RCS - Just shocking!!

RCS – Just shocking!!!! Both myself and my wife have had various accounts associated with RCS over the last 20 years or so which have proven to be a great asset in finance management. Over the years, from both day to day to rare occurrence purchases our Game an PNP cards have been used with ease. With both of us never missing a single payment over the many years we were gravely disappointed to find that certain protocol within the RCS group had been changed and not been communicated to their clients. My wife has held a pick ‘n pay card which is underwritten by RCS for around 10 years, as a family of 5 we have always had to make monthly purchases of R7 – R10k at month end. Not sure what has happened but as from Jan 2022 they seem to have changed their policies with zero communication as to limits on their accounts with their clients. Having done monthly shopping in January, having 3 kids we sat with 3 trolleys of goods and an impatient queue behind us only to find that our card was declined and blocked even though funds were available. Having spent approx. 2 hours with Pick n Pay staff running around trying to get a hold of RCS to resolve the issue my frustration eventually led to me paying with my credit card and leaving the store. After many, many more calls and multiple emails to the RCS division to try to resolve the issue we are still to this day, 6 months down the line, without a resolution. I then, as a Game RSC card holder for over 20 years made a purchase this month, it was an online purchase which required cell phone code verification which concluded. I thereafter received a brief attempted phone call which rang for a mere 3 seconds from RCS which I had insufficient time to answer, thereafter, received an SMS advising that there has been ***** on my account, and it has been blocked. This to me is beyond ludicrous as I fail to understand how this organisation is trying to run a business blocking normal transactions (bought a Skyworth TV approx. 18 months ago at R14K whereas per usual, game card and ID were required with no issues). As a loyal client with an impeccable payment record, I find it distasteful and disrespectful that I would be treated as a ******** whilst merely making a simple purchase. After multiple attempts and requests to speak to management, like my wife who is still waiting for a call back after 6 months, we are still waiting for an intelligent response to a situation that I feel is absolutely ridiculous and unnecessary. I fail to understand how they are able to put their own unprecedented holds on people’s accounts without justification. We find it utterly disgusting that they would change their terms and protection policies without thorough explanation to their clients and furthermore fail to implement a simple authorization process like those of the banks. Having said that I feel that it is our duty to inform anyone with the desire to open any account associated with RCS to be cautioned.