SA Post Office employees cheating customers!!
I would like to report the most shocking situation, which just happened with me at the SA Post Office in OR Tambo Airport, Johannesburg (April 14th 2018, between 11 a.m. and noon). I needed to send 2 letters to Europe. The lady at the booth told me that she does not accept cards and that I need to go collect cash (even though the card machine was lying outside with the "ready to transact" sign). Ok, I went upstairs to the cash machine and came back with money. She said that the price for 2 normal letters (not oversized, not heavy, nothing like this) was 185 Zar. I was surprised and expressed some doubts that sending 2 letters could be so expensive. The lady assured me that this is a 100% correct price, and it is so high, because the prices came up recently. Ok, I was tired after my 12 hour flight, and I did not want to argue. I got a set of 10 post stamps from her and gave her 200 Zar, then she gave me my 15 Zar change back.
When putting post stamps on my letters (as she explained, I need to put 5 on each letter), I have noticed that there was no price on the stamp set. Neither the lady has given me a receipt. So I came back to the window and asked for my receipt. She said that she can not print me a receipt, and mumbled something that the computer does not give receipts, then that it only gives receipts when you purchase two stamps sets. I kept insisting on getting a payment document. Finally, she said that the machine made a mistake and charged me for 2 stamp sets instead of one! She gave me a receipt (which, as I noticed, was already printed long ago and was lying by her side) for one stamp set for 85 Zar (and remember, I've paid 185 Zar)! Also notice that 2 stamp sets would cost 170 Zar in this case. So the whole situation was an obvious and uncovered lie.
I demanded my 100 Zar back and she gave me, with apologies. Then she asked me for her 15 Zar (change she gave me in the beginning). I first was confused and gave it to her, but then I realized that I was not owing her 15 Zar! By that moment, she had already received 85 Zar from me! I had to come back again and demanded my 15 Zar. The other lady (her colleague) at the office was watching this whole situation with laugh.
Most obviously, lying about the price, not giving me my receipt, telling that the computer does not give receipts (while the receipt was already printed), this was all with the purpose to cheat on me and to put 100 Zar in her pocket!
This was most unexpected and upsetting behaviour of the staff members of SA Post! Living in SA for 3 years, this is the first time something like this have happened with me.
These ladies should certainly be checked and some measures taken. Otherwise, they will continue on cheating customers! I did not even get her names, because they were not wearing name badges! I am even worried, whether my letters (left with them) will be sent. She might through them away, in order to take a revenge on me, for not letting her cheat on me!
Regards, Elizaveta