Rounding-off con by some retailers

THE EDITOR, Sir:

With the demonetisation of the one-, 10-, and 25-cent coins by the Bank of Jamaica as it relates to cash transactions, this called for the rounding up and rounding down to the nearest dollar.

Though rounding off, i.e., up or down, is simple mathematics, the Bank of Jamaica clearly outlined how this should be effected. Transactions ending in one to 49 cents should be rounded down to the nearest dollar and transactions ending up in 50 to 99 cents should be rounded up to the nearest dollar.

A few days ago, I went into a money-transfer agency and the cash payment to me ended in 72 cents. Instead of rounding up, the payment it was rounded down to the nearest dollar.

I enquired why the payment was not rounded up, considering that it was over 50 cents, and the cashier confidently told me that the policy guidelines they received from management clearly stated that they round up for transactions ending in 90 cents. Can you believe it? Rounding up at 90 cents!

This is so wrong!

PAT WILLIAMS-BIGNALL