ABSA FLOPSA

<p>On Monday 2016-05-26 I called the ABSA call centre after receiving a registered letter requesting that I pay an amount of R125,99 for my cheque account I closed. I was informed by the call centre agent I needed to settle the outstanding balance of R239,91. This was for bank charges on an account I hardly ever used. I found this strange that I was given two different amounts. Yet I was willing to pay as I felt obligated to pay and did not wish deal with this simple matter via lawyers. I entered into a telephonic agreement with the agent to pay the R239,91 and she assured me that if I paid by latest 31 May 2016 I would not have to pay any extra charges. However, on 31 May (today) I decided to pay the settlement total at the Khayelitsha ABSA branch thus to settle this matter. I entered the branch at approximately 12:45 and approached the enquiry desk as I did not have the banking details on hand. The consultant gave me the account number as well as the settlement amount of R239, 91. I stood in a long queue. There were 3 tellers on duty. These 3 however left and returned to the counters several times while we waited in the queue. I found this highly unprofessional and irritating. Other clients along with me got very tired of the long wait. At some point all three tellers left their posts completely and the counters were left completely unattended. I was shocked at how relaxed the 3 were at leaving their posts while clients stood in wait. Later another consultant called me over and it was then that I was told that now I had to pay R298,56 and not the other two amounts I was informed of previously. At this point I was very very irritated and felt hard done by ABSA and its consultants. I had only an amount of R239,91 to pay and had to stand in another queue for another 10-15mins to withdraw extra cash. Afterwards I approached the consultant again as she told me I could come straight to her and did not have to stand in the queue again. I was then told to return the following day as she was busy with someone or something else at that stage. I left the bank at 14:35, not assisted and highly angry. </p> <p>I thus have to say that this service I received from ABSA was the worst experience ever thus far from any financial institution. I will not ever refer any person to this bank nor will I enter a branch after settling my account.</p> <p><span style="font-family: 'Avenir W01'; font-size: 14px;">I was later told by my colleagues at work try that they received the same service from the bank and also received different settlement amounts when they closed their accounts.</span></p>