MY SON recently came back from school overjoyed that the Ministry of Education had given him a $150 cheque for the Eagles Award, in recognition of his academic results and leadership qualities in a uniformed group.

He handed me the cheque and his identity card, and asked me to cash the cheque for him the next day. As he was in school that day, I went to the bank alone. The cheque was an OCBC order cheque dated Dec 15, 2008.

The bank teller told me curtly that he could not encash the cheque, and that the person named on the cheque had to open a savings account with the bank.

A minimum amount of $500 was also needed to open the account.

I asked him how on earth a 15-year-old boy who was still in school would have $500 to start a bank account.

He said that it was the bank's policy and that he could not do anything about the rules laid down by the bank.

Furthermore, he demanded that the person named on the cheque be physically present to start a bank account or withdraw money.

He further advised me to take my son to the bank that Saturday to open an account. I said that my son might be free on Saturday, but that I would not be.

He said that he could not change bank policy and that come what may, I had to find a way to go with my son to the bank.

I would like to return the cheque to the ministry as this has been an albatross around my son's neck, and we would be much happier without the cheque.

Mr Heng Cho Choon

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