Early December Billings

Hi,

I need to escalate an issue I have with the early debit dates for this December by Standard bank. I have a revolving loan with standard bank and every debit they make on the 20th of each month, they get their money. Never have I missed a debit order date. I know in December their debiyt and every other debits you have go through earlier than the set date on the agreement, but they send sms’s to notify you so that you can make arrangements.

I had money deposited in my account the day before today, which I need to use to make a payment today (13th December 2017). I woke to an sms saying standard bank debited the money today on the 13th. I’m frustrated because there was no sms sent to inform me that the December debits will be deducted on the 13th. I was even sacred because I thought it’s a random company who debited my account without my knowledge, it is December and there are a lot of ********** activities happening all over.

Seeing that this is such an inconvenience to me, I called standard bank to see if they can reverse the money. I was told they will reverse the money, but it will only reflect in seven days, but to speed my issue up the money will reflect after 3 days.

I need the money today to make another payment, I now have to tell whoever that I cannot make payment today because standard bank decided to debit earlier than usual without notifying me and now the money will only reflect back in my account in three days time and that's the least they can do. What if my life depended on this money? What if I lose my life today over a payment I can’t do because of the inconvenience standard bank decided to put me through?

I made a call as soon as I got to work and ended the call, where after being transferred to almost 10 consultant in different departments, I landed on the consultant I initially spoke to who was surprised I landed on him again because the general department was supposed to assist me. He told me that their system is giving an error and is debiting any account which receives money whether its your salary or not, for that reason, he told me to head to the branch. I immediately decided to walk to the bank because the consultant I talked to told me to go to a branch and they will be able to transfer the money today. As I walked to the bank standard bank decided to send me an sms notification. Note that the time the message came through is 11:00 a few minutes after I called them, coincidence? Sms was delayed? After I called them? Only then they send the sms. Note that the first thing they do when you call, is to ask if there was an sms notification sent to you. They sent the sms just to cover their backs! I have proof of the times and calls made to standard bank and I have the sms to prove it.

So I get to the branch in Melrose arch and state to the consultant what my story is. He calls standard bank, the general department and they tell him the same story they told me. Before he even helped me, he said ” You are prestige banker, this money is too little, let it go”. like really? Can you imagine? Even if this amount was R1.00 and I was Bill Gates, it makes no difference. I had plans for that money, standard bank inconvenienced me and instead of apologizing, they want to say they have sent me the sms notification, and should let it go, chill and get my money on after 3 days. The nerve to tell me I must just deal? There’s nothing they can do about it? I was soooo angry.

Words cannot express how angry and inconvenienced I am, no one is even man enough to at least apologize to me. Instead they all tried to make me feel like they did nothing wrong and I was at fault because “they sent the sms notification”.

I ended the conversation with the conclusion that they will make the payment after 24 hours because no matter how I expressed how I need the money today, they cannot do anything about them because the system won’t allow them.

I don’t know how true that is and if I will actually get the money on the promised date, and if it will be at any cost to me. note that I alfready ave to pay interest because I couldn't make the other payment I had to do.

Also, now that they had to reversed the money, I will be liable to make a manual payment to them because they are not making another payment run for December. Again, making their problem my problem.

I have been with standard bank for more 20 years and never experienced such treatment. Words cannot express how I feel right now.

From a very disappointed client.