Bank *****ing from people via bank charges on an unused account.

I have been retrenched and asked for my ABSA account to be closed, they refuse to close the account as there is banking charges outstanding on the account. They also refuses to write off the bank charges. Every month it accrues. Is this the new way to ***** from poor people? I am not using the account and the positive balance has been wiped out by banking charges and now in a negative.