PEP CUSTOMER SERVICE IS A NIGHTMARE

What an absolute nightmare! Don't ever open up a card with PEP. I was in the Bluff branch of Pep at Hillside Mall. 2 ladies approached me regarding opening an account and getting a card. I really didn't want or need one as I normally pay with my debit card... so one cancels out the other. I should have known when they wanted R10 to verify my bank details... I assumed it would be refunded to me (wrong). That should have been the first red flag...

Today I received an sms saying I owe R28.33 when I've never even purchased anything. I opened the account on the day before back to school. I called to find out what the R28.33 was for when I haven't even purchased anything... and that I wanted to close the account... I was told in order to close the account, I need to pay the amount of R28.33.

Fair enough, so they sent me a link... I followed the link and the link woudn't allow me to pay... minimum payment was R50. I was NOT going to pay R50 when I only owed R28.33... imagine the struggle I would go through again. I called back and asked them for banking details,,,, real details, not a link, where I could go in and select how much I wanted to pay... after going through the verification details and security questions for the umpteenth time... I was sent the exact same link.

In desperation I called head office in Cape Town.. and was told I can't speak to anyone, she is on lunch, and yes she is the only one in head office that handles accounts... must phone after 2pm... lunch is 2 hours long? I called back to the customer care number and thought must be 3rd time lucky (wrong)... had to make a 4th call.... only then... thank goodness, was heading for a nervous breakdown...did I get banking details sent to me so I could pay. I had spoken to Noku, Chuma, Roxanne... one who's name I didn't hear... and only the last lady (didn't have the energy to ask her name) helped me.

But it doesn't end there... I must phone after 3 working days to see if they received it... no option to send your proof of payment through.... so Friday or Saturday I will have to speak to the same people who nearly drove me to tears. Believe me, when I say... open an account at your own risk.... what a mission to get some customer service... there is NO customer service... just people going through the motions... I don't trust them to close my account... will have to follow up like a police sniffer dog to make sure it's done... stay tuned.