ABSA BANK'S LATEST PROMOTIONAL GIMMICK IS TO ASK CLIENTS TO "TELL US YOUR STORY." WELL HERE IS MINE

 Dear Readers,      

          A couple of months or so ago I had some problems with my Absa bank cards at its Long Beach Mall branch in Cape Town. I had suggested that they alter the colour of one of them so that their Credit and Debit cards can’t be easily confused with one another. However the colour problem of the cards remained unchanged.

The similar Debit and Credit cards

         Then in late November of 2024 I was in the bank again to draw some money at the solitary teller. As she handed it to me she apologised because I had inadvertently used my credit card instead of my debit card to enter my withdrawal of the money which she handed to me. She explained that people often made the same mistake because the two cards were so similar.  So the problem could not just be explained away because I happen to be 91.

Arrie Rautenbach

         Having only a solitary teller just before Christmas showed Absa indifference to its clients so I complained about this using the email address of the CEO Arrie Rautenbach. I also raised the card problem once again.

          But it turned out that Rautenbach, who had become the bank’s Sixth CEO in as many years had taken early retirement in October so I was referred to Charles Russon the interim CEO. He replied saying he would “look into it.” Then I got an email from Charmaine Sharp, who told me that my complaint had been passed to her and she assured me that they would “provide me with the best quality service every step of the way.”

Charles Russon

        This was followed by telephone calls from two different people at the bank, who both apologised for the teller shortage, but neither of them gave me any hope that anything would be done to solve the card confusion.

          But I suppose if I am with a bank that clearly has a problem with its CEO appointments, what chance is there of me getting that “Best quality service every step of the way” that Charmaine promised me. But this is my story and I’m sticking to it.

          As part of Absa’s current credit card promotion it tells us it has a “a variety of  credit card benefits including up to 30% cash back from Absa Rewards Partners, interest free periods and airport lounge access.”

          “Your story matters,” the bank assures us. Just how much mine matters, is another story. So much for that “Exceptional service” Absa kept promising me.

Regards,

Jon