The Final Straw

FNB charged me #ITEM PAID NO FUNDS 1 ITEMS ON 23/03/ on the 16th March. Early that week, they reversed a #ITEM PAID NO FUNDS.

Upon enquiring I was told it was because there was not enough money in my bank account to pay for a reserved charge. I always assumed the demarcation between the Available Balance and the actual Balance would prevent situations like this.

This has never happened to me with any other bank. Even if this entire situation is legitimate, it feels very shady and exploitative. I'm not interested in diving into the legalese or documentation - just don't have the time, energy, or executive function.

All I know is this prevented me from procuring my medication. I was never actively informed of the health of my account or the possibility of a situation like this. If I was, I could have made other plans. I don't like this lack of visibility. I feel like these are land mines and pitfalls designed to catch out South Africans who are already suffering from stress and the strain of inflation.

When I consulted a banker, I was told that I should make sure there is enough money in my bank account next time. There won't be a next time. This isn't the first time I've encountered FNB charges, protocols, and policies that seem to be made to confuse people.

I know I'm just one client but this is the straw that broke the camel. I've made plans to switch over to another bank. And maybe anyone who reads this review should consider it too. There are banks that actually value and treat their customers like human beings.

P.S. The new changes you've made to PayPal suck too. How you launch a product that is so buggy is beyond me. For a bank that markets itself as forward-thinking, your digital products are outdated and lackluster.