ABSA Deceased Estate Department - could not give a damn

I the executor and son of my late mother (DAJ Deftereos - ID ***) have been trying to close my late mother’s accounts since the 2nd of February 2023.

I was in the Fourways branch and dealt with Takalani Mashau, who supposably sent through all the documentation required and which was acknowledged by him.

On phoning the ABSA deceased estate call centre 2 weeks later to follow up on progress - I was informed that Takalani did not attach the documents and that I had to go back to the branch and resubmit all the necessary documentation again. The attitude of the call centre was extremely poor with no empathy, whatsoever.

I went back to the branch on the 16th of Feb and concluded the necessary steps, where Takalani, cc's me in the mail to the deceased estate call centre, which I have as proof. I then followed up at the end of Feb to see the progress, where they stated that they were still in progress and would take another 10 days or so to complete the closure of accounts.

I phoned in on the 13 of March and on my first call was told that they didn't have the death certificate but then remarkable found the death certificate and that it would take another two weeks. I asked to speak to a supervisor but was denied and was transferred to another line were I was hang up on.

I phoned back to the deceased estate a few minutes later and insisted to speak to a supervisor and was informed that they all in meetings. I refused to accept this and was put on hold and after a few minutes the ABSA employee hang up the call.

I then called back a 3rd time and spoke to an Arther, who was the first polite individual I spoke to and informed me he would leave a message with his supervisor but alas never received a call.

Phoned Escalation line *** on the 15th of March – they had no record of the Website escalation I concluded on the ABSA website on the 13th of March ??? Logged a query *** with the Escalation Dep and sent through the email correspondence with the branch and the deceased dep as evidence to the Escalation Dep and committed that it would be resolved in 3 to 5 working days

Called on the 22nd – they had an incorrect email address, even though I resent the mail to complaints dep on the 15th. The escalation dep acknowledged that they used the wrong email address and subsequently tried to get hold of Amanda in the deceased dep but were unsuccessful. The escalation team said they would get Amanda to contact me.

I informed them that I will no be highlighting this to Hello Peter.