Premier account? What premier account? Service? Oh, no, that is just a catch phrase!!

<p>A few months ago I got convinced to move my bank account over to FNB. Everyone I spoke to told me how this was the best think since ever.</p> <p> </p> <p>For my part I cannot begin to say how utterly underwhelming my experience with FNB had been. With the exception of two encounters, every interaction I had with FNB has left me with a bitter taste in my mouth. </p> <p> </p> <p>The latest in my litany of horrible encounters involve a planned visit to the UK. Due to the shenanigans being done around the Finance department, we decide to purchase the airplane tickets six months ago. There is a limitation of 60 days when you can start purchasing foreign currecy, and once again, we did not wish to be caught with an ever spiralling rand. I went to speak to FNB about the option available to me around the Global Pound account. The agent helping us phoned the Forex department, and they indicated that this would be an excellent way of accumulating the funds without it being negatively impacted.</p> <p> </p> <p>That is, until I tried to get to the money in cash. All of a sudden it is impossible to get to it. Firstly, I tried to get it via online banking, but the account was not available to be selected. I then went to my local branch to find out how to proceed. They could not help me, and I had to call the Forex department. The help desk agent told me cash could not be taken from the account, and that I would have to transfer it back to my rand account andf then get it that way. Not considering that I had to pay another set of transaction fees, as well as the weighted exchange rate, meaning I was losing both ways. </p> <p> </p> <p>I then mailed my "banker" seeing that I have the premier account. 24 hours laternot a peep... not so much as a ***** you. My son facing the same dilemma in a few months' time, chose the Call Back feature (from their web site without even logging in). he got his callback at 08:00 this morning. The person he spoke to told him that he will be able to get the funds using a MultiCurrency Cash Passport. </p> <p> </p> <p>So I duly went to another branch, passport and travel itenary in hand. Getting there, the teller was not surew how to proceed and went to speak to a supervisor. They then proceeded to print the card, which I had to wait 30 minutes for. Once this was done, all photocopies collected and signed, she discovered that my Global Account was not visible on one of the profiles. Off she went again to talk to the Forex Help Desk.</p> <p> </p> <p>When she came back, she told me that I could not buy the Cash Passport over the counter, but had to order it from the forex department by email, that's right, by email</p> <p> </p> <p>IN THE NAME OF ALL THAT IS HOLY! How on this earth are you not able to get something like this from an actual branch that deals in foreign currency, but you have to order the card via email????</p> <p> </p> <p>I am certain that there is a flag on my profile... one that says: He has not yet broken... push the *******. Let's see how much he can take.</p> <p> </p> <p>You know how people say: "You look much better in your pictures"? That is FNB to me: "You look much better in your ads".</p> <p> </p> <p>And I am still waiting for my '***** you' from my personal banker... who really is just someone in a call centre</p> <p> </p>