MFC running unauthorised D/Os

MFC are in the business of running debit orders on dates that are not authorised by their clients. My D/O that i approved and signed for is in line with my salary date: 27th of each month.

They decide to deduct my D/O today without my consent! So they apparently sent an sms stating they will deduct the monthly instalment "to match my salary date" on the 20th??? This is false information as at no point did I declare my salary date as the 20th. They include in the sms that you must "opt out" if this is not the case. So i called them this morning, furious of course, and i am told by the call centre agent it is a campaign they running... I had to respond to the sms before the deadline. Really??? A campaign??? So its my fault now??!!

This also happened to my wife today and the agent she spoke with says MFC tracks your bank account to see if you have funds and if you dont they will not do the debit order. What is going on here and how is this tracking happening and again, on whose authority?? This to me sounds like a breach of POPIA and is unacceptable business practice.

Firstly your campaign is flawed because your sms comes across as being **** as i never declared my salary date to be the 20th which is why I ignored the message. That said, sending an sms is not good enough either because of all the **** sms's and ****s going around. Email and Call as a last resort!!! Secondly you dont just debit my account on a new date without my consent! What if i never got the sms as is the case with my wife!! What if i was indisposed and could not respond to your sms?? Do you not think about potential drawbacks to your methods before implementing them??

This MFC practice is unacceptable as the repercussions to this is having to fight with the Credit Bureau who will now flag your profile for non payment (if you dont have funds to cover the D/O) and to fight with MFC who now also will want to penalise you as the client for a late payment because they decided to run a stupid campaign to see if you want your D/O to be deducted earlier!! If i want that I as the client will contact you!!!

When i asked to speak to a manager i was told they in a meeting. The people who make these decsions are never available to answer for their indiscretions and to top it all off, YOU AS THE CLIENT MUST NOW TAKE THE BLAME FOR THEIR DECISION TO DEBIT YOUR ACCOUNT BEFORE THE TIME BECAUSE OF NOT RESPONDING TO THEIR SMS!!!

This is ridiculous! What type of circus show is this you running here MFC? I have had vehicle finance with you before and never had to deal with such ridiculous business practices. How many people are you disadvantaging with these types of "campaigns"? What if i never got an sms? Why are you not emailing or phoning me to find out if you can move my D/O??

I am not happy with this at all and will take the matter further.

Unhappy MFC Client.