Do consumers in SA now also have to be afraid of their banks ripping them off

As I already have little faith in your organization, however make a conscious decision to constantly "afford Absa one last chance" every time something goes wrong........ I must admit I panicked when I saw no deduction made by Absa on the 2nd of January in favor of the business credit card as the last thing I needed was to have this card made unusable when it was my only avenue for funds at my last stop in Brazil due to them not accepting dollars at all (which is all I had on me). I re**** on my credit card for booking my last 3 airport transfers, and my accommodation.

With so much depending on a functional credit card, I made a manual payment of R10000 into my credit card late night 2 Jan 2017. To my astonishment, ABSA immediately debited my debit account with the due amount again on the 3rd...there were not enough funds available, being that I had just manually paid, which took my debit card into a 0 balance.

I contacted my PA back in SA as soon as I got Wi-Fi.... Internet is hard in South America! And asked her to contact Absa and explain the situation immediately and reverse their transaction - she had limited authority but we tried this avenue as we deemed it an emergency. The transaction was indeed reversed.... But unfortunately the next day a journal debit was forced by Absa.

This now made both my debit card, and credit card unusable and caused much inconvenience as now not only was I stranded abroad, but also my company could no longer operate in Durban due to no petrol card. We are a service company so this is our main daily need. We suffered a great loss of income during this inactive period.

As soon as I arrived back in SA, I contacted my branch and was amazed that we actually had a business manager.... However based at Pinetown. Unfortunately as a client based at the Pavilion branch , I hardly ever get the advice or assistance provided by a business manager as our branch in particular never has a dedicated business manager. I was directed to Pinetown to discuss with Zinhle.

I expressed my dissatisfaction with her and left the query in her capable hands. Upon following up yesterday, she began to explain that I had gone wrong by paying into my user account, and that now nothing could be done. She is in the process of further investigation however I do not deem wasting any more time of the client as necessary.

The mere fact is that I had processed 2 payments on the 2nd and 3rd of R10000 and R2190, totally my full due amount of R12190 into my credit card, and that whether or not this was into the main account or user account should be of no relevance.... As I met my monthly commitment to your organization and furthermore find it ******* that you force journal debits on a client's account without their authorization.... This is still my account.

Zinhle next explanation was that they tried to transfer funds from the user account to the main, but as I already purchased my airport transfers, they could not and therefore proceeded to force the journey entry.......... This is an absurd explanation as hypothetically should I of waited and had the debit as normal, I would of immediately been able to utilize my funds.... So now Absa wants to further tell clients when we can use our funds?.

As far as I am concerned, I paid R12190 which was due, and used my credit thereafter. My availability of credit should therefore be R10000 less the R4500 used on the transfer bookings..... Remainder for this month. My December's installment will go off at the end of this month as far as my understanding go's. What is the complication. I demand that the journal entry be reversed immediately as January is a hard enough month for businesses, now my bank unfairly takes R25000 on a credit card payment, a credit card only having a limit of R10000, and furthermore suspends the garage card so that we need to purchase petrol in cash....... As a bank, this is how much care you have in the sustainable operation of your small businesses.

I am beyond frustrated with Absa, I could not put funds into my Absa cash wallet for traveling as last year the fees on this card was ********** so opted to move around with cash abroad... A very risky chance. I then decided to buy my flight tickets with my credit card due to the promised free travel insurance.... Trying to do this transaction was a task in its own due to call Centre agents providing incorrect information each time..... To a point where after deposited R700 00 and the over amount as explained by the agent, and then a gain another short fall explained by another agent, then still having the transaction rejected where no agent could understand why.... My travel agent almost lost my tickets at that rate. Luckily A manager stepped in and assisted.... This was getting rejected for a mere R100. Please peruse system notes on 24 November. All that inconvenience, only to find out that the free travel insurance is not beneficial at all, and that of course there's top up covers at an additional cost. I could of chose an expert company, but again chose to trust my bank and gladly paid the extra costs.

Then do you know that the rate Nedbank gave me for a R500 000 vehicle is equal to the same installment as Absa given me for a R250 000 vehicle - you probably ask yourself why I am still with your organization. My bank charges are absolutely ridiculous and other banks offer their clients better rates and benefits, and very importantly expert business managers that are dedicated in helping small businesses grow - what have you done for me lately.

If Absa continues to bother me with their explanations of why they cannot rectify this situation, immediately reversing the journal debit and unsuspending my credit card - I will not only be taking my main account to Nedbank where I have been promised a credit card with higher limit, an overdraft and much lower bank charges (my account will merely be left with yourl until my overdraft is closed), but I plan on also taking this to social media.... Being left stranded in South America by your bank.. When I advised yourl I will be traveling is not a joke and consumers must be made aware that this is not a bank you can trust.

I want manager intervention here and instead of telling your clients what's your internal procedures.... You work around it this once for the benefit of the client.

I want this rectified by midday today or I will continue with my meeting with a dedicated business manager at Ned bank at 2 pm today to proceed with the changes as I will not suffer through 1 more further day with a bank that simply does not value their clients. Above email sent 12/01 ..... to date I have not had this matter rectified , nor received a call from a manager as explicitly requested . Are managers not available to deal with customer complaints or issues - what is their need at a customer focused organisation then ?

Email sent to the Action line in a desperate attempt for assistance : I thank you for your efforts , however seems my concerns and frustration is only being dealt with by you – to date I have not received a call from your manager as promised , nor Credit Card Division .

In the mean time my monies have been retrieved by your organization by means of a manual payment of R12 190 , then an authorizated journal entry of R12190 . And on top of that my credit card remains suspended .

To put a small business through this unnessesary strain in January – a very tough month for us , to the risk of us having to close our doors by tomorrow if this matter is not cleared up , is really unfair of your organization .

To simplify it Zinhle , I as the client do not have the time to afford your organization these ridiculous turn around times of 7-10 days just to get the statement to you , then for us to continue with our investigation and debacle with Credit Card Division .

My explanation is simple – (1) I paid in R12190 into my credit card over the 2nd and 3rd , (2) I then made a purchase of +-R4500 . (3) This should then leave my available credit for this month at R5500. (4) A journal debit was imposed by Absa on the 4th for an amount of R12190 from account ********** 490 (5) My credit card remains suspended (6) The balance you are currently seeing on your side which reflects that I am over spent is infact not in question at this stage as this would be the amount closed off and due at the end of January only.

I will be posting this on Hellopeter in the hope that someone higher at ABSA can get involved in this critical matter as I really do require immediate rectification of my accounts/s

Great day further