Absa Bank – Mismanagement of Credit Card Account

I am extremely disappointed with Absa Bank’s handling of our credit card account, marked by poor communication, mismanagement, and unfair treatment. In 2024, due to unforeseen circumstances—including a job change, the birth of our son, and a relocation—we faced temporary financial strain. We reached an agreement with Absa to pay R500 monthly to settle our credit card debt, an amount we could afford, and have consistently made these payments for over a year without missing a single one. Despite our commitment, Absa has repeatedly sold our account to multiple debt collectors without proper oversight or communication. None of these parties have provided statements showing our payments or a reducing balance, leaving us in the dark about our account’s status. Shockingly, after a year of payments, Absa claimed our R500 agreement was “never authorized” and demanded we settle over R96,000 within 24 hours—an impossible and unfair demand given our consistent payments and financial situation. This mismanagement has caused immense stress and uncer*****y. We want to settle and close this account responsibly, but Absa’s actions—selling our account, failing to track payments, and issuing unreasonable demands—have made this impossible. We request to continue paying R500 monthly, as it’s all we can afford, until we’re able to settle the account in full. We also need clear statements showing our payments and a path to close the account. Absa’s lack of transparency and accountability is unacceptable. I’ve lodged a complaint with the Ombudsman for Banking Services, but I’m posting here to urge Absa to address this urgently and treat us fairly. We deserve clarity and respect as customers trying to do the right thing.