I have been subjected to oppressive and an abuse of process by Standard Bank and itsSB Guarantee

I am extremely disappointed with the manner in which Standard Bank has dealt with my home loan matter. In October 2024, after arrears had accumulated, I entered into a settlement arrangement with Standard Bank and its attorneys. I settled the arrears of R75,370.19, agreed to pay legal costs of R35,396.23, with an understanding that legal costs are to be debited into our account held with Standard Bank and because the account fluctuated over time, we reasonably believed this was the case as we continued to make monthly payments. I also committed to resuming monthly debit order instalments. This arrangement was accepted in writing by Standard Bank’s representatives on 28 October 2024, and since then I have consistently honoured the monthly debit orders towards the loan.

Despite the good faith compliance, I was shocked to be served with Heads of Argument in the High Court on 10 September 2025, advancing litigation that I reasonably believed had been resolved. Instead of withdrawing the case or communicating any alleged issues with my payments, Standard Bank and its lawyers have chosen to keep the case alive and push it further without warning. This conduct is deeply unfair, oppressive and amounts to an abuse of process. After being quite for a year, they just woke up and progressed a case without any non-compliance notifications, if any.

What is even more distressing is the demeaning and misleading language used in their court papers. My payments are described as a “forlorn attempt” to reinstate the home loan agreement, and it is suggested that raising more than R250,000 indicates I could secure “alternative accommodation”. These statements dismiss the truth and misrepresent the reality. I have paid arrears, I am paying monthly instalments, and I have made significant payments under the arrangement. Such language is insulting, undermines my genuine efforts and misrepresents the facts to the court.

They said we refuse to pay legal costs in the court papers, despite agreeing to attend to that in writing. It was always our understanding that the legal costs we agreed to pay were to be debited into our account held with Standard Bank. Because the account fluctuated over time, we reasonably believed this was the case as we continued to make monthly payments. Standard Bank’s own records will confirm that I have made lump sum payments of more than R500,000 into this account over the years. Even during times of financial strain, I consistently returned to regularize the account. Currently, with a permanent salary in place, the last six months of records show that debit orders have gone through without interruption, and they will continue to do so.

No customer acting in good faith should be subjected to ************ or treated in this manner. Proper written communication should precede litigation, and once arrears have been settled and regular payments are being made, cases should be withdrawn rather than kept hanging over customers as a constant threat.

I therefore call on Standard Bank to withdraw the pending legal proceedings, given that the reinstatement arrangement was agreed to at the time and had been faithfully honoured. Standard Bank should advise of any arrears, if any, so that we can arrange settlement, they should also confirm the reinstatement of my bond in writing considering that they failed to do so last time after tricking us into settling arrears; and they should commit to handling any future issues through clear, transparent communication rather than surprise litigation. Customers deserve fairness, respect and transparency; not ************ through abuse of the court process.