Why does Standard Bank even have anything but tellers?

Bar0n

Bar0n

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Went to the bank on Friday to get rid of my Garage card (all filling stations accept cheque cards now) and to renew my cheque card early since the chip on my current one is giving me problems, occasionally.

The lady behind the counter then tells me that to close an account, I need to phone the head office. Why is it such an utterly complex situation that I need to phone them? I'm sure it can be done with the click of a button on her side anyway. They opened the account with the click of a button on their side.

When I ask her if I can request a renewal of my cheque card, it's again the same tune: Sorry, but you'll need to phone the head office.

I get that it's convenient to be able to phone, but since when has it been such a futile endeavour to get something done within the branch itself?
 
Eish, I am in agreement here, should be done by bank. If need be then bank should dial, introduce the call then if need be hand the phone over to customer.
 
Standard Bank have few divisions, one of them is the Card Division, and they handle Credit, Garage and other card related queries, then they use courier services to get your card to the closest branch.

The branch self can't open close or renew any of those departments things, so that's why she said phone them. I do think she should say call card division, not head office..

At most of the branches I visit there is a phone and someone assisting you with that, but its not at the general enquiries desk.

What do they say? Better the devil you know!

I got frustrated twice with SBSA, and I've opened one of my accounts with FNB, but also with them things isn't like they advertise, yes they work on a different way(some things better, some worse), but I still prefer SBSA, I know who to ask what to get the end result!

Just my bit..

All the best with the frustrations that we face daily!
 
Bar0n said:
Went to the bank on Friday to get rid of my Garage card (all filling stations accept cheque cards now) and to renew my cheque card early since the chip on my current one is giving me problems, occasionally.

The lady behind the counter then tells me that to close an account, I need to phone the head office. Why is it such an utterly complex situation that I need to phone them? I'm sure it can be done with the click of a button on her side anyway. They opened the account with the click of a button on their side.

When I ask her if I can request a renewal of my cheque card, it's again the same tune: Sorry, but you'll need to phone the head office.

I get that it's convenient to be able to phone, but since when has it been such a futile endeavour to get something done within the branch itself?
Click to expand...

hence the reason i try to avoid going to the bank branch as much as possible, they not much help most of the time

Any way to save you some time when you phone them they will tell you to fax or email them a letter confirming you wish to cancel the card (include ID number and card number etc) and copy of the card showing its been cut up :wtf:
 
When you phone Standard Bank they now ask you to type in your card number and pin. I refused to do this and never got to a real person.

Is it secure enough to enter your pin over an analog voice line?
 
isie said:
Ant way to save you some time when you phone them they will tell you to fax or email them a letter confirming you wish to cancel the card (include ID number and card number etc) and copy of the card showing its been cut up :wtf:
Click to expand...

I didn't have that with Standard, when I cancelled my CC over the phone I simply answered their security questions. Later my internet banking indicated the CC account was cancelled. Still have the card uncut lol.
 
I was also going to cancel my FNB garage card as I have never used it but then remembered that it comes with free AA assist which has been great the few times I have needed to use them, so just left it.
 
owl said:
When you phone Standard Bank they now ask you to type in your card number and pin. I refused to do this and never got to a real person.

Is it secure enough to enter your pin over an analog voice line?
Click to expand...

All banks use this authentication system. It is safe.
 
I needed to transfer R10,000 to my son overseas (ireland) a couple of days ago. So off to my local Std Bank branch I go. They tell me that the nearest SB with a foreign exchange department is in Somerset West ... that's 180 km from me.

Eventually they say they can do it but they then need to FAX (... FAX ... FFS, I didn't know fax machines still existed :wtf:) the completed documents to S/West, for that branch to do the forex transfer.
 
Got 2 more gems to add on to my original thread:

To apply for a new cheque card, I must phone the head office. It's impossible to do inside the branch. (Yes, I tried this again.)

To change my residential address, I must phone the head office. When I asked if they wouldn't need to see my electricity bill, the woman behind the counter mumbled something about them phoning me a few days later to confirm the address or something.

What the actual ****, Standard Bank? To be clear, I cannot do the following in the branch itself: close an account, apply for an early renewal of my card, or change my address.
 
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No, you can do everything that matters in the branch..

Deposit and withdraw money, at ridiculous fees...
 
Standard Bank such anoos. That is why I left them. I can do anything, at double the office hours, at half the cost with Capitec.

Best move I ever made
 
Weird,I've applied for and had card renewals over the years at Tableview without any hassle apart from the 3 week waiting period that is.
 
Bar0n said:
Got 2 more gems to add on to my original thread:

To apply for a new cheque card, I must phone the head office. It's impossible to do inside the branch. (Yes, I tried this again.)

To change my residential address, I must phone the head office. When I asked if they wouldn't need to see my electricity bill, the woman behind the counter mumbled something about them phoning me a few days later to confirm the address or something.

What the actual ****, Standard Bank? To be clear, I cannot do the following in the branch itself: close an account, apply for an early renewal of my card, or change my address.
Click to expand...
As per what i Underlined you are correct.
The Stupid FICA you would have to go into a branch and give them valid proof of residence.
 
isie said:
As per what i Underlined you are correct.
The Stupid FICA you would have to go into a branch and give them valid proof of residence.
Click to expand...

Both Standard Bank and Stannic gave me the same answer. Two different departments, with different people.
 
Bar0n said:
Both Standard Bank and Stannic gave me the same answer. Two different departments, with different people.
Click to expand...

Just record what they say (cause asking them for recordings is like pulling hens teeth), if you don't have to go in to a branch cool.:)
from my experience as soon as you change address it flags them and you get the annoying FICA notification asking you to come in with proof of residence Docs:(
 
I've closed my PureSave account in the branch twice without hassles. Great interest rate btw. Applying for a cheque account is a laborious process, but if you just need a new card you could perhaps declare it lost or stolen? I'm sure you can do the same for the petrocard and say you don't want a replacement, and to close the account. I believe it is a toll-free number. They should be able to send the new card to the branch pretty fast, at which point they might ask for proof of residence but probably not if you haven't changed addresses.

I couldn't get a new cheque card at ABSA either after I lost mine (in a manner of speaking). They eventually dug out this dodgy box of cards and I got a MasterCard even though I had Visa before, after what seemed like ages. They told me to phone next time.
 
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