Treated unfairly

I have had a credit card with absa through Woolworths from last year December. I have always paid more than my monthly instalments. This month I was late in my payment (first time ever). I never receive any calls , emails or sms notifications from absa bank but they have handled over my information to the credit collectors and have blocked my card without notifying me. I am so disappointed in such service. And only when I called the call centre number I was told my account was handed over. These are uncertain times with everything we are facing as a country as well as our economy but for a company to act so unfairly and without any intergity is diguisting. I will be taking this up with the ombudsman as I don’t want this affecting my credit score. I have always had a good credit score and I am a person who fulfills my commitment. I have no idea why absa would block my credit card, hand over my information to the credit collectors without speaking to me. I have being treated unfairly as a customer