FAILURE TO UPDATE FNB AFTER ISSUING SETTLEMENT LETTER: NBPE465032

I am lodging a formal complaint against **Barrett & Associates**, acting on behalf of **FNB**, regarding the mishandling of my settled account.

Barrett & Associates provided me with a written settlement figure, which I duly paid. They then issued me with a settlement letter confirming the account was closed. Despite this, FNB has not been updated. Instead, the account was allowed to fall into arrears again and has now been handed over once more — as if no settlement ever occurred.

This is unacceptable. I honoured my obligations as a consumer and settled the account in full. Due to the poor service delivery and lack of communication between Barrett & Associates and FNB, I am now being unfairly penalised.

I have attempted to resolve this through Barrett & Associates’ contact centre. Each time I ask to speak to a manager, I am told she is “not available.” Calls are placed on hold indefinitely until the line goes dead. This is not only frustrating but unprofessional. How can a law firm outsource their brand and reputation to a contact centre that clearly does not represent them properly?

I demand that Barrett & Associates immediately:

1. Honour the settlement letter they issued to me. 2. Rectify FNB’s records to reflect the account as fully settled. 3. Provide written confirmation of the correction without further delay.

If this matter is not resolved, I will have no choice but to escalate:

* A formal complaint to the **Legal Practice Council** against Barrett & Associates. * A complaint to the **Banking Ombudsman** against FNB.

I refuse to be held accountable for errors caused entirely by the negligence of Barrett & Associates and FNB. I expect immediate escalation and resolution of this matter. Regards, T.L