The Diary Game // My experiences in Banking Hall // [11:11:2024] & [22:11:2024]

Hello friends, how was your day? I hope your day went well and you all have achieved all your aims for the day. We will all make it to 2025 by God's grace and mercy. Quick one, let me share with you guys what I passed through in Nigeria banking hall.

It was on 7/11/2024, around 7:10pm that I made a transfer of 130,000 Naira which is equivalent to 350.622 steem using my mobile app from my Opay to my Guarantee Trust Bank (GTB). The transaction was successful and I was debited but the value was not added to my GT Bank.

Receipt of the transaction

Thank God the transfer was made to my account and not someone else's account. Hahahaha... I would've explained tired. I waited for credit alert from my GTB throughout that night but to no avail, I thought it was a delay caused by the usual network fluctuations we do experience sometimes in this part of the world.

The next day, I wasn't comfortable so, I used my GTB mobile app to check my account balance, it showed the value wasn't added. In my mind I said "nawa ooooo, this kind of a thing". Oh I didn't tell you that the said money is for renewal of my office rent which will due by the end of this November. I decided to make a transfer of 500 naira again from my Opay account to my GTB just to confirm if truly it's network issue. Immediately Opay debited me, I received instant credit alert from my GTB. So what then is happening to the 130,000 naira?

I was forced to tell the incident to one of my friends, Uche who is a POS attendant. He then narrated the stories of what his customers are passing through from GTB in recent weeks. He said there were several complaints and stories as to whether the bank is doing upgrade or hackers tried to hack their server which made their bank transactions to have excessive disputes putting customers in so much stress and confusion.

On the 11/11/2024, I woke up about 6am and hurried to bathroom, brushed my teeth and took my shower. I drank tea with bread as breakfast and quickly heat the road as my target was to be in the bank by 8am. I arrived GTB, Abak road branch, Uyo by 8:15am.

Picture taken in the Banking Hall

The banking hall was filled with customers, all with similar complains related to transfer disputes. There was no seat for customers, everybody was in a very long queue. The position I found myself in the queue alone made me to conclude that I've lost the business value of that day. Low and behold, I was not able to achieve anything both in the bank and in my office. In fact my office was completely closed for the day.

When I told one of the customer care representatives my purpose of coming to the bank, she tore a piece of paper for me to write my name and other transaction details then joined the queue till my turn would reach for them to attend to me.

Picture of the transfer details

When it finally reached my turn, they collected my details and logged into their computer, all they told me was that there was no such money in my account, period. That was how I wasted the hole of that day in bank for nothing.

Picture of customer service

Since that day, I have been messaging Opay through their app complain channel to see how they can help me check and resolve the issue, all they keep telling me is that the transaction was successful that I should contact GTB. The question is Where is my money hanging?

Yesterday, I decided to do live chat with Opay customer service. They asked me all the necessary information pertaining to that transaction which I provided all. They told me to go back to GTB and print my statement of account and forward to them for further investigation. Friends, that was how I spent today 22:11:2024 again in the bank.

By 7:30am today, I was already in the GT Bank. I went there that early because of the experience I had the other day, I didn't want to be in such long queue again today.

I went straight to the customer service and told them that I want to print my statement of account for the month of November. They gave me form to fill which I did. They checked and printed the account statement for me, the money wasn't reflected. I ask again where is my money hiding?

When I came back from Bank, I forwarded the statement of account to Opay immediately, and this is their reply and I quote "Please note that the delay is due to an issue with NIBSS, which is causing transaction delays. The issue is receiving attention, and once resolved, you will be credited. Thank you for your patience".

Feedback from Opay customer service

When I asked them how long it will take, they said that the time frame cannot be given at the moment as they await feedback from the appropriate department.

Loosing 130,000 naira in this harsh economy that we are facing in Nigeria won't be funny at all, I wish they will credit my account like now.....