KB
Kevin B

1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020

28 Jan 2020, 09:21

Absa doesn't care about foreign nationals

I know this will go nowhere simply because I'm a foreign national but need to mention my frustration about the ABSA bank. I've been banking with Absa Bank since 2016 without any problem. On 4th of February 2019, I received some money from oversea, First of all I got a call from Forex to provide them with the prove of payment which I did, then 30 minutes later the money was credited into my account. Then 3 hours later I received an email stating that a duly authorize officer of the Financial Surveillance Department of the South Africa Reserve Bank has issued an order, in terms of the provisions of Exchange Control Regulation 22A and/or 22C block hold on the account, held in the name of Badmus Trading Enterprises (Pty) Limited with registration number ***. And I must contact The Financial Surveillance Department (South Africa Reserve Bank) Name: Mr. Lenard Wissink on ***. I did contact him immediately and he asked me the reason for the payment and I explained. Then he asked me to forward the invoice and some documentation related to my business. I forwarded all the documents including all the sales agreement between my buyers and I to him, then I called to confirm if he did get all the documents which he confirmed YES. Then I tried calling him for good 2 weeks he did not pick up my call, then I went to my business account officer to know what was going on, on that faithful day, the woman also tried to get hold of him but he still did not pick up the call. I went back home and returned to the bank the following day, to my surprise the woman told me this man still didn't pick up her calls or respond to the voicemails left to him. The following day again I went to the bank to know what was going on, then my banker told me that he did respond to her message that he will call me. Then 30 minutes later he called. What surprised me the most was that, he told me that there is nothing my banker or the Bank can do regarding the situation until he finished with his investigation, then I asked for how long do I have to wait for my account to be released, Guess what "HE TOLD ME THAT IT WILL TAKE HIM UP TO 3 AND HALF YEARS FOR HIM TO FINALIZED THE INVESTIGATION" because he has more than 100 cases before mine, then he told me that I shouldn't call him again and if I'm not happy with his decision then I should go get a lawyer. Then I asked him to return the money back to the sender which he refused. During that period my permit and my passport got expired, I don't even have money to fly to Johannesburg to sort my passport nor to pay VFS for my permit. Then in September, a friend of mine introduced me to his lawyer to help me, We both went to my account officer in Stellenbosch Branch to know why my account is still on hold for 8 months without any communication from the bank or Mr. Lenard Wissink. To cut the long story short, the banker tried to call him on that day but he did not pick up which really upset my lawyer. Then the following day, my lawyer called that he finally get hold of Mr. Lenard Wissink and he asked him to forward him power of Attorney and I must come to his office to sign it before sending it to him and I did that. Then 3 weeks later my lawyer told me that he said to him that his investigation carried out that the money wasn't ***** and they did contact the person who send the money to open a case but the sender confirmed to them that it wasn't ***** but business. Then Mr. Lenard Wissink told my lawyer that he has put the case file to his boss office for the release of my account but still my account has not been release. Next month will make it a year since this has been happening. I don't have money to continue with my business, I don't have money to fly to Johannesburg to renew my passport and my permit, Just Property has terminated my lease agreement and charged me to court because I couldn't pay my rent. I was called to appear in court 13th of February 2020. I have been sick with no money to go to the doctor. No food, Car disk got expired since last year with no money to renew. I couldn't access my Absa personal account as well since my permit has expired, I went to the bank to close my personal account and give me the money I had in there, which they refused to do so unless I come with receipt for submitting my permit for renewal. I believe ABSA is against foreign nationals after the financial loss I'm currently suffering.

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Replies (3)
KB
Kevin B's update28 Jan 2020, 12:03
Reviewer Update
Thank you.
KB
Kevin B's update04 Feb 2020, 12:39
Reviewer Update
I was told that LouisnVan Zyl will investigate and get back to me with the feed back but I did not hear anything from him, then i decided to phone him on the contact provided to reach him. He con firmed that he has send an email to the SARs but haven't hear from them but he will send them a reminder. 30 minutes later, I go an email stating case reference C-***9 has been closed without any explanation until the investigation is completed. Today make it a year since my account has been frozen. I don't know what to do at this point. There is no explanation from the SARs or Absa bank. But the bank keep deducting charges from my account every month since 4th of February 2019 to date. I have no power over you guys but God will judge you all.
KB
Kevin B's update04 Feb 2020, 12:56
Reviewer Update
Absa doesn't care about their customers, all they do is to deduct your money unnecessarily. I do not understand why Absa couldn't give me a breakdown of what is happening and what need to be done for my account to be released. I was told to send some documentation regarding my business and a breakdown of my business which I did last year February and the investigator confirmed everything is fine and he will get back to me via email but nothing has been done or said since then. The part I do not understand is that the lawyer I hired called and told me that Mr. Lenard from SARs told him that my name has been blacklisted by the banks and he should ask me if I will agree with them transfer the money to my Lawyer Attorney Trust Account and then Absa closes my account. I told him that I will agreed to that but I will need a written instructions which I will need to sign and the lawyer sign as well, but since then I haven't hear anything again and I was forced to ask the lawyer to stop because I couldn't see what he was doing. This is just unbelievable or maybe that is what you get if you are a foreign nationals.