FORUM Inconvenience from FNB compounded by call centre

I READ your story on FNB and its Fica process. I opened a new business account in June, followed all the processes, and was told we could not activate the account until all Fica requirements had been met. This was done in late June.

For a further month after that, I could not operate the account online. When I called the call centre, I was told it was due to Fica noncompliance. When I insisted we had complied, the call centre agent said there was nothing he could do.

I held on for hours waiting for someone who could assist.

When I contacted the business person to advise that I could not pay suppliers, she told me the call centre agents were talking nonsense as Fica compliance was done by her.

Only last week, after sending two online complaints and an intervention by a relative who works for the bank, was it finally resolved. They had to completely reload the account. I have insisted that all service fees be reversed for a period of over two and a half months as I had no service, just huge inconvenience.

I am still waiting. —