Formal Complaint Regarding Longstanding Debt Matter, Harassment and Request for Investigation

Good day,

I am writing this complaint out of extreme frustration after more than 15 years of struggling with Standard Bank regarding an old debt account that has spiralled into what I believe to be unfair treatment, harassment, and questionable collection practices.

The original debt amount was less than R40,000 over 15 years ago. Over the years, this account has continuously been moved from one law firm and debt collection agency to another, with no proper resolution despite my many attempts to engage Standard Bank directly and honestly.

What has made this matter worse is that at some stage Standard Bank allegedly proceeded with legal processes as though summons had been properly served to me and signed for, which was never the case. I have never knowingly signed for any summons relating to this matter, yet it appears there is somehow a judgment linked to my name. I strongly dispute the manner in which this process was handled.

After five years, the debt status eventually reflected as “Settled”, only for Standard Bank to again sell or hand over the file to yet another debt collection law firm. This cycle has continued for years and has caused severe emotional distress, financial prejudice, and reputational damage.

To date, I am now being harassed and bul**** by another debt collection law firm whose details I do not even properly know. I have received threatening emails and ************ tactics despite previously communicating my financial circumstances openly and honestly.

At the time, I explained to Standard Bank that:

* I had been retrenched, * I was unemployed, * My bank account had been closed, * I was struggling to secure employment because of the adverse credit information linked to my name, * Someone was willing to assist me with R40,000 as a reasonable settlement in order for me to move forward with my life.

Despite this, instead of assisting constructively, the account has continued accumulating excessive interest and charges to the point where an amount that was originally under R40,000 is now allegedly sitting at over R190,000.

I find this unreasonable, excessive, and completely unjustifiable.

Another issue that deeply concerns me is the fact that this account had insurance premiums attached to it, which I faithfully paid as part of the facility. To this day, I still question why, after losing my employment and being retrenched, the insurance attached to this account was seemingly never utilised to settle or assist with the debt.

I specifically disclosed my retrenchment and financial hardship to Standard Bank and even provided supporting documents at the time. If insurance premiums were being deducted as part of this facility, then I believe Standard Bank owes me a full explanation regarding:

* What insurance cover was attached to this account, * Whether retrenchment or inability to pay was covered, * Whether any claim was ever assessed or processed, * And why the debt continued escalating instead of being assisted through the insurance policy I had been paying for.

It feels extremely unfair that I paid insurance on the facility for years, yet when I faced financial hardship after losing my employment, no meaningful assistance or insurance relief appears to have been app****.

I have sent numerous emails over the years trying to resolve this matter amicably, but I have been passed from one department to another and from one law firm to another without any meaningful resolution.

I am therefore requesting the following from Standard Bank:

1. A full breakdown of how this amount escalated from under R40,000 to over R190,000. 2. Proof of lawful service of summons and any court judgment allegedly obtained against me. 3. An explanation as to why the debt status reflected as “Settled” and then resurfaced again. 4. Full details of the insurance policy attached to this account and whether any retrenchment or credit life cover was ever activated or assessed. 5. Immediate cessation of harassment and threatening communication from debt collectors. 6. A fair and reasonable review of this matter considering the age of the debt and the prejudice caused to me over the years.

I believe consumers deserve fair treatment, transparency, and lawful processes — not ************ and endless recycling of accounts between debt collectors.

I sincerely hope Standard Bank will finally address this matter properly instead of continuing tactics that have negatively impacted my life, employment prospects, and wellbeing for over 15 years.

Kind regards,

Mpho Mo****di