1 reviews | Active since Mar 2020
Let down and done in by Standard Bank Namibia
I have a Home Loan account with Standard Bank Namibia - Luderitz Branch - since 2009. I was retrenched during 2010 and fell in arrears with my Home Loan payments, even though I tried to keep up to date with payments (I was unable to do monthly payments, but did lump sum payments to cover the months in arrears). My account was then placed with their recovery department and I continued to try and keep up. I was gainfully employed again during February 2012 and from then paid more than my monthly payment. So, during March 2017 I lodged a geyser replacement claim with the bank and was informed that I was not insured (Home Loan Protection Plan). I told them that I am not at fault here and with some to and fro, they paid the claim, but not from the Insurance, they debited my Home loan account. I told them (actually harassed them) to ensure that I am adequately insured and with a struggle I saw on my Home Loan Statement that Insurance payments were deducted. They've quoted a monthly insurance payment of between N$280 - N$580, and then debited my account with a higher premium. I complaint and fussed that they stick to their quote and they corrected it. I never received any Policy contract though, and must admit I never followed up as I trusted my bankers.
Yea right, lo and behold, early November 2019 I was diagnosed with an Invasive Ductal Carcinoma, and had a left breast mastectomy and a right breast lumpectomy. While recovering from surgery at our capitol city, I prepared to call my branch at Luderitz to inquire about the claim procedure when the Branch Administrator/ Manager called me, and informed me that I have a claim under the Home Loan Protection Plan with Standard Bank. She then discovered that I was NOT insured under their HLPP. When I asked them to insured me adequately, they did a fire insurance policy. On top of entire trauma I endured, the preparation for chemotherapy and radiation, I still had to deal with the incompetence of Standard Bank Namibia and their Insurance department. I do not know how the banking policies had changed the past 20 years, but I thought that the onus rest with the banks to see to it that their loan books are properly insured. And so, during March 2020 I visited my branch and app**** for the HLPP cover, covering both my husband and I. It took them 2 months to process the application and when I received the Policy document (not without asking for it), I found that my husband was not included! Again, I had to raise hell for them just to do their job properly. I just cannot let go and I feel completely let down and done in by my trusted bankers. My Home Loan was adequately insured before they moved it to their recovery Department and they dropped the ball then. I think my last recourse could be to lodge a complaint with Namfisa (Namibia's watchdog for financial institutions). Any advice?
