ABSA is the worst Bank in SA.

I have been a life long client of ABSA. Due to circumstances, I had to undergo Debt Review. Absa received the application from the Administration company. And without warning they placed my Cheque account on hold, with my salary still in it.

I was at the store at 6pm and wanted to pay for some groceries, but my card wouldn't work. Then I proceeded to an ATM where it showed me, account is inactive, and to contact a branch. I immediately tried calling the customer service but only limited departments were open at that time. I eventually got through to someone in internet banking dept. Who referred me to contact the Debt Review Dept the next morning as my account has been placed on hold.

I proceeded to call the Debt review dept. the next morning to which the agent told me, it's because of the Debt Review application on my account, and that I must proceed to open an account with another bank in order for them to refund the funds in my old cheque account. So in essence they have now closed my account. I was also told that my refund would take 3-5 working days.....come now, we live in SA...we all know this refund will take much longer.

So ABSA...please tell me: -Why couldn't you do me the decency of calling me and saying to me, "dear client, the debt review application has been received. Please remove all funds from your cheque account as we are planning to close your account" A heads-up would have been nice. -And now I have to wait so long to receive my refund. I do not accept this. Please tell me what the hell I must do for this week ahead in terms of groceries and basic living expenses for my family? I WANT MY MONEY ASAP. This can be overwridden. Someone can place an urgent refund request on my account. I work in service industry too, there is always a ways and means to speed things up. After all, I am still dealing with Human beings right? It's not robots that process the instructions right? -I sent my document for the refund to be processed and cc'd the manager into my email expressing my grievance, and frustration, but nobody acknowledged my email. Not the agent assisting me, neither the manager cc'd. ***ca I'm still waiting to be acknowledged..... -I will not open my account with ABSA ever again. I will bank with another bank now. -And I will never speak well of ABSA to anyone again. You have I'll treated me, you disrespected me by not giving me the common courtesy of a phonecall or email of what you were doing and now your also making me suffer for days whilst having to wait until you can process my refund for my own money! -My fiance had to undergo the Debt Review too...it was a joint application, but his bank didn't place any holds on his account. A friend of mine who also has been on Debt review these past few years, didn't experience this either....so please ABSA, tell me why you placed a hold on my account?

I am disgusted by this Bank and their lack of humanity and customer service.