DV
Dries R
Active since Jun 2021
17
Reviews
0
Industries
Reviews
17 reviews2 months ago
Unacceptable CLAIM rejection: BONITAS Medical Fund
I have been a member of BONITAS Medical fund since early 2020. Never before did I have problems with Bonitas. Queries were addressed professionally and accurately. I understood the content of my plans and followed the rules as stipulated. This time unfortunately I cannot agree with the outcome of a claim that was rejected by Bonitas. Reason being that it required specialist referral autohorization. My wife has a back problem and to avoid back surgery she goes for a procedure in hospital which is called "Epidural injection/infiltration" of which I cannot explain because I'm not a medical doctor. What I do know is that some kind of long term cortisone is injected into the affected discs to release back pain etc. This procedure was done on my wife in 2011 when we were at Discovery Medical fund and the second time on 17 November 2020 when I was a member of Bonitas already. Bonitas paid and we went on. Every time we went back to the same orthopedic surgeon, Dr RW Swanepoel at NETCARE UNITAS hospital in Centurion. His knowledge of back problems is excellent every time he did a thorough medical examination. He was also the dr that prescribed VIMOVO to my wife for future back pain which she could use. At the end quarter of 2025 my wife started to complain again of her back pain. We made an appointment at Dr Swanepoel again for 7 January 2026. He examined her again and recommended the same procedure as explained above as he wants to avoid a back surgery. I paid for the consultation with my debit card, R 1 300.00 and submitted it to Bonitas to claim it back. I noticed on the Bonitas mobile app, while the claim was in process that I will not get back the whole amount of R 1 300.00, but just over R 1 000.00 which wasn't a problem for me. However, when the claim was rejected with a remark code "2846" Specialist Referral authorization" I couldn't understand why. I phoned Bonitas Claims department requesting for an explanation as to why it was rejected with this code. I was told that it is one of Bonitas' Scheme Rules that you've got have a specialist referral letter for Bonitas to pay the claim. Without it nothing can be done. I tried to explain to the consultant that this is the THIRD time that my wife went for the SAME procedure, done by the SAME specialist. Why waste money to go to a GP, only to get a referral letter, to the SAME specialist? TOTAL WASTE OF MONEY. I can understand when a specialist is visited for the FIRST time that a referral letter is required, but EVERY TIME to the SAME specialist? The consultant said there is nothing that can be done as Scheme Rules cannot be changed. It is for THIS reason that I decided to write a review on hellopeter. They are not even trying to be considerate to our position. For me it makes no sense to waste money to pay for a GP consultation, just to ask for a specialist referral letter, whilst this was the SAME specialist and the outcome of his medical examination was again the SAME procedure. And what's even more frustrating is the fact that my claim would have been paid out from my savings on my BONITAS Bonfit Select plan due to the fact that it was claimed in the first month of the new year. TOTALLY frustrating and unacceptable. That money should be wasted like that and I thought I would get the payment I made back from BONITAS due to the fact that I have savings on my medical plan.
109 replies
2 months ago
Neglect from Marais hospital to take responsibility
On 5 November 2025 my mother, Mrs TA van Rooyen, ID 4410090036085, was admitted to the Eugene Marais Hospital. She is 81 years old. Because she did not feel well, at this age no chances can be taken and she had for a while, problems with her blood pressure. When she was admitted the normal routine was followed by the hospital with admissions. They got authorization from Gems for the admission. Dr Prinsloo was assigned to attend to my mother's care in hospital. The dr decided to do more tests on my mother and she had to stay longer. My mother phoned me immediately raising her concern that GEMS only authorized her stay in hospital for one day. I phoned Eugene Marais hospital and requested to speak with the sister in charge. I indicated to her that my mother's hospital authorization was only for one day and expressed our concern that there will be a problem if the CURRENT hospital authorization is not extended by GEMS. The sister told me that we don't need to worry about it because it is part of the Case Manager's job to ensure that any hosp authorizations are intact and any extensions will be communicated from the hospital to the medical fund. I also spoke to the doctors room and they also told me that she need not to worry. My mother was discharged on 8 November 2025. Shortly thereafter she received the hospital invoice and she was told that she has to pay an amount of R 4 974.43 which GEMS did not pay and if she does not pay it they will sue her. She got so frightened by this conversation that she paid immediately. WHAT A WAY TO TREAT AN 81 YEAR OLD LADY. SHOCKING!!!! My mother followed it up with GEMS and they told her that she only got authorization for one day's stay in hospital, which means that the hospital did NOT do their job to request extension of the authorization as discussed with them initially. They work according to the information on their system. Since then my.mother tried to get a refund without any assistance. Both from the doctors room as well as the hospital. For an 82 year old pensioner, that is a lot of money. But who cares. Nobody. The level of service delivery is a disgrace. My mother was send back and forth from the doctor's room to the accounts department and GEMS and back. Both parties indicated that she has to contact GEMS to get it sorted, BUT HOW CAN GEMS SORT IT OUT, IF IT IS THE HOSPITAL WHO DID NOT DO THEIR JOB AND REQUEST EXTENSION OF THE HOSP AUTHORIZATION? The medical aid paid based on what was authorized and submitted by the hospitals. How can THEY, pay back my mother for the payment she did when there is no authorization. I, as her eldest son, has no alternative but to intervene to assit her to get this matter resolved. One again it is shocking and the public should be made aware of this.
