Still Nothing

Can ABSA really be that bad? Absa (76.8), although showing slight improvement on its 2018 score, comes in below par, followed by Standard Bank (75.3), who declined on its 2018 score. Absa was the most complained about bank in South Africa in 2018, according to the Banking Ombud's annual report. I understand why ABSA is viewed as one of the worst banks in SA. I have written two complains already about ABSA's inability to support clients who reside overseas and the outdated online banking app they provide. For over three weeks now I have been trying to get my online banking account unblocked. Emailing and calling does not work. To make things worse there is not even an acknowledgment that ABSA received my emails. In this day and age, not to even acknowledge your client's support requests is shocking to be polite. To cut a long story short. Following my online complaints, I was informed by an ABSA Specialist Case Manager that they would be facilitating my case. Confirming that my incident has been logged and I will update shortly. Three days later I got updated with: Your request was received by the RVN department. Unfortunately, they are unable to assist and as you are abroad you need to have someone who has power of attorney on your account. If not, you can visit the South African embassy and ask for their assistance in giving it to someone. I have a few issues with this response. Even though I have confirmed my identification with ABSA while living abroad. It seems that its selective and this time round it cannot be done. Then there is the fact that ABSA think that there is an Embassy around every corner and that the current Corona virus situation is not a world-wide issue. Just to highlight that the South African Embassy where I live is not open and is only available for emergencies. To make matters even worse I then got a response: We regret to advice that keys to your safe should only be known by you. A response that just goes to show they ABSA themselves don’t know how their own systems work. I me assure ABSA that this I know and by asking me to get someone with power of attorney on my account contradicts their own advice. For what ever reason, I cant get them to understand that the issue lies with the fact that when you change phones or move to another country the App requires you to link your device. To link my device I need to enter a card number and pin. I don’t possess a ABSA card and therefore don’t have a pin for card. All I have is an ABSA Check account. Come on ABSA in this day and age you are telling me that it’s not possible to service your clients living abroad. One would think with so many South Africans living abroad this is where ABSA would have the experience. Oh well I suppose it a reflection on where ABSA is heading as an institution. I would recommend that anyone who is leaving SA to close their accounts with ABSA or to move them to another bank that can service people who live abroad.