Last June I got married and immediately notified HSBC Bank (Malta) plc of the change to my surname. I gave and signed all the relative documents I was asked to. Soon afterwards I reported that cheques I issued could not be encashed and, after many phone calls, officials found out that the new master cards were never processed. This situation embarrassed me no end.

Later on, when I received statements, I was still referred to as Miss and the surname was still my maiden one.

A variety of correspondence was sent to me as Miss and some others as Mrs, then again back to Miss. I made several verbal complaints through customer service and also wrote e-mails in the hope that this petty issue will be resolved. This was from July 2009 to December 2010.

February 2010: I received my first quick cash card with my maiden name. This time I wrote a letter addressed to the chairman and I never received an acknowledgement, let alone an apology.

A few days later I received a replacement of the card with my new surname but just a couple of days later I found another quick cash card in the post with the old maiden name - back to square one.

What I would like to know is how a bank of international stature does not have a centralised databank whereby all information about each client is the same no matter, especially on an island as small as ours. This in spite of the insistence on automated systems (and of course lack of personal attention).

Also, the bank charges clients heavily for mistakes like overdrawing on a cheque account - sometimes the charge is more than the amount overdrawn.

Am I to understand that in the case of the bank making mistakes left, right and centre, I am going to be compensated for wasting my time, energy, phone calls, stationery and postages?