Delayed Bank Complaint Response

Summary

In South Africa, banks must acknowledge complaints within 48 hours and respond within 15 business days. If delays occur, escalate to the Financial Services Conduct Authority or the Banking Ombudsman. You can also close your account but consult a legal professional first.

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I have received a response to a complaint that I need to respond as it has taken 80 days and has not included any detailed investigation
Hello ****, I understand that you're upset about the lack of detailed investigation in response to your complaint. Could you please provide more information on the nature of your complaint? This will help me guide you on the best course of action in Gauteng.
I am writing to express my disappointment with the handling of my complaint, this remains unresolved. I appreciate that the complaint has been handled by a senior staff member, such as yourself, however the following points are now included in the official complaint. The response to my communication, 6th April was received 86 days later, with no intermediate communication, this FNB company policy but also shows a blatant disregard for the regulatory framework and associated responsibilities. This response is consistent with my overall experience and root of my complaint. *. Response Delay: Compounding the 86 day delay in responding to my official complaint It is inconceivable that my initial request languished for 84 days without a timely reply. Such negligence undermines customer trust and reflects poorly on the bank’s efficiency. My response on the 13th January does not negate or is considered relevant to these continued failures to comply with my instructions, which has now continued to escalate resulting my suffering of significant distress and impact on my well-being over this period. The email on the 13th January should be considered an attempt as per all my communications to avoid the resultant situation and makes this response more egregious contrasting and damaging. This response makes the case clear for a clear affirmation of my original complaint. Purposeful failure of customer care over an extended period of time, now resulted in further significant emotional distress and harm which is now to be considered material. Please provide the records that indicate your attempts to contact me over this 84 day period. A total fabrication, Roche has always made direct contact with me on my mobile, and I would not want to reflect otherwise. This assertion of failure to make contact with me was reason to escape liability is clearly false and I await the records. I was diligent in my recording of the complaint, although it seems your response escapes to mentions the * emails communicated over this issues over a lengthy period. Please for your records make it clear that my approach to these failures have always been made in a constructive and respectful manner to avoid this outcome. *. As a financial institution, omissions and approach to resolve my complaints are an action of retaliation which I will now escalate. The extended response time flouts internal policies but also jeopardises compliance with external mandates. *. Dormant Account Closure: While I appreciate the attempt for a rebate of the dormant account, the closure process should have been swift and transparent. The lack of communication during this period compounds my frustration. This account should not have been opened, the rebate was a minimum request for closure, however the larger issue is the failure that it represents to operate with the required duties for which there are fees paid and obligations clearly defined. The issue of the loan agreements I thank you for your records but will require copies of all loan agreements executed with time stamps. These records are inconsistent with records obtained from the credit bureaus and will need to be reconciled. This complaint comes at a time where I discovered an extensive hack of my personal data as well as a Accessing of my digital records and fraudulent transactions. I am engaged with experts in cyber-security and will notify of irregular activities identified pertaining to transactions on my accounts . I consider this a failure to address these issues satisfactorily will leave me with no choice but to escalate further, within the required response time of all regulatory guidelines . I hope that this can be now be considered an issue more pressing for resolution as it is clear that my attempts to resolve these matters have been poorly handled congruent with a period of significant stress and uncertainty. I am writing to express my disappointment with the handling of my complaint, this remains unresolved. I appreciate that the complaint has been handled by a senior staff member, such as yourself, however the following points are now included in the official complaint. The response to my communication, 6th April was received 86 days later, with no intermediate communication, this FNB company policy but also shows a blatant disregard for the regulatory framework and associated responsibilities. This response is consistent with my overall experience and root of my complaint. *. Response Delay: Compounding the 86 day delay in responding to my official complaint It is inconceivable that my initial request languished for 84 days without a timely reply. Such negligence undermines customer trust and reflects poorly on the bank’s efficiency. My response on the 13th January does not negate or is considered relevant to these continued failures to comply with my instructions, which has now continued to escalate resulting my suffering of significant distress and impact on my well-being over this period. The