inactive/dormant standard bank account charged fees for over 2 years

i haven't used my standardbank account since 2017 and since then i haven't received any communication regarding the account.

I recently requested that the account be closed but i was advised that i owed fees.

i was advised that i go to the branch where the account was opened to request a reversal of the fees.

i went tot he Braam branch, which is more than 50 km from where i stay, instead of assisting with the request to reverse the fees they shifted all the blame on me even though the account was not used for over 2 and half years and that i received no communication from the bank stating that i owe money.

it was then advise to me that i submit a complaint online. on 06/01/2020 i submitted a complaint online. i didn't receive a reference number or an acknowledgement of the complaint for a few days. i then contacted the complaints center on 09/01/2020 and stated i have no reference, i was told that they will get back to me but i had to call in again on 10/01/2020 only then was my complaint acknowledged.

even once my complaint was logged there was a lack of feedback and there was no attempted to investigate the complaint until i started disputing them.

i had to investigate the matter on my own. Bank accounts usually get dormant between 3-6 months of being inactive. i called into the standard bank service center and they stated that a standard bank account gets dormant after a month of being inactive and if the account is in excess an sms is sent out the the client. i even recorded the conversation on my phone.

my account was inactive for over 2 and a half years and Standard bank kept on charging me fees and interest when the account was overdrawn and for all this time i did not get any single communication regarding this even though the account was supposed to be dormant according to their own service center.

it honestly does not make sense!