WFS

I am a devoted Woollies customer and am writing as such as I have had an account with Woollies for years. I do not want to close this account as it suits me and I get occasional benefits from using it. However, the Financial Services of Woolworths' customer service is so awful that under different circumstances, I would close my account in a heart beat.

For this reason, I am writing this review in the hope of getting a response from WFS regarding their appalling phone calls to me and improving their service Background and Summary of events: 1. When WFS calls you to increase your limit etc, they ask for your date of birth to verify who you are. This despite them phoning me. In today's times of *****, this is not acceptable practice as pointed out on numerous occassions. I will, therefore, not proceed with these calls. I have offered advice on how they can get around this 2. I clear my account every month 3. I have, in the past simply forgotten to settle the account, but did so once it was brought to my attention. No problem here 4. Last month I spent more on my card than usual. The final purchase, pushing me over my credit limit. The sale went through and I was unaware that I had breached the limit. The sale should have been declined. I was blissfully ******** and WFS system failed them. 5. A day or so later I received a call from WFS stating that I had exceeded my limit and was to sort this out immediately as I was contravening the credit act, or something like this. I was downright embarrassed and equally so annoyed at being treated like a ******** 6. I returned from holiday on Monday this week and completely forgot to pay my account. Account was due on the 8th. On Tuesday morning I got 2 phone calls to tell me that my account payment was overdue. It was no courtesy call, but felt like a demand and an accusation. I went directly to Woollies and settled the account in full. The 2nd phone call was a few hours later...

I take pride in not owing money, I am mortified that this happened at all, but above all, I think that WFS needs to change their systems to be effective and to address training of their call centre agents to address outstanding fees with a gentle reminder that it should have been settled less than 11 hours before. No demands, simply a reminder should suffice. The mafia hitman debt collection attitude is insulting and humiliating. It may be necessary for some, but customers history should be taken into account when making these demands

As for the call regarding the exceeding of limit. That was a reflection on poor admin on your side and utterly rude and uncalled for