Giving customers the short end of the stick

<p>Two weeks ago, for the 3rd time in 18 months, our Diners cards were stopped as they were no longer secure. As we were on vacation, replacement cards could not be delivered until today.</p> <p> </p> <p>In spite of having much to do, we dutifully waited for the courier to arrive. Which he did. And he checked all our documentation and gave us new cards.</p> <p> </p> <p>Some hours later, my new card proved not to work. After settling the bill with my reliable Virgin card, my partner and I spent lots and lots of time on the phone with Diners Club, only to be told that I needed to Fica at a Standard Bank. Between 2 weeks ago and today I had seemingly become a vagrant.</p> <p> </p> <p>No e-mailed anything would be accepted, Standard Bank or nothing. We set off for Standard Bank Brooklyn, only to be told that they were off-line and could not help in any way.</p> <p> </p> <p>I then traipsed to Standard Bank Hillcrest, only to be told after a 20 minute wait that our most recent utility account, which happened to be for end April had expired.</p> <p> </p> <p>So after lots of phone time and car time and waiting in banks, generally engaging in activities that smacks of last century (and sucks) I shall have to wait until such time as we receive a new utility account. Whenever that might be.</p> <p> </p> <p>If my partner was not invested in their benefits program, I would cut up my expensive Diners Club card that comes complete with an utter lack of customer service.</p> <p> </p>