ABSA does outperform, by putting people in danger.

I am an ABSA customer currently overseas and discovered yesterday that ABSA have blocked my account due to a ‘SIM swap’. I spent 1.5 hours on the phone to the call centre yesterday, to the ***** department and customer service, jumped through hoops and answered a string of additional security questions, and was told to verify with Vodacom that all was ok with my SIM. I called Vodacom to discover that, as my SIM card is prepaid, and I haven’t been home since 3 January, my line was terminated. They subsequently reactivated it, having confirmed it was unused since January. I called ABSA back confirming all was ok with Vodacom and was told, sorry, not happening, you have to send your Power or Attorney person on to a branch to have the block reversed. Having explained on both calls that my PoA is my 80-year-old father, I got what was essentially a ‘sorry for you/tough luck’ response. Thank you ABSA for not having a drop of common sense and forcing me to ask an 80-year-old man to go and stand in a bank queue when we need senior citizens to keep safe and stay home. I am furious and disgusted.