Ransom

I am the type of person who usually takes everything in stride but in this instance I am left wondering how it is possible for a large financial institution like FNB to operate with so little regard for its clients.

I get a monthly payment from an overseas company and have an standing instructed with FNB to immediately release the funds into my account. This works for a couple of months and then suddenly you get this message that you need to phone them up within 30 days because they have now decided to hold your funds. If you don't phone they will return the funds to the sender.

Today after 3 months of bliss, I get the same message. As per usual, ****tle irritated) I call the bank urgently as I have debits that will fail if these funds aren't cleared into my account. I am left holding on the line for around 20 to 25 minutes just to be greeted by a lady who informs me that it will now cost me R280 to get my funds release into my account.

So pay the R280 or else we send your funds back to where it came from and BTW, we will also charge you a premium if your debit orders fail.

Feel like I am pushed into a corner, can anyone else please advise me of an alternative where customers are still considered important?