168 replies
3 months ago
Questioning TYMEBANK's commitment to Customer Services
On 16 January 2026 my wife had to to admitted to UNITAS hospital in Centurion. When we were at admission I was made aware of the fact that there is a co-payment that has to be paid for an amount of R 2 020.00. I was aware of it and proceeded as such. The lady at admission held the card machine and I tapped with my Tymebank card. Thereafter a pin was requested, as per usual, and I entered my pin. (Time was 08:58). Directly thereafter the lady complained and told me their machine went into "reset" mode. Due to the fact that the card machine stayed in "reset" mode, she asked me if she could do the transaction again, using a different card machine. Due to the fact that I did not receive an sms to indicate if the transaction was successful or not, I agreed to redo the transaction. At 09:02 the transaction went through successfully. When I went onto the hospitals' WI-FI, I immediately went onto my Tymebank mobile app to see if the first transaction went through or not. I noted that the same transaction went through twice and I immediately reported it to Tymebank and requested that the first transaction be reversed because of the duplicate payment. The consultant noted everything as explained to him and he told me it will take 10 days, or working days, to have the transaction reversed by 26 January 2026. Shortly thereafter I received the case number from Tymebank per sms (Case nr CD-229289) and it was requested that I e-mail proof of the transactions to cardservices@tymebank.co.za. This was done and sent to them at 09:57 the same day, Friday 16th January 2026. Today, Monday 19th January 2026, I received an sms from Tymebank stating the following: "Your dispute for R 2020.00 on card is pending-VISA investigation. We will provide an update by 17th February 2026. Case ID: CD-229289". I phoned Tymebank and queried how can it take so long when the consultant to whom I've reported it on Friday told me that it will be reversed by 26 January 2026. I could clearly hear that the consultant at Tymebank is just following her normal process and although she indicated to me that she is sorry, I felt that I'm not really listened to and they feel absolutely nothing for my circumstances, although explained thoroughly. What was supposed to be a "reversal of funds" as it was reported immediately now became a big issue to my inconvenience. Only the fact that I, the owner of the account, put in the correct PIN twice, and the transactions were excuted within minutes, should have suffice for the reversal of funds. Totally unacceptable.
277 replies
4 months ago
TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE SERVICES DELIVERY
In october 2025 I downgraded my DSTV package from Premium to Compact Plus, as avdertised by DSTV. On 1 November 2025 my new premium of R 825.00 (which includes my Explora insurance) went off my bank account per debit order. On 1 December DSTV collected an amount of R 1465.00 frm my bank account per debit order. On 2 December I contacted DSTV Customer Service to query the amount that was debited from my bank account. i spoke to Portia Phiri at Customer Services and explained to her the reason for my call. She indicated to me that my package was upgraded again trhough the "Self Service" option in November. I indicated to her that it was definitely not done by me and I want it corrected with immediate affect and I want the additional funds that were deducted from my bank account to be credited back to my account again. She then confirmed the downgrade from Premium to Compact Plus package and told me that she will phne me after 13:00 pm today to confirm the credit which is due to my on my account. At approx 16:15pm i phoned DSTV Customer Servics again as I received no call back from Portia. The consultant THEN told me I'm still on the Premium package. THIS IS RIDICULOUS AND TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE. Why does DSTV promiting their customers to use the mobile ap and then things like this happens? I told DSTV Customer Services that surely there should be a trail of some form on their system. At the end of the day, I sit with the problem, while DSTV just carries on with no worry in the world.
