WE had opened our account and rented a locker at HBL, Abdullah Haroon Road, Saddar branch, due to its proximity to my husband’s office. A few months back, without any notice, the branch was shifted to Boating Basin. Now I have to travel several miles to reach the branch.

The reason given was renovation. However no sign of any work is visible at the Saddar branch. The worst part is that our lockers are still at the Sadder Branch, which is actually being manned by a chowkidar, who is not often seen. To operate our locker we are expected to locate the guard, who then calls the manager at Boating Basin, who then sends a staff member to help the customer.

The other day I wanted to get something from my locker.

No guard was visible. I then asked the neighbouring bank and shops where I could trace that guard, I was told to go into the side alleys and shout his name because he might be sleeping inside. For more than 20 minutes I banged at the door and shutters calling out his name, but all in vain.

In total frustration I stormed into the Boating Basin branch, but the manager there appeared helpless. He rang the guard and gave him a piece of his mind, but how did that help me?

The manager cited his grievances that they had been asking for more staff or some responsible person for the locker premises, but the head office was not giving any support. Besides, he said that they were also pleading that the renovation should be conducted quickly but that was also falling on deaf ears.

This ‘temporary’ branch is on the first floor making it very difficult for old people to climb. My precious time and energy were wasted going to the two bank branches, and the irony is my work still remained undone.

Can the HBL President please tell me how he intends to compensate me for all the suffering that I went through?

Parveen Shah
Karachi

Published in Dawn, July 21st, 2017