Paying for other people's mistakes

My Cashlink card (Bank of Valletta) was due to expire on September 30. On September 10, I received an envelope in my name and correctly addressed which was supposed to contain my renewed Cashlink card up to October 31, 2010. On opening the envelope I discovered that the Cashlink card enclosed did not bear my name but that of a third party. Probably, my card was mailed to someone else.

I contacted customer care and was advised to destroy the card and that another one would be sent and that the one issued would be blocked (no apology).

To my surprise (and indignation), I found out that, on September 11, my account was debited for a lost/stolen card (lost by the bank, that is) by the amount of €4.66.

Presumably, this transaction will be reversed but it should never have been made in the first place. I received a new card last Saturday which is valid from September this year, to August 2010. So, due to the bank's mistake, my card is valid for 23 months instead of the usual 24 months.

So much for the bank's slogan "Your success our goal"!