FNB Bank Charges Thousands of Rands for facility not requested

I looked at my bank statement this morning and found a charge of R1800 this month and R2400 last month for banking fees which left me totally gobsmacked. When I called the FNB Premier Division I called this our Premier Banking department this morning and after waiting for a consultant I finally got through. Whilst I was busy trying to explain my issue to Mr Makheaka Feqhaota I was told to hold on. That was the last time I heard of him as he left me to wait for a total of 13 minutes before the call went dead. The reason is he forgot that he had me on the line suffice to say there was no courtesy on the part of the consultant to call me back.

Now I am currently sitting for a total of 7 additional minutes and all I get is the standard FNB message “welcome to FNB blah blah blah team of bankers blah blah blah assist with financial needs etc . You more than likely will remember this is the quickest way to ***** your day to pick up the phone and call FNB premier banker.

Finally get to speak to an agent ( Samantha Bapela) who tried to explain to me the bank charges of R1800 on one statement and R2400 on the other statement as being totally legitimate but this is hogwash.

Samantha insists (as can be substantiated during my call) 1. I knew about this as I had an SMS and should have queried this then despite me insisting that I don’t get sms notification for several years now. I get emails but no transaction by transaction notification. The bank is therefore unable to provide substantial evidence as to me having received a sms. I would like to see when this SMS was activated. It won’t be surprising to see it being activated only today after this call. 2. she is unaware why my overdraft facility despite me having been a loyal customer for 28 years. 3. The bank can’t answer why my overdraft facility was closed without any official notification to myself. After 28 years I get treated with such disdain as having my overdraft taken away without a single email notification or even a sms.

If a transaction does not have money IT NEEDS TO BE DECLINED IMMEDIATELY ! It is our last line of defence. This to me is not only common sense but sane thing yet the bank now wants to approve a transaction without the overdraft facility , then charge me exorbitant amount of money for this without my consent or warning that I could be charged R1800 and R2400.

I have a family where I am the sole breadwinner. How can I be charged a fee when it will end up depriving my children of a deserved benefit like clothing etc.

I ask to speak to the Premier Banking Manager (Mr Bongani ) and i am told he will return my call as he is too busy. I realised now that I had a better chance of hearing from Osama Bin Laden from his grave than expecting a call Bongani Unfortunately these are the people that we have to consistently deal with. People who are appointed with no regard for others people but themselves. The banking system has long ago lost the image as a family and people orientated institution.

If I conveniently treat the bank like a peace of **** like I have been treated and start campaigning on Helopeter website like the others then I will be inundated with calls from everyone at FNB after the proverbial horse has bolted.

I have been banking with FNB for over 28 years now and I have never had this happen to me and worst thing is this has happened without my consent. I need to see where I have acknowledged approving the use of a methodology that will honour a transaction without funds being in the account? If this is the case then I will duly apologise in writing to the bank and all others who I have forwarded this query to. *****ing money and debiting me without my consent is apparently legal according to the bank. They take away my overdraft facility and are now charging me R1800 and R2400 I can ill afford as I have a family to feed.

The bank is now telling me that it was my fault that I didn’t realise this and I always get an SMS every time I bank. This begs the question as to whether these people are a law unto themselves and can just syphon money from people without fear . What’s the difference between bank ****** and a bank then? I don’t have an sms facility anymore and beside this you have taken my overdraft facility away without any pre-notification and now want to charge me an additional charge for something that wasn’t my fault.