Ridiculous process

I app**** for a Discovery Card and it was sent to me a few days later. This process was quick and seamless - I commend them for that.

I was told to have my FICA documents ready (ID of and proof of residence ready) and give it to the courier company when they delivered my card – I comp****.

When I tried activating the card online, it was unsuccessful. I called them to figure out what the issue was and I was told that the courier guys needed to send the documents through for processing. I called the courier company and asked if they could send the documents – they told me they’d do so the next day. For the next 3 days, I tried to activate the card, each time without success. After a while, they ended up telling me that they did not accept my proof of residence so I needed to send through a new one. No one called me to tell this, I only found what once I called them. I called back to find out what was wrong with the old statement – but they could not answer me. They just said I should send through any official document that has my name and my address on it such as a bank statement or DStv bill. I sent through the first page of my Nedbank Bank statement as well as my most recent investment statement from Allan Gray just to make sure extra sure.

I called to find out if they were happy with the documents, they checked and they said no – again, I had to call them. Nobody called to notify me. I asked what was wrong this time – and they said that they want certified documents only. I was like “whaaaaaaaaaat?” Days later, this was the first time they had ever mentioned anything about needing certified documents. Even in the texts they sent me telling me which documents to prepare for collection they had never mentioned anything about it. I told them that I could call my banker and ask him to send an official bank letter stamped and signed by them stating which accounts I have as well as reflecting my address – but they refused, they said they’ll only accept documents that are certified and signed by the commissioner of oath. That makes no sense. An official document from the bank is more truthful. Anybody can go the police station and get them to certify anything.

This is extremely frustrating. This whole process started off so well but it has just gotten extremely ridiculous. I’ve called them more than 10 times in the last few days and they only told me this now. That’s not cool. Why do I always have to call before they tell me what’s wrong? Why didn’t they just explain all of this from the beginning so that I could have sorted it out when I had time? I’m traveling soon and I honestly don’t have the time to make their run around right now.