I went to USA for a work conference in June. Before going there, I phoned ABSA to let them know to prevent a block. While there my card got declined after a few successful transactions. Luckily one of my colleagues had a phone with Skype credits so I could phone ABSA. They told me there is a FICA lock on my account and that it is not a problem, I just need to go to a branch to give in my FICA documents. I had to explain again why that is not going to work. The agent then said my wife can go in. This caused a huge inconvenience for me while abroad since I had to borrow money.
When I initially phone ABSA, they should have told warned me. They have my e-mail address, mobile number AND I'm using Internet banking, they could have let me know via those channels beforehand or at least when the transaction failed since I anyway have no other option than to phone the bank. That way my time is not wasted and ABSA doesn't get call admin overhead.
My wife took the documents in and my account was unlocked. HOWEVER, this weekend my account got FICA locked AGAIN! The agent couldn't see why, that it is probably a staff training issue and that I should take it up with the branch.
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