When another bank failed me... Standard became my Bank!!

Yes, another bank actually closed my bank account. No warning. I went to draw from my salary at an ATM one pay day - only to find my bank account was closed. Mistakenly, i opened a savings account with that same bank in 2005 - and when i found myself unemployed and drawing from savings in 2006, found that it too had been closed with the small balance taken! Hence i will never bank with them again - ever!! and Standard is My Bank.

My first account with Standard was then opened in approximately 1990. I called from a pay phone to inform my employer that my account was closed and arranged for time-off to attend to urgently opening another account, went to Standard Bank and was able to open one with not a cent - but my salary going in that day.

I app**** for and obtained a credit card in 1995 - which i have had, renewed and have used since.

In 2010 I needed to buy a new 2nd hand car and found that I was once again helped efficiently and then was even more delighted to find out that they could offer a competitive rate for insurance on the vehicle too (believe me, Hippo is helpful but its nuts to go through the same questions with several companies and then find that your preferred bank had a better price - and marketing your insurance leg is almost a secret).

This is where it becomes an issue that needs to be addressed though. I never claimed from that policy (Policy No SHS ********** 27). It was increased steadily and eventually needed to be cancelled for a more affordable policy.

I am in the process of getting ready to immigrate as i will be married in a few months. My new country is very expensive to live in and i won't be able to work for 4 months until a permit is issued or let alone drive for a for their winter months as it is too dangerous. They do offer discount for no claims years and this is where my old policy is critical and financially necessary for me to get the best prices on everything possible when i get there.

No call centre agent seems to care about my problem or is unwilling to assist. Surely it is not too much to ask for something which one is entitled to because one never claimed on the policy? Call centre staff also means it is just about impossible to speak to someone more senior who could assist.

My choice is to go the positive route to get this problem solved - instead of getting angry and writing awful things, when largely my experience with Standard Bank has been nothing but positive. I know too that i could have chosen to address the Insurance option but again, my intention is to compliment the umbrella company as a whole, rather than to find fault due to not being able to speak to a more senior person.

The next thing delightful Standard Bank event that happened is in 2016 when I needed to change insurance policies again – Standard Insurance was again competitive, and I happily returned. I have a no claim letter for my current policy and am very grateful for it. This is a reason given for not being able to provide me with a letter for the old policy, yet it is not acceptable to me. It would be silly to approach the ombudsman for this request – yet will do so if this can’t be resolved here.

Hope that this can be addressed, brought to the attention of someone who is interested in resolving matters and that this can be done in an efficient manner.