Woolworths Financial Services are Useless
So first off, this is not the first time this has happened. The situation might not be exactly the same but very similar. And since no supervisor is willing to contact me via e-mail or telephone. I suppose this is where it needs to go. Doubt it will find traction but I still feel the need to get this out there.
On 02 Feb 2024 I received a message stating that due to weekends my payment date would change to the 5th of Feb. There was some kind of systems issue with the bank Which I wasn't aware of and the payment didn't go through. After calling and emailing Woolworths multiple times and drawn out calls back and fourth with promises that I would be called back, I went to the bank, found the issue and paid the outstanding amount of R334.78. Bad service on Woolworth's side but none the less not their fault.
Here is where the fun begins. Take note this payment is set up ad a debit order. I don't do EFT payments. On the 4th of March Payment goes off, via debit order as it should in the amount of R335. Now take note because of the missed payment, my card is blocked so I cant use it. On the 9th another amount of R44.99 is deducted again from from my account but via POS according to my bank statement. Which is weird. Because I don't recall buying anything from the shop on that day But it is not impossible I am only human. Now up to this point Woolworths is still in the clear.
On the 12th of march I receive my statement stating that I am overdue with R43.81. I get called and emailed that I owe them money..... How? The money that is required on the account gets billed via debit order. I start calling them and emailing them and questioning how this has happened and I start wondering if that R44.99 isn't maybe the other payment that went off that was required. I have probably from Feb. to end March spent over 7 hours on the phone with Woolworths - This is no exaggeration. Every time someone from Woolworths financial services calls me, I explain the whole situation and I pleas for someone to check what's going on. I get sent email on email but no one responds to my mails. Then i get called by Nation wide debt collectors. Consistently. Stating that i now need to pay R400 (odd numbers) and i am confused as the payment went off. I checked multiple times. And they keep stating i missed another payment.
Eventually a gentleman calls me and checks the system to find that apparently the debit order function isn't active on my account. But how did the money then leave my account? I didn't pay it manually so how? He notes this and asks if he may reinstate the debit order i say yes. I get called again a few days later and they explain the missing R44 is due to the debit order not being active and it was only corrected after it was activated..
If that is the case then HOW did you know I owed R44? I received the outstanding payment BEFORE the debit order was apparently reactivated.
Okay i speak with some people again and they want a bank statement. A. bank statement, I cant supply them as, statements are only made available after the 16th of that month. again i plead for someone senior to contact me. Doesn't happen. I was told the amount outstanding will be added to my next payment so basically R400, I am not happy or okay with this but whatever. What can I do. No one wants to listen, no one wants to call me. April swings around, I am still being called to remind me of said payment. Payment goes off at R357. I am waiting on the next statement to show I still owe them money
Honestly no willingness to help me sort out the issue. It was something that in all seriousness could have been sorted out within a day but it took over 6 weeks. Absolutely horrible customer service and I hope I NEVER need to experience this again. Really guys absolutely horrible.