Misinformation and overcharging for services not delivered.

I approached Global Affairs Services 4 February 2024 - based in Northgate Mall - to assist with documentation for Citizenship (police clearance, retention of citizenship, unabridged birth certificate, aposille of documents). Gill is VERY Friendly and a brilliant salesperson. 100% promised could be done for me by Global Affairs Services. I was asked for an immediate payment in full (R15500), which I paid expecting the service to be above average for this ridiculously high fee. After payment an addition was written on my invoice: Duration 3-6 months

Applications were going to be submitted and Biometrics was going to be done IN THE FIRST WEEK to start the process asap. I was promised appointment after appointment to do biometrics at DHA etc, but every time it got to the day there was another excuse. When it was still not done a month later I took it on myself to get this done. I finally got the application in myself (not by Global Affairs Services) After confirming with Gillian 3x which documents were required I still did not have the correct documents with me neither did I have the correct 2 application forms. Despite paying R15500 for them to do all of this for me I still had to pay the R300 for the application at DHA. I did request a refund several times for this service that was not provided and got the R300 only refunded. As a matter of interest… A retention of citizenship costs R300 – they charge R3800 to do this for you, but you have to physically be present for the application and have to collect it yourself in person, so they really don’t do anything for you. They say it is because they queue for you but there is no queue for retention of Citizenship, you go straight to the counter. Please be aware!!!! it is a LOT of money for poor communication, promised services that are not delivered and there is not much commitment to process what was promised in a hurry. A process that could have taken 1 to 1.5 months maximum has taken 4.5 months with me doing most of the work myself and driving after the documents myself. Not time (or money) saved here. This is the most I have ever paid for the worst service and disinformation. I was also told they are reasonable and will refund me for the services not delivered, yet I have not seen any of it to date despite various requests and my messages go unanswered. I have been lenient by removing my review on their request before after she made more empty promises, but I ran out of patience now.