Unacceptable Harassment and Threats From Standard Bank’s Attorneys

I received two calls in one day from Bham & Dine Attorneys regarding my Standard Bank account.

During the first call, I explained that my matter is already being dealt with by the Standard Bank Debt Care Centre and asked them to liaise with their client. I was advised that they would do so.

Despite this, I received a second call later the same day not even an hour later. When I could not answer my mobile, they proceeded to call my work number, which I have not given them permission to use. My correspondence with Standard Bank specifically states that communication should be via email, and I have requested that my work number be removed immediately.

During the second call, I again asked them to contact Standard Bank Debt Care Centre. I was told they “do not speak to third parties”, despite Standard Bank being their own client.

I then asked them to email me so that I could forward their correspondence to the relevant person at Standard Bank. Instead, I was required to provide personal information over the phone to a caller whose identity I could not independently verify. I offered to confirm the email address they already had on record if they read it back to me, but they refused.

Most concerningly, I was then told that they would continue calling me daily until I provided the information they wanted.

I consider this threatening, harassing and completely unprofessional. Threatening me with daily calls will not make me disclose personal information to an unidentified caller, nor will it make the outstanding balance get paid any sooner.

For context, I have been working with Standard Bank on a debt consolidation process for approximately nine months, with the delays being on Standard Bank’s side. The Debt Care Centre is currently dealing with settlement of the outstanding balance.

I am not refusing to engage or pay my debt. I am asking for written communication and for these attorneys to liaise with the client who instructed them.

I expect Bham & Dine Attorneys to stop contacting my workplace, remove my work number immediately, cease the threatening daily calls, communicate with me via email, and liaise directly with Standard Bank Debt Care Centre regarding the status of my matter.