Woolies app technical glitch resulting in unauthorised payment

Hi there,

I tried to make a payment of R150, today 18 January 2022, via the Woolies app. The payment would not process and I received a message saying that the transaction could not be done at that time, please retry. Please note, there was no request for bank authentication and I was not redirected to my banking app to enter my remote banking pin. The transaction just failed, yet, I later noticed 4 notifications for 4 deductions of R150 on my banking app showing for woolworths payments for 18 January 2022. The payment deductions without bank authentication troubles me! Is this a security breach? Seems to me because I never provided my remote banking pin. I also didn't receive the usual Woolworths email confirmation saying payment was made and that it usually takes 5 business days to reflect. I just have four R150 payments deducted from my account and it shows it's from Woolworths financial services in Johannesburg on my banking transaction list.

I need to reverse these payments immediately but I need a letter from WFS stating that these payments have not been received by WFS today, or that it is not reflecting on your side TODAY, 18 January 2022. I cannot tell you how urgently I need my money back in my account as I have other bills to pay today, and I have to buy electricity for my household else I sit in darkness today, and since I work from home, I won't be able to do my work without purchasing electricity because some technical glitch with the Woolworths app and some security breach resulted in me losing money in my bank account. I am told WFS doesn't provide this letter that my bank needs yet it's proper practice to provide such letter according to the Ombudsman.

I urgently need assistance and cannot wait 48hrs to get a response. I just need the proper letter of confirmation soonest to have my bank do the necessary reversal this morning.