I have a personal loan with ABSA that I had to take out for medical expenses at the beginning of 2012. I have never missed a single payment over this year and a half.
I am currently 31 weeks pregnant and and will be going on unpaid maternity leave in 5 weeks' time. I went to ABSA yesterday to ask for a payment arrangement on my loan during these for months where I will not be receiving a salary. They were completely unwilling to help me and told me that I had to be in arrears before I can make any kind of arrangement. ABSA wants you to have a bad credit record before they will make any arrangements?!!!
The reason for their unwillingness to help was that pregnant women does not keep to payment arrangements and therefore they stopped making arrangements with pregnant women a few months ago. I was trying to be proactive by asking them for assistance as I could already tell them now that I cannot afford to pay my loan whilst on maternity leave, but they prefer you to be in arrears and have bad credit before even considering to help.
I am appalled by their attitude towards women who do not have a source of income during maternity leave!
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