email on the 13th January should be considered an attempt as per all my communications to avoid the resultant situation and makes this response more egregious contrasting and damaging. This response makes the case clear for a clear affirmation of my original complaint. Purposeful failure of customer care over an extended period of time, now resulted in further significant emotional distress and harm which is now to be considered material. Please provide the records that indicate your attempts to contact me over this 84 day period. A total fabrication, Roche has always made direct contact with me on my mobile, and I would not want to reflect otherwise. This assertion of failure to make contact with me was reason to escape liability is clearly false and I await the records. I was diligent in my recording of the complaint, although it seems your response escapes to mentions the * emails communicated over this issues over a lengthy period. Please for your records make it clear that my approach to these failures have always been made in a constructive and respectful manner to avoid this outcome. *. As a financial institution, omissions and approach to resolve my complaints are an action of retaliation which I will now escalate. The extended response time flouts internal policies but also jeopardises compliance with external mandates. *. Dormant Account Closure: While I appreciate the attempt for a rebate of the dormant account, the closure process should have been swift and transparent. The lack of communication during this period compounds my frustration. This account should not have been opened, the rebate was a minimum request for closure, however the larger issue is the failure that it represents to operate with the required duties for which there are fees paid and obligations clearly defined. The issue of the loan agreements I thank you for your records but will require copies of all loan agreements executed with time stamps. These records are inconsistent with records obtained from the credit bureaus and will need to be reconciled. This complaint comes at a time where I discovered an extensive hack of my personal data as well as a Accessing of my digital records and fraudulent transactions. I am engaged with experts in cyber-security and will notify of irregular activities identified pertaining to transactions on my accounts . I consider this a failure to address these issues satisfactorily will leave me with no choice but to escalate further, within the required response time of all regulatory guidelines . I hope that this can be now be considered an issue more pressing for resolution as it is clear that my attempts to resolve these matters have been poorly handled congruent with a period of significant stress and uncertainty.
I'm sorry to hear about your situation, ****. In South Africa, the Ombudsman for Banking Services (OBS) deals with individual complaints about banking services and products. If you have not done so already, I would suggest that you lodge a formal complaint with them. They require that you first try to resolve the issue with your bank before approaching them. You may also wish to consult with a lawyer to discuss possible legal actions.
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Hello ****, sorry to hear about your situation. Based on your description, there are a few legal steps to consider:
*. File a complaint with the Financial Services Conduct Authority (FSCA).
*. Consider escalating your complaint to the Banking Ombudsman in Gauteng.
*. If you suspect fraud, report it to the South African Police Service.
Please note, this is general advice and it's best to consult a legal professional for your specific situation.
is there a legal period during time FNB has a chance to reply
Yes, there is a legal period within which FNB, like any other bank, should respond to your complaint. According to the South African Financial Services Conduct Authority:
- Banks should acknowledge receipt of your complaint within * hours.
- They should then investigate and respond to your complaint within * business days.
- If the bank needs more time, they should let you know within this period and give you reasons for the delay.
can i suspend activities with the bank based on their extended delay in responding to my m initial instrcution and failure to address
In South Africa, you have the right to close your bank account anytime. However, it's advisable to consult a legal professional before doing so, as this could influence your complaint process. Also, consider if you have any pending transactions or obligations with the bank.
Are you abe to create a response to my complaint
Absolutely, ****. Based on the information you've provided, here's a draft of a response to your complaint:
Dear [Recipient's Name],
I am writing to express my dissatisfaction with the handling and resolution of my complaint. My concerns revolve around:
*. Delayed response: The *-day delay is contrary to the Financial Services Conduct Authority's guidelines which stipulate a *-day response period.

*. Lack of Contact: Please provide evidence of attempts to contact me during this *-day period.
*. Account Closure: The dormant account closure process lacked transparency and communication.
*. Inconsistent Records: I request time-stamped copies of all loan agreements for reconciliation with credit bureau records.
*. Personal Data Breach: I have discovered a significant hack of my personal data which I am investigating with cybersecurity experts.
I expect these concerns to be addressed immediately to prevent escalation within regulatory guidelines. I look forward to a timely resolution.
Sincerely,
****
Please consult with a legal professional for finalizing your letter.