By Karyn Scherer
For the past two years Jill Barter has dreaded receiving her monthly Farmers account.
She is not worried about her statement showing how much she's in debt - rather that the account keeps showing a healthy credit balance.
The problem, she says, is that the money is not hers.
For two years, the store has credited her account with sums of money - sometimes up to $1000.
Now, the national retailer has admitted having problems with its computer systems which have seen some of its customers sent incorrect bills.
Several Farmers customers have contacted the New Zealand Herald to complain of persistent problems with the retailers' credit arm, Retail Financial Services.
But while Farmers claims the problems have since been sorted out, Henderson widow Mrs Barter says she has reached the end of her tether because the chain keeps giving her money.
Phonecalls and letters have failed to fix the problem.
The 67-year-old superannuitant admits she has been tempted to spend the money, but has so far resisted.
"I worry about all the poor folks who paid their bills before Christmas, and whether their money has been going to me. I'm getting really hacked off."
The irony is particularly painful for Mrs Barter because her late husband, Richard, worked for Farmers for 43 years.
When her first incorrect account turned up more than a year ago, she thought Farmers was giving her some sort of annuity after her husband's death. But when she realised the money was turning up at random dates and with random amounts, she knew something was wrong.
"As my daughter says, you don't want to get on the wrong side of Farmers, but sometimes I'm scared to go and spend any money there now."
Retail Financial Services head Bruce Gordon described Mrs Barter's frustration as "very much the exception to the rule."
However, he acknowledged the company had been experiencing problems with a new computer system installed in September, 1998, and promised to look into her case.
Mr Gordon said the company believed most of the problems were now sorted out.
"It was a tough year for us and I'm very pleased to say I now get a huge number of letters complimenting us."
Farmers giving away money hand over fist
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