1 reviews | Active since Aug 2011
ALLOW CONSUMERS THEIR RIGHT TO CHOOSE!!!
<p>I am glad that I am not the only person that has raised the issue of Edgars latest 'Service Fees'.</p> <p>I made a purchase at Edgars Newcastle Mall on the 27 July. I was asked by the service attendant at the till point to accept the new Service Fees. After a brief explanation of what these fees were and a 'lengthy' discussion of why I refuse to pay these fees, I declined to pay. On the 12th and then again on the 16th August I received an email from Edgars Financial Services thanking me for accepting the new service fees and providing me with an ammended credit agreement. </p> <p>I visited the store again on the 3rd September and spoke to another service attendant. We contacted Edgars Customer Service to say that I in fact DID NOT ACCEPT the proposed fees. I was told that they would investigate the matter and get back to me by the following Tuesday latest (48 working hours if I remember correctly). Almost a month to date, I have still received no communication from Edgars. I am extremely upset. Edgars is the first service provider as far as I know to charge these 'discretionary' fees. i have been an account holder for almost 20 years now. I pay the heavy markup on the merchandise, the interest fee on the outstanding balance, a monthly club membership fee, an account protection fee, and sometimes even a late payment fee (if I unintentionally make a payment a few days late). The cost of maintaining this account is almost R1000 a year (without purchases and interest). It is cheaper to maintain a credit card with the bank. I undertand that there are costs incurred by Edgars in providing this credit facility, but it is for this purpose that we pay interest on our accounts.</p> <p>Please be open with your clients regarding your intentions. If Edgars decides that account holders that refuse this service fees will have their accounts closed, then please let us know so that we may decide on our available options eg. whether to keep our accounts open or discontinue our membership from Egdars Club or whatever else it may be. PLEASE, refund all my monies in respect of the NCA fees. I dont care if its R2 or R20 or R2000, ALLOW ME MY RIGHT TO CHOOSE!</p>
Thank you for bringing this matter to our attention. We understand your frustration in this incident however once the service fee has been signed for ,the service fee forms part of our contract terms. Contracts cannot be changed unilaterally. That means you cannot cancel one of the terms of our agreement without our consent.
Although it has become necessary to charge a service fee, we have taken the plight of our customers into consideration and discounted this fee to R22.80 per month which equates to R273.60 yearly as opposed to the prescribed maximum fee of R60 allowed per month by the NCA (R720 yearly) .
Please note that Edcon was there only Retail company that did not charged a service fee as these fees were waived by Edcon in the past, having taken into consideration the rising costs to provide unsecured credit to our customers, both Edcon and the credit provider, Absa Bank Ltd have regrettably been compelled to amend our credit agreements to introduce a monthly service fee on our credit accounts. The NCA (Act No. 34 of 2005 Section 101(1) (c)) allows credit providers to charge monthly service fees.
You reference number is ***/GO
Kind regards,
Edcon customer experience team,
***
Thank you for bringing this matter to our attention. We understand your frustration in this incident however once the service fee has been signed for ,the service fee forms part of our contract terms. Contracts cannot be changed unilaterally. That means you cannot cancel one of the terms of our agreement without our consent.
Although it has become necessary to charge a service fee, we have taken the plight of our customers into consideration and discounted this fee to R22.80 per month which equates to R273.60 yearly as opposed to the prescribed maximum fee of R60 allowed per month by the NCA (R720 yearly) .
Please note that Edcon was there only Retail company that did not charged a service fee as these fees were waived by Edcon in the past, having taken into consideration the rising costs to provide unsecured credit to our customers, both Edcon and the credit provider, Absa Bank Ltd have regrettably been compelled to amend our credit agreements to introduce a monthly service fee on our credit accounts. The NCA (Act No. 34 of 2005 Section 101(1) (c)) allows credit providers to charge monthly service fees.
You reference number is ***/GO
Kind regards,
Edcon customer experience team,
***