CO Reviews 29

I'm sharing my heartbreaking story to raise awareness about the failures of our system. My ex-husband accumulated R968,000 in maintenance arrears. After a lengthy and traumatic court process, he was finally ordered to pay R700,000 into my Absa account from his provident fund on April 14, 2025.

The payment is supposed to be made within 21 days, but my children and I can't wait that long. We're struggling to survive without basic necessities like food. I applied for a small loan of R3,500 to feed my children, but Absa declined my application due to unauthorized overdrafts of R245 in my checking account and R155 in my credit card account.

Meanwhile, my ex-husband, also an Absa client, has purchased a new R1 million car and enjoys promotions and multiple credit cards with Absa, which he pays on time.

My children have been out of school for over two years due to the prolonged court process, and we often go without hot water and food. How can Absa claim to support survivors of domestic violence when their policies seem to enable abusers?

If my story truly matters, Absa would take immediate action to support me and my children. Instead, we're left to struggle.

#AbsaYourStoryMatters #DomesticViolenceAwareness #FinancialAbuse #SurvivorSupport #JusticeForSurvivors

I called Absa private assist to get my statement date changed in May of 2024. The consultant obliged to assist and the call ended with them assuring me I would received my cheque account statement on the first of June. June came and went. Since then I’ve called Absa every month, speaking to a new consultant who assures me they’ll help and provide feedback but never. It’s now December and I’m yet to get my statement on the correct date. By far the worst service I ever experienced

I am 42 years and have lived in 5 countries. Typically, I rarely leave reviews on the internet, good or bad. For that to happen, something must almost be life changingly good (or in this case, bad).
I have never in my life experienced such poor service anywhere in the world as I have from ABSA. Yes, that includes South African Government departments! Even home affairs occasionally gets it right.
It was therefore no surprise when I came here and saw that ABSA has nearly 30,000 1 star reviews. When your business hallmark incompetence and apathy, your reviews typically reflect your company mantra.
So, in my case, I am trying to update contact information. Yes, something so simple, so trivial, is a major issue at ABSA. South African banks played a big part in South Africa being grey listed in 2023. “Know your customer” and “Customer Due Diligence” are two aspects that need to be maintained by banks for obvious reasons, having clients that you have no idea of where they live, their contact details, etc. is a problematic for banks (obviously not for ABSA). So, as this is a key part of being a bank, you would think ABSA would be thrilled to comply with international frameworks?
I don’t hold much hope that this review will motivate ABSA to get started on the large and daunting task of updating my contact information.

I am disgusted with the service I have received. I’ve started an application on a claim on the 13/09/2024. I had to keep calling to query how far things was. I called again on the 02/10/2024 to query what is happening as I didnt get feeback just to be told that they will settle, Why do i need to call and why was this feedback never provided. I was given a form to complete and return which I did the same day. I was told by the agent to send it back to her and she will send to the accounts team and money will be paid out in 2-3 days. Gues what im still waiting. I called again to day and spoke to Julie so advised that TRUDY will only be sending the form today as she was busy. When I asked to lay a complaint she said I cant I need to email in my concerns. I had to call to get feedback on the application and was told I’d receive a call with feedback the following day. I have not received any feedback at all. I had to use my airtime again to follow up with them today and requested to be called back should the call disconnect as they place you on long holds and make you answer 1000 questions at the start of the call forgetting that they’re using your airtime to do this. The call disconnected and no one called me back.

Always have a good manner on welcoming customers. And better on attending to the needs and helping with the solutions.

I am disgusted with the service I have received. I’ve started an application a couple of days ago. Yesterday I had to call to get feedback on the application and was told I’d receive a call with feedback the following day. I have not received any feedback at all. I had to use my airtime again to follow up with them today and requested to be called back should the call disconnect as they place you on long holds and make you answer 1000 questions at the start of the call forgetting that they’re using your airtime to do this. The call disconnected and no one called me back. I bought airtime AGAIN and requested so nicely to be called back should the call disconnect and the response was “we don’t do that here, this is an inbound environment!!! MY NAME IS KELLY DAVEY AND IM GOING TO REVIEW ABSA EVERY DAY UNTIL MY QUERY IS RESOLVED BY THIS UNPROFESSIONAL COMPANY. I would not recommend Absa to anyone and going to change banks ASAP!!

ABSA is currently running a scam whereby they will register your credit card (without your consent) for SMS notifications whenever you make a purchase etc. Each SMS is charged at 60c, which is about a 600% increase in the cost of an SMS to them. You cannot opt out over the phone. You have to go to a branch. These fees are charged in addition to your transaction and account fees and the massive interest rates. They will not stop until you have no credit left and you cannot escape. Pure evil.