Left Stranded Overseas by Standard Bank

I would like to express my extreme disappointment and disgust with the Standard bank and its credit card division. In spite of me making two trips to the bank as well as calling the credit card division to inform them about the dates in which I would be overseas and using my credit card as my only medium of exchange, I was let down in two foreign countries with absolutely no money for hotel accommodation, transport and food. A week before my departure I called into Standard Bank to double check whether my card was activated to use overseas as I would be solely relying on my credit card. I was reassured that that all was in order. On arriving at my hotel in Dubai I was so embarrassed when my card was declined after numerous tries. I was highly stressed as I did not know how I was going to pay for my accommodation and had nowhere else to stay. Whilst in Dubai I then made an international call to Standard Bank which lasted almost an hour. I was then given assurance that the matter will be sorted out. I tried immediately after the call to make payment at an entertainment centre and to my dismay it was declined. I cannot even begin to express the inconvenience that Standard Bank had put me through. I was totally left stranded and my Bank had let me down.

By the time I reached Thailand I thought the matter would have been resolved. To my disgust I was let down yet again as my card was declined at the hotel. How many times are we customers supposed to visit or call the bank for the staff to actually perform their duties? Do they know that we are the ones left to face consequences when they fail to do their duties? Who is to be held accountable? I have been emotionally stressed and traumatized because of this. I have paid so much of money for flights and tickets to the Grand Prix in Abu Dhabi UAE but could not access money for food, accommodation and transport. I could not enjoy a holiday that cost me thousands of rands. My family and I were unable to enjoy or tour the countries we visited. I had no money to book another flight back home and just had to suffer until I was due to return. I hope that no one else has to ever experience the trauma I went through. You are left helpless. I have been insulted and humiliated and left out of pocket for a holiday I could not experience.