PLEASE READ THIS EXISTING CUSTOMERS AND POTENTIAL CUSTOMERS IT IS UP TO YOU THOUGH WHAT YOU WANT TO DO WITH THIS ADVICE

I opened an absa account about 3 months ago on good faith and because absa was the next best bank I trusted after FNB. Little did I know what I was getting myself into.

I opened a simple cheque account with a service fee of R109 with an absa rewards service of R23, as well as a fee to use their internet banking (didn't understand why charging this fee is necessary, because at this point you already paying so much just to open an entry level bank account) but anyways be that as it may. I was content with that amount and was happy to pay it and the consultant explained those concepts to me and what benefits come with the account.

However, I had no income and explained this to the consultant and I was still advised that this was the best account. I must have used the account once after noticing that not being able to pay service fees on the account I left it as a backup bank account in case something happened to my primary FNB account. Now what I want to explain to every customer and every potential customer reading this comment, is to stay away from this bank. +- 3 months down the line this bank accrued the service charges + absa rewards charges + R100 interest for not keeping the account up to date but keep in mind I was never told to keep money in here for that purpose, as I said I was keeping this account as a back up account even though I would rack up service fee charges, I would pay it if I ever needed to urgently use the account. But this wasn't the case as every month I was racking up interest charges + not to mention additional charges every 1st Saturday of the month (Their consultants dont advise you on this). And so I was left with a hefty payment at the end of the day to close the account months later and set me back to pay expenses and to keep my family afloat, every cent that you keep matters in this country.

Also not just what I explained in the above message, but there is more. During this time frame of a couple of months the bank repeatedly sent SMS after SMS to pay so and so amount ( Not like I didn't know that already), and all leading up to the 3rd of February 2021, that is when I received a letter stating I have 10 days to rectify the account otherwise it will be handed over to legal department for further action if the stated amount is not settled within that time frame. Now explain to me howcome for such a small amount (I am now talking about an amount still in the hundred not even passed the thousands mark) this bank is willing to go to those lengths to hand over your account to their legal department and not just that, if you cant come up with some payment plan or the initial amount because of financial constraints, which is a real thing, then further action will be taken on you and even to the conclusion where they blacklist you??? and for what?? such a small amount?? and you sit with all that for what??? in all the years I've been with FNB and my family with FNB and Capitec, we have never encountered such actions from them. They understand that and at least they dont go to those lengths to issue a summons on you or hand you over to legal for such small amounts. Not to mention the ridiculous amount of interest that is accrued, I mean what.

The least that can be considered is that your clients are opening these accounts because of; word of mouth or the clients think this is such a glamorous bank etc. etc. but at the end of the day, it really isn't worth it to get invested with this institution. Please people use my story to reconsider signing up with them.