MM
Mercia M

1 reviews | Active since Aug 2017

17 Aug 2017, 14:13

Bank turns me away when in need of help

I took out a personal loan with STB in April 2017 (was not informed that the contract is fixed and cannot be amended until the full term is completed). I was unaware that the company I worked for at the time was planning on re-locating to another province. I am a single mother of a 2 yr old daughter and no family members of any people that I know in the other province. With the world in the shape that it is currently, one cannot just trust to re-locate especially with a 2yr old girl. I had to change the purposes I initially took the loan for and open a small business in order to repay my loan whilst looking for another job. My business fell through having to pay the current loan installment that I cannot afford at this point and I have exhausted my savings as well. I immediately made contact with STB ***for assistance to allow me grace by reducing my current monthly installment to what I am able to afford in my current financial position. I was told that due to the fact that I have signed a fixed term contract, the bank cannot help me (the system will not accept an amendment), its either I pay what I signed for or I will go on ITC. Now since the bank does not want my lower installment amount and I am blacklisted, how will I find a job and pay back the loan? I am not appealing to a system, I am appealing to the bank. I am appauled that In a case where I came forward to make arrangements "to continue" paying my loan, only in a lesser installment amount until I find another job, that I am turned away. What if there are 1000 other customers in my position, will the bank rather loose money then excepting a lesser installment? or what if I died instead of loosing my job? I could be like countless other debtors who switch off or not answer their phones but instead I am coming forward and simply asking for my current installment amount to be reduced. I am sorely dissapointed!

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Replies (1)
Standard Bank
Standard Bank's reply18 Aug 2017, 12:30
Official

Thank you for posting your comments.

Your matter was escalated accordingly. We will revert to you as soon as possible.

Kind regards

Complaint Resolution Centre
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