ST: CHC - Donation Refund

[Altivo]

http://www.straitstimes.com/ST%2BForum/Onl...ory_215089.html

 

14 months to learn church's decision on donation refund

 

I WAS a member of City Harvest Church and left the church in December 2006. By the time I left, I had donated $5,500 to the church for its building fund project. After I left, I suffered financial difficulties. I was in between jobs and there were hefty, unforeseen medical bills. I was told by my friends and church members that I could seek a refund for my donation because there were similar precedents.

I asked two church leaders in my group, that is, the cell group leader and the zone leader, whether such a refund was possible, and they replied that the refund would not be a problem. The next month, I was told to send an official request via e-mail to the zone leader after I asked my cell group leader regarding the status of my request. Despite constant reminders, I received no response for months.

 

That was when I told my zone leader about my financial situation and the medical bills. He promised to expedite my request. Still, nothing happened. Finally, after 14 months since I first made my request for a refund with my two leaders, I received an official e-mail which said: 'We are unable to comply due to our policy on donations.' If it was merely a case of policy rules, why did it take so long to tell me I couldn't get a refund? This, on top of the fact that I was told at the onset that I could obtain a refund. I understand that my donation was freely given, but why the false hope?

 

Jeffrey Lim Yin Cheong

[David]

Where got ppl ask for refund of donation given? Its rather sticky. But if you are facing financial problem, you may request for help citing your continuous support but do not expect that they are oblige to meet your needs 100%.

[Silver_blade]

Agree that donations are usually non-refundable. But I guess his expectation high cos of the positive answer he got from the 2 senior members. Again...I feel the church reserves the rights to decide on this.

 

Actually, couldn't he seek the church to help with his situation instead of asking for a refund of the donation?

[Damienic]

I think its not so much of the rejection in getting a refund that is an issue. More on the fact why the members promised him that it can be done and when it cannot be done, they still take such a long time to give him an answer.

 

I think most pple would never think of asking for refund of donation unless in real desperate times. I feel the church shld try to help him in some other ways if they decide not to give him the refund.

[Altivo]

i think the crux of the issue is not on having the donations refunded. It's more like the organization taking 14 months to reply and that is after the guy had sent numerous reminders and follow up queries. That's how i interept his letter.

[Altivo]

i concur with your last statement. Seems like the policymaker in the organization is more incline towards the building expansion rather than the well-being of their ex member.

[Silver_blade]

Agree.

[Mzrmazda3]

It takes more than a year to receive an official reply ...

[Altivo]

sounds like some stat boards...

[Silver_blade]

Some wouldn't even reply at all....

[Apollo]

ya..

 

thank u for contributing to nation building.

[Sosaria]

I think it's hard to get a refund on donations freely given.

 

Perhaps the letter-writer could now appeal to the organisation and its members (since they are all devout and out to do good, eh? ) for donations to help him out of his predicament... This would be the best test of their true nature.

 

On a more constructive side, I would say that this is a cautionary tale... to not be over-zealous with donations. Look first to your own financial situation, bearing in mind unforeseen events, make appropriate provisions, then see if there's indeed any amount left that is free for donations.

 

Over here, I think most of us nowadays need donations (instead of give donations) to fend off rising cost of living

Edited March 10, 2008 by Sosaria

[Altivo]

ya loh...

[Altivo]

 

now that his letter has been published, i guess the organization will send in their "official statement" too.

[Damienic]

  Quote

i concur with your last statement. Seems like the policymaker in the organization is more incline towards the building expansion rather than the well-being of their ex member.

 

I had visited the church before at their jurong west compound. Its very lavishly built and they even building a bigger one now to accomodate more members. Old one cost abt S$25M to be built if I din rem wrongly, and the new one probably is going to come at a cost of over S$30M.

[Silver_blade]

 

  Quote

i concur with your last statement. Seems like the policymaker in the organization is more incline towards the building expansion rather than the well-being of their ex member.

Looks like it. But again, this is a tricky situation. If you refund the donation to one person...others may start asking for their. All these while, the expansion contract is signed, project in progress, etc...

[Damienic]

I think its ok for them to set a rule that donations cannot be refunded and this shld apply across the board and no exceptions shld be given but at same time, they shld look at other ways to help those members that are really in need of help.

[Altivo]

very lavish indeed. Fountains and a revolving cross made of titanium. No wonder so ex lah. Not to mention the self automated donation machine which accepts credit cards found at the lobby

 

it's no wonder they keep sending out negative impressions to the public

Edited March 10, 2008 by Altivo