Pretoria – Banking errors, unauthorised debits, and omissions in financial records are a big issue in the South African banking world. There are numerous reports of unauthorised debits and unexplained charges by banks that have become the new fraud net by South African banks.
#Unauthorised #debit #orders, or “R99 debit order scams”, have received close attention in recent weeks. Customers are understandably frustrated, but there’s a lot of confusion and misinformation around the issue which deserves some clarification. https://t.co/W6MYi37p56
— PASA (@PASA__za) January 16, 2019
In June 2017, a client of Absa bank reported that an amount of R988.30 was debited from his account and could not trace the payment, with no evidence and little or no proof the complaint was disregarded and a disgruntled Richard Mofokeng closed his bank account and accepted his fate.
He arrayed a brief session with our news desk where accountants and auditors realised the undeclared debit was indeed a fraudulent act, as the account was debited wrongly between transactions of high figures, making it impossible to notice such debit. The legal team asked him to pursue legal actions.
A fresh case happened today to a different victim who has a business account with FNB Centurion. The business manager and owner went to the branch to complain about an amount close to four thousand that was missing in the account and does not reflect on the banking transactions.
The business owners mentioned that Tilly Masemola at the @FNBSA Centurion branch listened and assisted with the complaints, and after several hours recommended to escalate the issue for further assistance. She was later escorted back with a senior manager Yolande.
This is where the issue got complicated, the manager disregarded all the claims and provided a scenario that made the customers look stupid. The manager told the customers she has other engagements and would not be able to assist. The customers were disappointed and left with no help until Nomfanelo Dludlu stepped up to the plate to assist the customers.
After 39 minutes of reconciliation, it was established that the bank had made an omission. An apology SMS was issued to the clients and a claim form filled.
I have never felt so belittled like I felt today at the hands of an unscrupulous @FNBSA centurion employee called yolande. Omission or errors in financial records are fraudulent. I am still shook but thanks to selfless help by nomfanelo Dludlu and Tilly Masemola. @SAReserveBank
— David A Patricks (@Nativeworx) February 13, 2019
In a video sent to the news desk, the manager of the business can be seen frustrated and exhausted from trying to get someone to assist with answers.
The clients believed, they could have walked away confused if they had believed the fraudulent explanation of Yolande.
“Yolande like many managers consider customers are illiterate and offered little help as we were blacks, it is sad to be the ones speaking of a bank we have banked with for years, seems the standards have changed,” says the business manager.
On Twitter, many are still fighting to get their voice heard:
so FNB is really not planning to do anything about the unauthorised debit orders?
— a baddie in some jeans. (@NeoLisa_) February 2, 2019
@FNBSA As if it’s not bad enough to have unauthorised Debit orders from my savings account (who & how does one even debit a mostly dormant account) but you don’t give me the option to reverse it???? STOP FACILITATING THEFT!!!!!! @Rbjacobs pic.twitter.com/ShMm48ahoX
— Asanda Magaqa (@asandamagaqa) February 1, 2019
The R99 unauthorised debit orders are killing the youth @StandardBankZA 😭
— BrownEyes (@vuvuruza) January 30, 2019
We need to take @FNBSA to task n stop this madness within 10 days or face revolt like vodacom. We are tired of this nonsense of unauthorised debit orders. They have the tech to just put a button on our online banking to allow or deny new debit orders #shutdownFnb #FNBDebitOrder
— SC7RJM (@scarlo_sello) February 3, 2019
@FNBSA Are just criminals, these unauthorised debit orders and money disappearing from your account. They must be exposed.
— Lulama M (@lulam_m) February 3, 2019
Banks are to blame in as far as not having systems to detect these unauthorised debit orders. Further, in charging customers to return these. The aim of charging was to dissuade using the system for cash flow management.
— Thuma mina (@TomKhosa) December 22, 2018
People with similar issues can write to the editor press@townpress.co.za
