Thursday, September 25, 2008

Cancel Your Credit Cards Prior To Death!

Be sure and cancel your credit cards before you die!

A lady died this past January, and ABSA, (the Amalgamated Bank of South Africa) billed her for February and March for their annual service charges on her credit card, and then added late fees and interest on the monthly charge. The balance had been R0.00, is now R60.00. A family member placed a call to the ABSA Bank call centre:

Family Member: 'I am calling to tell you that she died in January.'
ABSA: 'The account was never closed and the late fees and charges still apply.'
Family Member: 'Maybe, you should turn it over to collections.'
ABSA: 'Since it is two months past due, it already has been.'
Family Member: So, what will they do when they find out she is dead?'
ABSA: 'Either report her account to the frauds division or report her to the credit bureau, maybe both!'
Family Member: 'Do you think God will be mad at her?'
ABSA: 'Excuse me?'
Family Member: 'Did you just get what I was telling you . . . The part about her being dead?'
ABSA: 'Sir, you'll have to speak to my supervisor.'
(Supervisor gets on the phone.)
Family Member: 'I'm calling to tell you, she died in January.'
ABSA: 'The account was never closed and the late fees and charges still apply.'
Family Member: 'You mean you want to collect from her estate?'
ABSA: (Stammer) 'Are you her lawyer?'
Family Member: 'No, I'm her great nephew.' (Lawyer info given)
ABSA: 'Could you fax us a certificate of death?'
Family Member: 'Sure.' (fax number is given )
(After they got the fax)
ABSA: 'Our system just isn't set up for death. I don't know what more I can do to help.'
Family Member: 'Well, if you figure it out, great! If not, you could just keep billing her. I don't think she will care.'
ABSA: 'Well, the late fees and charges do still apply.'
Family Member: 'Would you like her new billing address?'
ABSA: 'That might help.'
Family Member: ' West Park Cemetry, 12 West Park Road, Johannesburg, Plot Number 1049.'
ABSA: 'Sir, that's a cemetery!'
Family Member: 'Well, what the &%$# do you do with dead people on your planet?'

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Funny, but indeed tragic. My opinion of banks are not positive and this little story just goes to again show why. The banks are only customer orientated in their ads, but that is where it ends.

Anonymous said...

SOoooooooooo tragies en tipies Suid-Afrika! Ek sal graag wil weet of dit een van "ons" was met wie jy gepraat het...indien wel, is daardie persoon mongool verby!Jammer om SO krities te wees, maar ek meen...HALLO!!

BluegrassBaobab said...

Nikita, dankie vir die inloer. Nie seker wat jy bedoel by "ons" nie. Die storie is geskryf nagelang van 'n email wat ek gekry het vanaf Suid Afrika. Terselfdertyd is ek die moer in vir banke omdat ons, die belasting betaler, nou hier in die VSA banke moet uithelp nadat hul top bestuur te vraatsig was en stupid investering gedoen het. Ek hoor vanaand die CEO van Washington Mutual, die grootste bank wat nog ondergegaan het, is geregtig op 'n $18 million goue handdruk nadat hy slegs 3 weke vir die bank gewerk het voordat dit ondergegaan het. Talk about being at the right place and at the right time.