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<p>I just bought a house and Standard Bank was the mortgage provider on the property. During the process, the application process I elected that I would use my own insurance for the building insurance requirement, for the simple reason that it was cheaper than the quote provided by Standard Bank, and I naturally prefer to use on insurance provider for an overall better rate. Once my transfer went through, the mortgage attroneys notified me that I have to contact Standard Bank to confirm that they did not activate the insurance. I called Standard Bank, what do you know - it is activated against my wishes! The person on the other line advised that the reason as to why it was activated was due to the fact that I did not provide confirmation that I had insurance with my personal insurance provider. I advised that it was impossible to provide proof of cover since there is no knowing when the transfer will be complete on the date of signing. Unfortunately, I was advised, Standard Bank does not care. I was told to draft a letter requesting cancellation of the insurance and send it to ********** and it will take 24 hours to be removed. I sent the letter through will all the required support documents and signatories at 09:20 on 18/05/2017. I called Standard Bank at 10:30 on 19/05/2017 to confirm whether the insurance was cancelled, only to be told that there is no record of my request. I was also told to send the request to another department – ********** and can expect at least 10 working days before this will be processed. My response to all of this is why if I elect to take my own insurance do you force me to take yours, even if I can prove that I have the required cover, to be told that this is Standard Bank’s process. Standard Bank is therefore taking money from me, and there is nothing I can do about it. What can I do to stop this? How does one bank have so much power to literally take from you which it is not due, and you are rendered helpless in the process? Be very careful if you choose to use Standard Bank as a service provider, they will forcibly take from you.</p>