PM
Portia M

1 reviews | Active since Nov 2017

03 Jun 2021, 09:38

Banks in Bed with car hiring companies

We bank with big banks because we believe that we will be protected by them and especially as small businessed we are trying to buid our profile with them so that we can in the future qualify for financial assistance as most of us start our businesses with no Capital at all. I am very dissappointed with Standard Bank business banking for what happened to me yesterday. Most times when a transaction is suspicious they are the first to call and send sms's asking me to confirm the transactions before the money goes off. Not this week, a total of R28K went off my business account, putting my account on an overdraft of R+-R18. Mind you, I do not have an overdraft facility with the bank on this account. How does this happen? apparently the car hiring company did a manual swipe and used my card without my concern and blessed themselves with an unauthorised payment. What breaks my heart and frustrates me the most is that I had to do the back and forth between the bank and the hire company to have the fund put back in my account, initially I was told it will take 3 working days to recall, and I did not have that time as I had clients that have willingly trusted me with their money that is no more in my account. I was then told to get letters , emails and confirmation from the hire company so that it can be sorted out urgently. After all that me bouncing between the bank and hire company... the hire gives consent for the funds to be reversed. So last night I had to borrow funds to pay for my clients accommodation for the night and today I was hoping to receive the funds. to my dismay, nothing instead the bank offered to write a letter to the hotel confirming that they will receive payment tomorrow. How stupid do you think I am Standard Bank, that is exately 3 working days! where is the urgency in that. I do not bank Millions every month with you, but I was hoping that you would actually really mark this as an urgent matter. IDefine urgent! Manager who assisted was Samantha Naidu, my private banker Ntobeko Mzolo, and the lady from claims Nomthandazo Sibiya, your assistance was not felt, at all as I had to spend the whole day between you and the hire company even after I had given you the direct details of who to contact and they had given you permission to reverse. Last year January before Covid I was in China, the hotel in Beijing kept on doing manual swipes on my card and debited my card 4 times. thats was sorted out immediately by the Bank. So what is the hold up now. Lastly as a bank if a manual swipe is done ( when someone uses your bank card number without your presence or concerned) should raise an eyebrow and should have some sort of alerting system and as a bank you should have means and ways to protect us. Not only do I look unprofessional as a business, imagin the ambarrassment my client is probably feeling right now. I did not just lose a client so will you.

0
Replies (1)
Standard Bank
Standard Bank's reply04 Jun 2021, 01:32
Official
Hello Portia
 
Thank you for posting your comment. 
 
We assure you that as an organization we are committed to providing the best possible service and assure you that this will be addressed as a matter of urgency. 
 
We apologize for the inconvenience and undue frustration, this has caused.  
 
We greatly appreciate your continued support  
 
Kind regards 
 
Complaint Resolution Centre
*** 
*** (fax)
***