How would you react if your furball shredded your tickets? Grégory, the owner of a young 8-month-old golden retriever named Sally, has just had the bitter experience of this. Fortunately, the National Bank of Belgium has a procedure…
Like many puppies, the young Sally nibbles everything he finds, despite the education sessions to which his master Grégory accompanies him. A small daily inconvenience which turned out to be extremely unfortunate when the puppy attacked… an envelope containing 1,500 euros in banknotes.
“This sum was to be used to put down a deposit on a car. I put the envelope on the kitchen sideboard, taking the time to hide it well behind a frame. I was away for two hours in my garage to tinker and when I returned to the house, I had the immense surprise to discover the envelope as well as the notes shredded and scattered on the cushion of the dog“. Angry at his four-legged friend?”Not at all. I blamed myself cause I should have taken more precautions“, says Gregory.
A real puzzle
A lack of vigilance that leads him to question himself: “Will I be able to find a solution to get my money back?” At first, Grégory took out his sticky paper to reconstitute the tickets as much as possible. “It was a real puzzle. I spent the evening there. Some were more or less complete and others more badly damaged. I suspected that I was not going to be able to use them in this state.“.
With his loot damaged, Grégory inquired with his bank: “I was told that I had to go to the National Bank of Belgium. The problem is that there is only one counter and it is in Brussels. I live in Liege. My bank might take care of the procedure, but it was going to take several weeks. So I took my leave and went myself to Brussels“.
Exchange torn banknotes: “More than 50% of the ticket must exist”
In Belgium, only the National Bank (BNB) can carry out an immediate money exchange, but beware, under several conditions. Geert Sciot, spokesperson for the BNB, explains them to us: “First, the deterioration of the note must be unintentional. Then, it is also necessary that more than 50% of the ticket exists. This criterion is very important because otherwise the person might come and exchange their ticket twice.”
Grégory, in his misfortune, ticked all the boxes. “Except that my tickets were too replenished. They therefore had to be thoroughly checked. A verification of at least 10 working days”.
For Geert Sciot, it can happen sometimes. The National Bank of Belgium pays great attention to the fight once morest money laundering: “Money exchange is a technique used to launder money. We must therefore be extra careful and respect the legislation“Ten days following depositing his money in Brussels, the Liégeois Grégory had to go to the capital once more.”Transfers were not possible. I found it very annoying to have to go back and forth“.
The National Bank of Belgium also informs us that it is working on the quality of banknotes so that this kind of daily damage happens less and less. “We try with experience to make our banknotes stronger and more durable. Often people think that banknotes are made of paper, but in reality they are made of cotton.”
Be that as it may, Grégory is very happy to have been able to recover his entire sum, to the nearest penny.