Absa Howick - pathetic service IRO Consultants

I recently had the misfortune to require assistance from Absa branch in Howick. There was only one consultant and one client ahead of me. After 20 minutes I asked the teller opposite the. Consultants office to remember I was 2nd in line - but I had other business to carry out around the bank and was popping out to sort it out. Approximately 15 minutes later I returned and the same client was with the consultant. After waiting a further 15 minutes or so the lady next in line left the bank - her lunch hour was up. I then asked to see the branch manager and a teller , slouching over her counter, directed me by a lazy arm wave in the general direction of the Managers office. Someone other than the Manager asked if she could assist - I explained how I had been waiting over 40 minutes to see the consultant and the lady before me had just left after waiting her whole lunch hour. I suggested perhaps this person I was speaking to or the branch manager should perhaps assist people waiting for the consultant- there were now 2 people behind me. I was told that Head office only allocated one position to a consultant as it was a small branch. I again asked if the manager and this other senior member of staff were not able to assist me and the other clients waiting - and her answer " consultants are specially trained and only a trained consultant can assist clients". Have you ever heard such nonsense- that a branch manager is NOT able to do the job of a consultant as she is inadequately trained !!!!! I found this excuse to be a laughing stock and told the manager so. She then came down to the queue of us waiting to see the ONE trained consultant and began to ask what business we needed to attend to. She did not assist one of us - as each of us. clients told her the nature of our business she responded with " the consultant will assist you". To add insult to injury, I am a disabled perperson who relies on other people to drive me to the bank and now nearly an hour of waiting, my lift arrived and was waiting for me. I was furious as I had no option but to leave after all that waiting. The one client Who was being attended to was with the consultant for well over an hour, and more, and myself and other clients were just expected to wait until the consultant was free. Not only is this total lack of concern regarding clients time absolutely unacceptable but the fact that there is apparently no one "trained" in the entire branch who can assist clients in such circumstances- not even the branch manager is qualified!! What a bunch of lame excuses to cover that which must be recorded as the very worst service I have received from any. Business in Howick - even the municipality is more helpful! Shame on you ABSA - your staff at Howick are abismal and shockingly under trained - Not the least interested in the clients Requirements and with such a dismissive attitude. I walked next door to another bank and promptly transferred all my debit order and income payments from ABSA I will be closing my account with ABSA without question