*****ULENT DEBIT ORDERS

Dear Sir/Madam

I am disappointed in the service and unsatisfactory response received from FNB when disputing various unauthorized debits that were deducted from my savings account.

In the first week of November 2023, I noticed multiple unauthorized debit orders from my account, which I did not approve or authorize. These debits have been identified as “POLPOV, REARGETUM and NU DEBT EDTN” and appear to be part of a broader ****, with many FNB customers reporting similar *****ulent activity on platforms such as Hello Peter over the past year. Despite this, I have found no indication that FNB has put sufficient measures or controls in place to prevent such *****ulent transactions from occurring.

FNB has done nothing to safeguard and protect the money of its clients, even after they have been informed by clients that these debit orders are *****ulent. Surely FNB should have put controls and checks in place to flag these debit orders to ensure that the same ***** does not happen to other clients. FNB rather chooses to charge the clients for disputing the *****ulent amounts. Whilst the bank is well aware that many other clients have also disputed these exact debit orders.

FNB advertises that each month, the bank checks against the confirmed Debicheck debit order details before a debit order is submitted. PASA specifically implemented the debicheck mandate in 2018 to reduce *****ulent debit orders and to protects customers. It is 6 years later and it seems FNB is not honouring this commitment.

On 08 November 2023, I received a response from FNB advising that I was charged a fee for disputing these amounts and was instructed to contact the service providers involved to stop the debit orders. How do I contact Service Providers that I do not know. FNB has also not provided me with any proof of authorization or a signed mandate for these transactions. Note that these debits are deducted from my savings account, an account wherein I have never had or authorized any debit orders before as it is my savings account. The relationship and responsibility to protect my account lie directly with FNB, as my bank. It is unacceptable that FNB charges me a disputed fee for a debit order **** that many clients have already advised FNB about.

Furthermore, despite sending a follow-up query, I have yet to receive a response or resolution from FNB regarding this matter. I am extremely concerned that FNB has failed to take immediate action to block these *****ulent debits, protect my account, and prevent further unauthorized deductions.