FICA ERROR

I was out busy shopping at Gatewayshopping centre in Durban. Upon trying to pay for my goods via my credit card, it was declined. I then tried with my cheque card and declined again. I then decided to go to the ATM to withdraw thinking it might have been an issue with the card machine at the particular store that i was at but yet again, on both my cards, i received an error about FICA. I contacted the ABSA general call centre and was informed that the reason i received this error is that i need to update my personal details at my bank branch and that i need to contact the FICA department with only operates between 8-4. I find this very hard to put together as my cards were working fine for so many years. None of my details have changed so why all of a sudden put a 'lock ' on my accounts???? Apart from not being able to withdraw money or pay with my cards, the embarrassment of waiting at a till point with so many people only for the manager to tell me that tat my cards are being declined also played a part. What if i needed to pay for something much more important ???I could not even pay for my parking ticket as i only had my cards with me and no cash...