Absa ruined my USA trip, and they should pay!

<p>ABSA, I first contacted you about this experience on the 19th June and you are yet to do anything about it!</p> <p>After notifying your ***** department and client services that I will be in the US for a business trip after which I would be travelling up the west coast from LA to San Fransisco, you frustratingly blocked my card during the first transaction! I specifically phoned ABSA weeks before the trip to make certain I would be able to use my card in the states.</p> <p>16th June - Card blocked checking out from my Clarion hotel after the business conference, and this was the first time I used the card overseas. This was the start of my nightmare that ABSA caused.</p> <p>Since that moment, I was unable to purchase anything using my credit card and even online services like Uber/airbnb/hotels.com were unable to help me due to my credit card being blocked.</p> <p>So leaving my conference I was unable to get uber to take me to the train station. I was unable to prebook airbnb/hotels/motels before arriving in a destination travelling up the west coast.</p> <p>That evening I phoned absa for the first time to try get help for something that shouldn't have happened in the first place. They let me know it was blocked and they would unblock it. I thought great, and I was told I can use my card. But that was ******* and my card didnt work anywhere I used it.</p> <p>16-19 June - I phoned ABSA about 6-8 times using my cellphone amounting to over 2 hours of international calling, to try resolve this card issue! And as I am sitting on a bus up to San Fran and writing this email it is still not resolved. ABSA ***** department told me its all clear on their end, and Client Services says that they cant help me! And when I asked them what my bank recommends I do in this case, they said there is nothing they can do!</p> <p>The worst is that I was meant to travel from Santa Barbara to a small town San Luis Obispo, then Rent a car drive up the west coast to family yesterday, but because I have no credit card I had no way to rent a car! I spent the whole afternoon on the phone with ABSA and all call records are there to prove it to try rent a car! At this time all other modes of transport had left the town already and I was planning to rent the car. Because of ABSA lack of knowledge and service I didnt get anywhere and had to end up staying a night in San Luis for $213 so that I could get the next bus from the town to San Fran! So the intended trip along the coastal highway which was the reason for the trip up the west coast was no longer possible and the bus route ended up in me taking me on a far less exciting route inland.</p> <p>ABSA you have really *****ed up my USA trip and demand reimbursment for all this inconvienence caused for the following reasons:</p> <p>1. Card blocked which resulted from ABSA not clearing my card for travel, when I specifically phoned them before to do so. <br />2. The ***** departments lack of s****s/understanding/advice in dealing with the situation at hand.<br />3. Incorrectly unblocking the card for further usage. <br />4. Not being able to provide an adequate solution/work around to deal with the circumstance.<br />5. Placing your client at risk in a foreign country.</p> <p> </p> <p>I expect reimbursment for all international calls made to ABSA since the 16th June based on standard international call rates, as well as reimbur*****t for my accommodation expense in San Luis Obispo due to me not being able to rent a car and travel through to family near San Fransisco. (Receipt of expense will be provided).</p> <p> </p> <p>Your incredibly useless service is making me consider moving my business to another bank and I intend to take all my finance with me out the door.</p> <p> </p> <p>Very disappointing and poor service!</p> <p> </p>