Std Bank sinks to an all time low

I really am glad to have moved away from Standard Bank. Their service has dropped to an all time low. Even by moving away from the bank, they still try and hold you in a negative light.

The most recent incident, in June of this year, i decided to close my accounts. I visited my Alice Lane branch which i had for many years, spoke to a consultant to have my account closed. She did all the necessary, got all the form signed and she gave me a copy, which i am grateful for. As the days and months went by, i started getting messages from Std Bank stated my account is overdrawn and i need to call a number. After a number of these messages, i call the number. The agent on the line, was extremely unhelpful. No matter what information she was given, she ends up telling me she cannot help me and i need to visit the branch. When i asked for a reference number for the call, she states, there is no reference number for the call and puts the phone down on me. Last week, i get more of these messages from Std Bank about the bank account i had, which i closed in June. This time, they now state, they want to take legal action against me. Why would a bank take legal action on an account that was closed?? So today, i make arrangements, i clear my schedule so i can go to the branch and find out what is happening. This time, i ask for the branch manager. I wait for half an hour. Finally meet with the manager, I show her the closure form i was given, explain the call to the call centre and the messages of wanting to take legal action against me. I then get moved to her assistant, as the branch manager cannot log on the system to see what is going on with my bank account. Now i am seated with the assistant, and she takes the next half an hour to investigate and reverse all the bank charges that was raised. There was about R1000 worth of charges that was raised from June to end of August. Now the assitant and branch manger are both at the PC and authorising each bank charge. They state they are unable to give me confirmation of all the reversals as yet and they will send me an email the next morning to confirm closure of my bank account. I leave the bank.

So far, no one has even given an apology for the harassment of messages and threats to take legal action against me. What is the reason for my account not being closed in June? All the forms and paper work was done, there was even a credit in my bank account. How did it go from that to having legal action taken against me. Why did it only happen now, that the bank charges are to be reversed. Why is it ok for the bank to make mistakes and then wipe their hands clean and pretend it never happened. They do not learn from their mistakes. They keep making the same mistake over and over. That was the driving force in my decision to leave this bank. The last incident, i was left embarassed in a shop, swipping my bank card to pay for my groceries only to be told by the teller, that my bank card is expired and the payment cannot be made. How embarassing is it for anyone, to stand at a till to pay for any item, knowing you have money in your bank account but the card is now expired. Std bank failed to notify that a new card is ready for collection. They had it in their drawer and not concerned of the consumer on the outside that pays their salaries. I have had way to many embarassing days from Std Bank. Today is no other. Why is it Ok for the banks to take advantage of consumers, threaten us with legal action for something that is their fault. Offer no apology. A bank that does not learn from their mistakes. I want to be compensated for the years that i gave you my money, and the way you have treated me back. I had to make the calls to you, i had to chase you. I have to follow up with you. i had to take time out of my job to come to you and ask you why you did not close my bank account. You do not even offer an apology for something you did wrong. Yet you threaten me with legal action. How dare you Standard Bank. It is time for you to pay for your poor service.