AGEISM AND REFUSAL TO PROVIDE SERVICES

I had the worst experience at one of your branches in Rustenburg yesterday. I went with my mother to get her internet banking activated since it was not done when she opened her account. The teller seemingly ignored my mother’s request to have it done and went on to only activate notifications of when money goes in and out of her account. When I enquired as to why she was not doing what my mother asked for, she then told us that they do not activate internet banking for “older people”.

Now, one, I did not appreciate that this person **** to my mother that she is activating her internet banking but then proceeded to do something else instead.

Secondly, this teller then proceeded to say that Standard bank has received many complaints that “the kids are *****ing their parents money via internet banking”. What I need to understand is, where do we enter in that situation? What matrix did you use to ultimately decide that “older people” do not get the same services that everyone has; services that LITERALLY can make their lives much better??? Do you understand how far my parents stay from banks? So you are telling me that you decided that you will not provide my mother this service that could save her a lot of money of traveling to and from the bank to perform simple transactions that could easily be done from home??? Do you know how far she has to go just to purchase electricity or even something as simple as getting airtime??

1. How many complaints did you receive to make this decision? 2. Who decided on this refusal to provide these services? 3. What age is the cut-off for these services and who decides on this and on what basis?? 4. If there are such limitations to the services that Standard bank can provide for our parents, why is this not stated when the consideration to open these accounts is taken? Why are we not told?? 5. Why are our parents paying the same as what everyone else is paying but only receiving limited services???

I am appalled by the service that we received yesterday. I am beyond angry at the disrespect and the condescending attitude that that teller showed my mother, whom as she pointed out, is much much older than her!

I am equally appalled and angry at the insinuations made by her that myself, and my mother’s children, want to ***** our mother’s money!

IF there are complaints about money ****** by other people, how many complaints did you receive exactly? Are you telling me that you received so many complaints that led to you deciding that it is best to disadvantage thousands of other “older people” from using these services that are given to everyone else?

Please explain to me how we left the branch yesterday without these services being provided to my mother??? Do you know I had to drive from Pretoria to North West so that I can take my mother to the bank to get these services activated because she stays far from the banks???? How do we still not have these services???

The level of disrespect received at that bank yesterday was beyond insulting! It was an utter violation of our rights as people and a breach of the agreements that we made with Standard Bank when the account was opened.

I am NOT happy! My mother is NOT happy!!! And things like this should not stand!

I thought I would only experience some long queues or delay in service, not utter ************** against the elderly and, I dare say, against black people! Standard Bank Rustenburg, and that teller, Kefilwe or Refilwe or whatever her name is, you are a disgrace and I cannot believe that Standard bank hires people such as this. Do better!!!!!!