Security Questions from Hell

I contacted the ABSA help line as I had discovered a line-item on my latest statement that I did not recognise. I wanted to query who the payment had been made to.

All went well until the call centre person had to do an identity check on me.

All well there still, that procedure is normal, especially Banks.

But, it is the security questions asked and the sheer number of questions asked that absolutely blew my mind .. and then I failed their interregation which meant that the person could not assist me.

The problem I have with the questions asked .. they had nothing to do with ABSA. They strayed into territories that ABSA has zero reason to delve into e.g. one of the questions was "how much do I spend with Discovery on Insurance" I failed the question because that is not a number I walk around with in my head.

But the questions I also have, what business is it of ABSA?

Another was, am I a director of a certain company (details one would find in CIPC) and I failed this because I provided the correct details, not what ABSA had reflected e.g. yes I was a Director, but I had resigned.

What business does ABSA have with these kinds of "security" questions!!?

They have verified my ID, my account number .. and then they start with these questions!

Today a person called me to resume the query, because the pervious person had be "locked out of proceeding". Only to start asking exactly the types of questions .. after verifying she was speaking to the right person!

Why!!!?

And, after all of that, the simple question I asked about the line-item on my Statement, is still unanswered!