Don’t even consider ABSA if you’re thinking of changing banks

Dear ABSA Customer Support,

I am writing this email in deep frustration and disappointment. I have been a loyal ABSA client for 17 years, with my home loan, vehicle finance, credit card, debit card, and salary all tied to my ABSA accounts. Yet despite this long-standing relationship, I have recently endured two extremely humiliating incidents due to my debit card declining while there were more than sufficient funds in my account.

About 2 month ago, at a restaurant, my card declined repeatedly. The staff had to change machines, I walked to an ATM at night by myself only to get the same decline error, and eventually had to drive home to fetch another device to check my balance—only for the card to continue declining. I was so embarrassed that I ended up transferring money directly into the waiter’s account just to settle the bill.

Few weeks ago it happened again—this time at a petrol station. My card declined multiple times, both at the pump and inside the store. I even tried the ATM, again with no success, all while people stared at me like I was doing something wrong. I called ABSA, I was on the phone for over an hour, being transferred from person to person and after being kept on the line, I still received no help or resolution.

This afternoon again I was paying excess at a dealership it did the same, humiliated again unti I had to transfer.

The humiliation, the complete inconvenience have left me extremely disappointed in a bank I have trusted for nearly two decades. This is unacceptable. Now I can never go back to the restaurant or petrol station again. And I get anxious every time I have to use this card because of the humiliation I constantly endure.

I have emailed ABSA and placed a complaint and they’re ignoring me.