************ Business Practices by Edgars /RCS

EDGARS / RCS

To Whom It May Concern:

A little background to better understand my situation:

I am a soldier who is sent away from my home and family between 6 and 12 months every year. Quite often, the places I am sent to are in the middle of nowhere, and has no access to banks and shops.

I have been stationed (my home base) 10 km outside a small town with rather basic amenities. Because of these reasons all my account payments are automated.

In February I received a letter from Edgars to say that my account is in arrears by R306.00. This seemed impossible as my payments of R200.00 has been going off automatically for many years without any problems. The amount stated was also incorrect, as my monthly payment was less than R160.00 (for cellphone insurance) which meant that R40.00 went to credit for once in a while incidentals. (I kept a R50.00 credit limit as this was the smallest amount Edgars would allow.) As I hadn't used my account in a long while, there should have been a few hundred rand in credit.

With special permission I went into the nearest town on the 22nd of February 2021, and straight to Edgars where I tried to sort this out.

Here I found out that the Edcon group sold Edgars to RCS. The account details had changed without my knowledge, and my account WAS in arrears by 1 month and R306.00. I took out my bankcard, enquired about the extra high amount, as the 2 cellphones which was insured @ Edgars came to R94.00 and R53.00 respectively (a total of R157.00). She informed me that the amount was made up of my clubcard fees, life insurance etc. - all things that I hadn't subscribed to.

I canceled everything on the card except for the cellphone insurance for which I kept the account, and handed the cashier my bank card to bring my account up to date. She asked for my Edgars card, which I didn't have, as I didn't have the account for the credit, (which I kept @ the minimum allowed - R50). (This had never been a problem before, as my ID was always sufficient previously.)

The cashier informed me that since my account was in arrears, and I didn't have a card, that I couldn't settle my account in the Edgars branch, but would have to go and pay it at Pick'nPay, and then return to Edgars with the proof of payment.

I did as instructed, and on my return to Edgars, I told the cashier that I wanted to cancel everything, and close my account permanently.

She then informed me that I had to return the next day to do that, as the payment first had to clear. I explained that I had to get special permission, and had to drive more than 50km to get there. She gave me a number to call after 48 hours, to close the account. I did this, and never gave it another thought. My account was closed.

Lo and behold, I received an account for March. Once again it was in arrears! I had to jump through all the same hoops to cancel my account, and was assured that this time the account was closed.

I was scarcely home, when I was informed that I was going away again. As my cell phone contracts were at an end, I signed new contracts for my wife and I, (as this is our only avenue of communication) and was sent away again the next day.

Immagine my surprise and anger when my cell phone provider called me to inform me that my contracts would not be renewed as I have been given up as a bad payer by Edgars. Soon after, I received another Edgars account, only having to pay once again for an account that is once again in arrears!!!

In a matter of a few months, this ************ company has ruined the good credit record that has been 16 years in the making.

I want this company investigated for malpractice, and my credit record restored A.S.A.P!

Please help me.

Regards C. H. Vermaak ***