Below standard service from Standard Bank

<p>On 25/07/2016 I visited Standard Bank Port Alfred to upgrade my account from a Student Achiever to an Elite Plus Account. I had taken all the necessary documentation required and did all the necessary paperwork required for the upgrade including ordering a new cheque card. I was told that it would take 5-7 working days for my card to be delivered and that I would get an SMS when it is ready for collection. Over two weeks later I haven't heard from SB with regards to my cheque card, so I decide to give them a call. I phone the call centre only to be told that my account has been upgraded but there is no record of a card being ordered. I told the person on the phone that it doesn't make sense because I signed for the order of the cheque card and all the paperwork was submitted together. The person on the phone told me that she couldn't help me and that I had to go back to the branch. I had visited the branch 3 times after the call, because the first two times because I waited an hour and a half before leaving each time to try and speak to the consultant that did the upgrade for me, because I was told only she could help me (I only have a 2-hour slot during the week for my lunch break of which I spend 15min driving to the bank and 15min driving back to work). There were only 2 people ahead of me in the que each time to speak to the consultant but an hour and a half wasn't enough to get to me. Eventually the third time I went there was no que and got to speak to the consultant and was told that the system had rejected my card application for a reason she didn't know so she made me reapply for the card and I signed for it yet again on 08/08/2016. The following week (15/08/2016) I phone the SB card division to check if they have received a card application and still they haven't got any card ordered and was told to go back to the branch. On the same day after the call I went back to the branch only to be told by the consultant that there was a problem with the order because I used a passport to order the card, which was a lie because I had only used my South African ID with SB; after I told her that then she stuttered and said- oh sorry there was a problem with my ID and the application for the card and that she is trying to sort it out and will get back to me on Wednesday 17/08/2016. On Wednesday I called the card division to check if the card had finally been ordered and they said they still hadn't received any card application. By then I was very furious because no one could tell me what was wrong with my card application and I insisted on getting the branch phone number because I refuse wasting my time and lunch break to keep going to the branch because I work from 0630- 1800 Monday to Saturday. I then called the branch and the consultant told me that she is working on it and the email address that she had been sending to was incorrect and that she is trying to get the correct one, which should not be my problem. It took 3 weeks for her to figure that out. I would assume it wouldn't take long for them to get an email address to send my application so I assumed that it would be sent through on that day. On 22/08/2016 I phone the card division to check if they have finally received my card application and held on the phone for them to check for over 10mins. The person on the phone then told me that the application had just come through and that it will take a few days to reflect on the system and only 5-7 working days from that time when it reflects on the system will my card be sent for delivery. It has now been almost FOUR WEEKS from the date of my application of the card which should have taken 5-7 working days for delivery, of which will now probably take another 2 weeks. I am very disappointed with the Service I have received and I don’t recommend anyone joining Standard Bank. A friend of mine went to FNB down the road from SB after hearing my experience with them and got his card in 3 days following his account upgrade. I have been **** to and all the consultants and people I talk to on the phone are always trying to cover up for each other by giving all sorts of excuses, and I did not enjoy being spoken over and interrupted when talking to the people on the phone even though they were not saying anything rude. The entire reason on why I need the cheque card is so that I can make online shopping purchases and book flights which are now 3 times the price now from the time I wanted to book. Very disappointing Service after over 10 years of being with this bank. I am definitely considering changing banks after this experience.</p>