Terrible Service from ABSA vehicle finance

Absa Vehicle Finance is really not very client orientated.

I app**** for Vehicle Finance online and after I received an email saying I will be contacted by a Representative, I contacted them, as I was in a hurry. During the discussion I never specifically asked if my application has been approved or not, and I was never informed that my application was NOT approved. I requested from the person I spoke to, to inform me what documents I would require as I am self-employed. She informed me that they require my bank statements, ID, License and ITA34. Based upon this information, I took a decision and sold my car as I was offered an extremely good price. After finding a new car to buy and presenting them with the reference for my finance application, I was informed that it was actually declined. Due to the fact that my business was only 1 year 8 months old and not 3 years as per ABSA's requirements. This last fact was not mentioned anywhere in my application or by the call centre agent I spoke to. After numerous phone calls I was referred to a person called Mpumelelo Malevu. He offered to assist where he can and said he would speak to the people involved and try to get assistance. Which he subsequently did and came back with news that they required Contracts/Letters of Intent from my clients, ID, license, and ITA34. My Tax consultant was in the process of submitting my tax in any case, and offered to do it sooner rather than later. After submitting the return she received a message from SARS to say manual intervention is required before a ITA34 can be issued. She immediatly phoned SARS to try and find out what the problem was, after holding on for approx 1.5 hours she was given a case number and told to wait. In the meantime I submitted the IT-12 as proof of the declared income etc. and the case number as well. Just to find out 2 days later that this is unacceptable to ABSA and therefore they cannot approve my application.

Exactly why the ITA34 is required I would not know, but be that as it may, I cannot see why my application was declined. They can see exactly how much I earned for the tax year Feb 2021. They can see exactly what my income has been for the current tax year, this would not reflect on my ITA34 in any case. My business has been growing steadily since February 2021, to such an extent as that I could afford to buy a new car. So exactly why my business needs to be 3 years old to show it is sustainable is beyond me. I proved that I had sustainable clients, they can see from my income I am growing, why have the tax submission be the deciding factor.

I have however decided that maybe ABSA is not the bank for me. They are obviously not interested in assisting my small Consultancy to grow. So yes, I will go elsewhere to find a home for me and my business. And yes, I have managed to secure finance and buy a car, without ABSA. So who needs them!