Does Absa have a Deceased Estate Department?

The Deceased Estate Department is the worst. I wonder if there really is an Deceased Estate Department?

My husband was hijacked and killed on the 1st of June 2024. After his funeral on the 10th of June 2024, I personally went to a Absa branch to report his passing and to close his accounts. He had a cheque-, savings- and a 7-days notice savings account with Absa. I submitted all the necessary documentation and I was notified that as the executor of his estate there is no need for me to open a Estate account and that the assets would be paid out to me within 3 months. I trusted the advice and waited.

On the 26th of October 2024, I went to another Absa branch and to my surprise I was informed that an Estate account had to be opened in order for the assets to be transfered. I started the process of opening the Estate account. On the 30th of October 2024, I was informed that my husband's FICA documents are does not correspond with the FICA documents he had on the system. The system had an ID document that was issued when my husband was 17-years old. He died at the age of 35. They questioned why he did "look" the same. I had to write an affidavit to state that my husband matured and that's why the differences were noticeable. On the 1st of November 2024, I was informed by the consultant that the Estate account has been opened but that it was actually not necessary to open the Estate account. On the 4th of November 2024, I followed up and I was informed that the assets is at Payment stage and that I should wait 7 days before following up. On the 7th of November 2024, I was informed that there is a backlog in the payment department and I was given the email adress for the Estate department and reference to follow-up myself. On the 11th of November 2024, I was asked to "Allow them a few more days before following up again." On the 15th of November 2024, I called the Estate department with no luck. And then decided to email the consultant, my email went unanswered. On the 19th of November 2024, I called the Estate department again with no luck and emailed the consultant again, and yet again my email went unanswered. Today, on the 21st of November 2024 when I called the call centre's voice prompt says :"That we are unable to take your call now due to an emergency, please call back later" and then hangs up. I emailed the Estate department again but do not have any hopes of being answered.

I just find it very sad that I am being ****** from mourning my beloved husband because I need to be running after Absa every single day. Once this is done, I will close all the Absa accounts that I had to open. They will never see me again.