FNB - Don't leave your will with them

Horrible, horrible experience. My father passed away and had a funeral policy with FNB. FNB are trying to be all things to everyone and are failing dismally. The Staff member at the branch where he took out the policy and where he handed in his will advised my sister that she needed to go to the court to get the LOA. Wrong court. Eventually got to the department of Justice to be told we are not authorised to. FNB were the executor.

Worst of all is at the time we were just trying to get the funeral policy. Went back to the branch. Put on a phone which after 25 mins cut after ringing and ringing. Eventually gave up as we do not understand what we were supposed to do. We scaled down the funeral plans as I ended up paying with my credit card.

When I got back to joburg I ended up sorting that out.

Then FNB want the value of the estate - we know that he had money at other institutions but they wont give us access as we don't have a LOA. Eventually with the amount we could verify FNB said that the estate is too small for them to handle. The rescinded there responsibility with the master of the court. Eventually we were trying to handle the estate ourselves. But getting the LOA was a nightmare. Fortunately my sister got into my dads phone and found out that in at least one account he had the requisite R250 000 for FNB to now be interested as the appointed executor.

Three weeks now I have been trying to get them to make any progress with this. Zero support - zero response. The contact person is off sick. So no one to cover her work load. She has been back at work a week. No response to phone calls, no response to emails.

Its a farce. Do not use them if you want to ensure your grieving survivors don't get traumatised even more.