CREDIT CARD SERVICE TAX RM50 PROTEST

Today I was in Citibank in Jalan Ampang, KL to cancel my credit card.  I knew that I owed RM65.50 i.e. RM50 for the government service tax and RM15.50 for the credit card expenses incurred on 21 March 2010.  After I had checked my online statement, I noticed that I was billed RM50 on 1 April 2010.  To me, this is totally unfair.  I have no intention to use the credit card after 31 March 2010.  From the last transaction on 21 March 2010 until todate I have not used the credit card. 

I was at the bank at around 3.30 p.m.  Noticed that the queue was quite long.  Out of sudden, I heard one gentleman shouting "I want to see your manager!!!!!" a few times.  My thought was that the bank must be providing lousy service.  I waited for more than 40 minutes and when it was my turn, I requested for credit card cancellation and I insisted that I am not going to pay RM50 to the bloody fucking government.  I was told that the bank could not cancel the RM50 since it was already posted into their system but I insisted that I amnot going to pay RM50 to the bloody fucking government.  Later I was told to go to counter 25 to settle the outstanding amount.

When I was about to approach counter 25, I had to pass through the door which was closed by the security guard.  I asked the guard to open the door but was told that this section is already closed after 4 p.m.  I was already dissatisfied with the service provided by the bank and I angrily said to the guard "this is unfair, I came to the bank before 4 p.m., how can you treat me like this ?"  Later the guard allowed me in to settle my outstanding balance.  I told the bank teller, I only RM15.50 and I refuse to pay RM50 to the bloody fucking government.  I was told that there will be officer calling me within 3 days on the credit card cancellation. 

My mind was thinking why 3 days ?  So inefficient.

I went home and reached home around 5 p.m. Rather than waiting for the officer to call me, I immediately called the bank to speak to the officer.  I requested for cancellation of my credit card but was told that this could not be done as I am liable to pay RM50 for the government service tax and this could not be reversed as the bank had posted to the system.  I told the officer that I refused to pay.  I kept on insisting that I refused to pay the bloody fucking government RM50 for more than 10 times loudly. 

At last the officer gave in to my demand.  He apologised to me and said that the RM50 can be reversed out by May 2010 once my application for cancellation had been approved.  According to the officer, my April 20 statement will indicate I owe RM50 and the May 20 statement will indicate my outstanding balance to be zero.

Finally I got what I demanded by protesting the RM50 service tax.  I bet the bank does not dare to take any legal action against me.  If the bank takes me to court, it is not feasible as the litigation cost will be more than what the bank can recover.  The bank could not sue me for bankruptcy as the amount is less than RM10,000 and if the bank were to do so, the bank may have to wait for many years for the RM50 to reach RM10,000. 

I think the bank must bear the RM50 for me or just write it off from the system.

I would be surprised if the bank is foolish enough to send me letters to demand RM50 plus interest.  I can choose to be nasty by not accepting any letters from the bank.