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<p>Capitec Bank's ATMs have been 'out of service' on numerous occasions over the last 18 months. The conflict of interest this creates for the bank is exceptional. Let me explain:</p> <p> </p> <p>Capitec Bank charges R0,90 per R100 cash deposited at any Capitec ATM and R1,90 per R100 cash deposited inside the bank. </p> <p> </p> <p>From my view, I understand if the ATMs periodically breaks down due to customers using it incorrectly to a variety of IT problems that can happen. However, in case the ATM is broken or unusable, should customers not be able to deposit their money inside the branch at the 'ATM fee' as the ATM is not available?</p> <p> </p> <p>On more than 10 instances that this has happened, I have been forced to pay the 'inside the branch' fees. Every time I mention the conflict of interest or the poor customer service approach to banking, it falls on deaf ears - especially the bank manager's. It is received as if I am some crazy person. I have been lucky enough to have been referred to regional managers but this has not helped me much unfortunately. </p> <p> </p> <p>For a time, I have not experienced broken ATMs, but this morning it happened again. The disdain with which I am met with my enquiry of possibly being able to deposit my money inside at R0,90 per R100 is ridiculous. Being told to go to other branches for that rate wastes more time and money never mind a serious lack of understanding of the situation. Furthermore, being told to phone customer service with my complaint or visiting the website rather than the Capitec Bank employee escalating the matter is terrible - never mind that it will cost me more time and money to go through this. And having been able to speak to the regional manager on numerous times without success, it is pointless. </p> <p> </p> <p>I will conclude by mentioning that I have spoken to one Capitec Bank Manager on this topic and calmly mentioned to him that in case this continues I will have to be forced to close my account as I feel that this exercise of 'a customer having to pay for the shortcomings of Capitec's maintenance issues does not sit well with me' - I was told that I will be given a ticket so that I can do that immediately. What happened to customers being able to communicate to businesses when they are not happy? Should direct communication not help build a stronger relationship with a business? In this day and age of people using every social media option to tarnish a business, is it not commendable if a person is trying to privately sort out an issue with a business - away from the public eye. </p> <p> </p> <p>Due to the lack of co-operation from Captic Bank, unsure of their practices and willingness to listen to me, I have been advised by others to mention this matter on Hello Peter with the hope it will let others share their similar experience and hopefully achieve a more effective style of communication between business and customer. </p>