Staff and if what he did was wrong they should report him and I can only corroborate as a witness”.
On 29th march 2016, Mr. Abem recounted “one Mr Vincent Ahiabor came to Tamale and insisted I go to the police to give a statement but I refused. Same day, he sent me a text the loans officer is at the station and had denied taking money from me, and that I should come for confrontation. I went with my lawyer and after that I gave a witness statement. After I left the Police station my statement was changed to a complainant statement. I went back with my lawyer to ask why but no reasonable explanation was given.”
The New Crusading GUIDE, during investigations intercepted several loan applications and settlement of account letters which had been endorsed by same Mr. Abem’s Loan Officer,one Muhammed Sarchibu, although it was revealed by workers at the company’s branch in Tamale that no such person worked with them.
Mr. Vincent Ahiabor, an Executive Officer at the Company’s Head office in Accra, when contacted said he had nothing to tell this reporter, particularly when the issue had been reported to the Police.
Interestingly, after the conversation with this reporter, he sent a text message to Mr. Abem which read: “you refused to give that original letter to the police and also refused the invitation for a final interrogation of Mohammed. What then do you want me to do for you? The Crusading GUIDE will help you get the money, I have recommended your refund payment and that ends my role, thank you.”
A subsequent text also read that “I do not understand you, Kelvin, bring the original letter to the police for them to take a decision. I have already recommended taking a quick decision to refund the money and to stop the deductions. That is where my limit reaches and Madam Vida has been informed, where then lays my bad faith, can you just get your money instantly if you file your writ of summons at the court? Exercise restraints if you are dealing with certain issues concerning human beings, thank you, Vincent.”
Another representative of the company at their Head Office, who refused to reveal her identity, although all indications were that she was a top official in the company, in a rude and hostile approach, declined comment on the matter, saying the issue had been reported to the police and that it was none of this reporter’s business.
“My friend hurry up and talk, I have an important meeting to attend to…I cannot deal with you, you are not my client. The matter has been reported to the police and it is their mandate to investigate criminal issues and not you. Here we don’t condone rot, there are many of our workers we have handed them over to the police over such issues, not really too many, just a few of them. Here we make sure our clients are happy, we want Kelvin to walk away from here as a happy man. What even shows Kelvin gave you those documents you are holding, go and tell him to contact us, I cannot talk to you, she berated.
<<Print>>