MD
MERILYN D'ALMAINE

1 reviews | Active since Mar 2018

07 Mar 2018, 13:44

A bad experience if you are blind trying to open an account!

I transported a blind person to Capitec Bank in Scottburgh to open a new account. We had been there the week before with a proof of residence, and were told she needed a letter from the Institution that she was studying at for confirmation of residence. We supp**** these forms to the lady at the entrance of the Bank who turned out to be the Manager. She told us now that this was not acceptable and would now have to phone Head Office. She kept us waiting for over half an hour while she was on the phone. I left the Client with her colleague who is also blind and is the facilitator at the Computer School where they live and train. On my return, the issue of her card was being finalised and I was told I need to sign a form stating that I had read and explained all the Terms and Conditions of Capitec Bank's Agreement to the Client. I obviously refused to sign this paper as it certainly is not my job to read Capitecs Client the Terms and Conditions and then sign that I have done so! I just gave these people a lift to the Bank. When it was brought to the Manager's attention, we were told that the account would have to be closed, and that the Client must go home to her homeland and get a family member to do what I was refusing to do. I found this totally unacceptable and we were all shocked by this remark. We decided to close the account and were taken over to the teller to do so. A European lady then came out and spoke to the Client saying that Capitec obviously did not want to lose a client and wanted to find a way to fix the problem. It was agreed that I was to sign the paper but write on the form that I had witnessed the Consultant read the Terms and Conditions as it was a Fica requirement which I did. and the Client has kept her account, but it was voiced that the way this was handled was very unacceptable, and it was explained that it would be taken further. Once we were back at the Consultant's Desk to now finalise and resign the paper, the Manager came up to Bonginkosi the Facilitator and said in Zulu (he only told me when we were out the Bank) that they were now prepared to accept the conditions now that a White woman had dealt with them. It was explained to the Manager that the lady was really helpful in explaining the procedure and it was their first experience of dealing with a blind person, she explained in a way that wasn't rude or disrespectful to these clients which the clients found acceptable compared to how they had been dealt with by the Manager. These clients are blind - they are not mentally impaired and deserve no less respect than any other person. They left the Bank with a feeling of having being insulted because of their blindness, and I believe it is something they deal with on a daily basis. I find it hard to understand why there is nothing in place in this Banking Institution to deal with a blind person?

0
Replies (1)
Capitec Bank
Capitec Bank's reply07 Mar 2018, 14:55
Official

I acknowledge your posting, and have referred it to Carmenita Fortune for immediate attention.

Feedback will be provided within 5 working days, and I trust that this situation will be resolved to your satisfaction.

Complaint Management
Capitec Bank