Card replacement

When I used an ATM on Friday, 30 October, it displayed a message that my ABSA debit card will expire soon and that I must visit my branch asap. I had this card since 1998 and there was no expiring date on it. So the next day, Saturday 31 October, I went to my branch. They informed me that if I replaced the card before the expiring date, I will have to pay, but since my card is so old (17 years!!!!) and there's no expiring date on it, because it was issued years before chips and expiring dates, I don't have to pay to replace it. But now, to my surprise, I see that I was charged R80 for the replacement??? How can that be, if I was 1) specifically assured I don't have to pay