Wynyard pensioner Brian Tipler is a patient man, but he’s lost patience with the National Australia Bank, which he claims has ‘lost’ $25,000 of his money.
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He has turned to Braddon Labor candidate Justine Keay to help get the funds back, and has sent his story to the Banking Royal Commission.
Eighty-one year old Mr Tipler said he had money deposited with the Public Trustee about 20 years ago through an estate. He said the Public Trustee deposited the funds with NAB, and he has been fighting for some years to get the money back.
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“Today, I have come on a long, long journey. It started about the mid-1990s, and I suddenly realised this money should be around somewhere.
“I have approached the banks and the banks have chosen to hide behind the statute of limitations. So, I am still struggling to get the money from the bank, or from any source that can find the money.”
Mr Tipler said the NAB told him it didn’t keep records for longer than seven years, or was not required to.
“I tried and tried and tried to do the right thing and get the information wherever possible, but it didn't work. So I've relied on Justine (Keay) and her staff and they've come up trumps.
“They've found me the proof (of the deposit) that I needed.”
NAB closed account with no notice
Mr Tipler didn't speak to the banks until a couple of years ago because of personal problems with health. He had also been dealing with the Public Trustee for seven or eight years.
He did find out that NAB had closed his account in 1998, without his authority and without telling him.
“That's one of the things they managed to drag out from the old records which they said they don't follow.
“I've always been confident that the money was there somewhere, but the final letter I wrote to the National Australia Bank was to Andrew Thorburn the CEO and he's not chosen to come to the party either.”
Mr Tipler said he wanted the bank to ‘do the right thing’ by him and anyone else in the same position.
Banking royal commission not coming to Tasmania
“I'd love to get the money. But if I don't - it's all in God's hands, put it that way.”
Opposition Senate Leader Penny Wong, said Labor had fought along with the community to get a royal commission into the banks.
“What we have seen is unfortunately even worse than people anticipated. Stories of ordinary Australians being treated badly, arrogantly by Australia’s banks.”
She noted that Braddon Liberal candidate Brett Whiteley, a former banker, had voted six times against holding a royal commission.
Senator Wong said it didn’t appear that the commission would be coming to Tasmania.
Leah McBey
As a southern New Zealander I love island life. So Tassie was an obvious choice after living in North America, Europe and the Pacific Islands. I've done a bit of everything but communication is the motif threading through my life.
As a southern New Zealander I love island life. So Tassie was an obvious choice after living in North America, Europe and the Pacific Islands. I've done a bit of everything but communication is the motif threading through my life.
