Disappointment of a bereaved widow

I am so VERY UTTERLY DISAPPOINTED with FNB today. Particularly FNB Randburg, Cnr of Republic and Main Roads. My husband tragically passed away last month on 4 June 2018. This is a Very Traumatic Time in my life and would be for anyone. Both my husband and I have been clients of FNB for many years. For me to go and give notice to the Master of the High Court of my husband’s death and to get a Letter of Authority from the Master of the High Court, I need a stamped bank statement from FNB (where my husband’s current account is). My husband and I are both Premier clients. Yesterday I called FNB Premier banking, the lady advised me that she could not help me but she would give me the number of the deceased estate department, for in case I got cut off, but she would transfer me to the deceased estate department. The phone rang for a while then a message system answer advising me that the person I had called was unavailable and the call got cut off. I kept trying to contact them the entire day but I kept getting the same answering message and my calls kept being cut. I contacted an attorney who has been handling deceased estates for many years, and they advised me that I could go into the bank with my original ID, my husband’s original ID, my original marriage certificate and my husband’s death certificate. I even had all the documents certified and I brought my husband’s bank card with. I took time off work to go to FNB Randburg this morning. I walk into the bank. Get a ticket, the consultant sees me. I explained my situation to the consultant. The consultant says that I must bring FNB a letter from the Master of the High Court telling them to give me the bank details. I explain to this lady that I cannot get a Letter from the Maser of the High Court without the bank statement. She says she can’t help me. She says I’m welcome to speak to her manager but he’s going to tell me the same thing. We walk over to the branch manager’s office. The branch manager’s name is Bheki Jiyane (I only know his name because I took his business card before I left). He’s on the phone. So, we wait. He is lying down in his chair as if he is next to the pool. Once he’s off the phone, the consultant and I walk in to his office. He doesn’t sit up, he just stays in this lying down position. He doesn’t stand up to greet me. Doesn’t ask me to sit down. He doesn’t introduce himself. Nothing. Keep in mind that I am a bereaved widow whose husband literally passed away ONE MONTH AGO! The lady tells him that I need a stamped statement for my deceased husband’s account for the Master of the High Court. He just start’s saying that I need a Letter from the Maser of the High Court. I try to explain to him that I cannot get anything from the Master of the High Court until I have the stamped statement but he keeps talking over me. He tells me that I’m not listening. Still all the time in the lying down position and looking at me like I’m a piece of *******. I take out all my documents. The original documents, the certified copies and my husband’s bank card. Not because he asked, he never even asked to see anything. He doesn’t even look at anything. He was not interested and it is was as if he was doing me the greatest of favours by just having me in his office. He tells me I can take his business card and go to the Master of the High Court and tell the Maser of the High Court to email or call him and he would explain to them what he needs…. What? A branch manager at FNB is going to dictate to the Master of the High Court? I call the attorney who advised me to go to the bank. I give the phone to the bank manager. At this stage he sits up but keeps arguing with her as well. He gives me back the phone. I walk out. I turnback and go and ask him for his business card. He gets out a business card from his drawer, I take it and leave. Never in my life have I been treated so badly. No Compassion. So Unhelpful. So Disrespectful. As a bereaved widow who is just trying my best to keep myself together and trying to sort out my husband’s affairs, I think it is ridiculous that not one person at FNB is willing to help me. I mean come on!!! All I need is a stamped bank statement, which is required by the Master of the High Court! We have been loyal clients of FNB for years and years and FNB just takes their fees every month, they charge you for every page of paper when you need a statement, but when a widow, who just needs to comply with the requirements of the Master of the High Court, walks into one of FNB’s branches and asks for help, she gets treated so badly. I am frustrated, angry and deeply saddened that this is how FNB treats their loyal customers. FNB is suppose to be the bank that helps to make your life easier not more difficult but I can tell you now that, at a time in one’s life when you need some help and support, all I have experienced from FNB is No Compassion, Unhelpfulness and Disrespect.