106 replies
5 months ago
POOR/INCORRECT ACCOUNTING & COMMUNICATION
On 5 July 2019 I bought membership at VHI after attending their presentation at SAFARI Nursery In Pretoria. The details of the amount that I paid, as per signed contract was as follows: Activation Fee: R 30 000.00 Document Fee: R 499.00 Reliance Benefit Contribution: R 5 820.00 Because I paid everything at once, I was given discount and I was also told that I will not pay any other fees such as the "Monthly Service Fee Payments" due to the fact that I paid in full. For this reason the "Monthly Service Fee Payments was marked as N/A in Schedules 2 & 6 of the contract I signed. In June 2021 I received notification from, VHI that I'm in arrears wrt membership fees. I then immediately addressed it by providing VHI with a copy of the signed contract and the reason why I don't owe them any membership fees. After VHI inter-departmental investigation, it was confirmed by VHI as follows on 9 June 2021: " Thank you for taking my call just now. I sincerely apologise for the below matter. Please take note that your membership have been activated and your membership is paid in full as per your membership agreement." "Your membership is and was not in arrears with us. Our system has been updated as per the agreement that was amended for you." I still have the correspondence between myself & VHI wrt this unpleasant matter. On 20 October 2025 I received an SMS from VHI Collections department indicating to me that I'm in arrears wrt my VHI Membership for an mount of R 39,722.18 and I need to pay this amount into their FNB account and sent them the "Proof of Payment", I once again, e-mailed VHI, specifically the Collections department, explaining the detail of the contract which was signed by VHI and myself. I also forwarded them all the previous e-mail correspondence as well as yet again, provided them with a copy of the signed contract. This was all done on 21 & 22 October 2025. On 23 October VHI Collections confirmed receipt of my e-mail as follows: "Dear Mr. Van Rooyen Thank you for your email to our office and the contents has been noted. We are busy investigating the matter and will revert back to you soonest." I responded by indicating to them that I don't know what is to be investigated as I've already explained everything to them and supp******** them with all of the necessary correspondence and contract to proof to them that they are wrong. Since then I've communicated to them without ANY response. On 5 November I wrote the following -mail to VHI: "Good day, Trail mail and ALL the mails which were send back and forth between myself and VHI refers. (which were send again after I was informed via SMS to pay arrears) refers. As proven already, wrt the membership fees, whereby VHI already confirmed that I was indeed correct, referring to the signed contract, in JUNE 2021 and that I don't owe VHI ANYTHING, I want to state the following. It's very interesting that after FOUR years, VHI tries the same trick with me again, after this issue was already resolved in June 2021. It is VERY VERY STRANGE that out of the blue, after 4 years, suddenly VHI tells me I'm in arrears. The kind of service rendered by VHI is, to say the least, pathetic. I will NEVER recmmend VHI to anyone. I'm fed-up with this. VHI don't even have the decency, to respond to my e-mails and they were the onces who issued an sms which put my blood pressure through the roof. I had to waist my time going through all my records again just to proof my point again, as I did in June 2021 already. For this reason I DEMAND cancellation of my membership with immediate affect. I also need confirmation that it was executed and confirmation that membership is terminated. If do have the right to cancel my contract with VHI and I"m using it now." Up to this date, VHI did not respond to my e-mail. The public should be made aware of this kind of service delivery from VHI.
0 replies
5 months ago
POOR/INCORRECT ACCOUNTING & COMMUNICATION
On 5 July 2029 I bought membership at VHI after attending their presentation at SAFARI Nursery In Pretora. The details of the amount that I paid, as per signed contract was as follows: Activation Fee: R 30 000.00 Document Fee: R 499.00 Reliance Benefit Contribution: R 5 820.00 Because I paid everything at once, I was given discount and I was also told that I will not pay any other fees such as the "Monthly Service Fee Payments" due to the fact that I paid in full. For this reason the "Monthly Service Fee Payments was marked as N/A in Schedules 2 & 6 of the contract I signed. In June 2021 I received notification from, VHI that I'm in arrears wrt membership fees. I then immediately addressed it by providing VHI with a copy of the signed contract and the reason why I don't owe them any membership fees. After VHI inter-departmental investigation, it was confirmed by VHI as follows on 9 June 2021: " Thank you for taking my call just now. I sincerely apologise for the below matter. Please take note that your membership have been activated and your membership is paid in full as per your membership agreement." "Your membership is and was not in arrears with us. Our system has been updated as per the agreement that was amended for you." I still have the correspondence between myself & VHI wrt this unpleasant matter. On 20 October 2025 I received an SMS from VHI Collections department indicating to me that I'm in arrears wrt my VHI Membership for an mount of R 39,722.18 and I need to pay this amount into their FNB account and sent them the "Proof of Payment", I once again, e-mailed VHI, specifically the Collections department, explaining the detail of the contract which was signed by VHI and myself. I also forwarded them all the previous e-mail correspondence as well as yet again, provided them with a copy of the signed contract. This was all done on 21 & 22 October 2025. On 23 October VHI Collections confirmed receipt of my e-mail as follows: "Dear Mr. Van Rooyen Thank you for your email to our office and the contents has been noted. We are busy investigating the matter and will revert back to you soonest." I responded by indicating to them that I don't know what is to be investigated as I've already explained everything to them and supp**** them with all of the necessary correspondence and contract to proof to them that they are wrong. Since then I've communicated to them without ANY response. On 5 November I wrote the following -mail to VHI: "Good day, Trail mail and ALL the mails which were send back and forth between myself and VHI refers. (which were send again after I was informed via SMS to pay arrears) refers. As proven already, wrt the membership fees, whereby VHI already confirmed that I was indeed correct, referring to the signed contract, in JUNE 2021 and that I don't owe VHI ANYTHING, I want to state the following. It's very interesting that after FOUR years, VHI tries the same trick with me again, after this issue was already resolved in June 2021. It is VERY VERY STRANGE that out of the blue, after 4 years, suddenly VHI tells me I'm in arrears. The kind of service rendered by VHI is, to say the least, pathetic. I will NEVER recmmend VHI to anyone. I'm fed-up with this. VHI don't even have the decency, to respond to my e-mails and they were the onces who issued an sms which put my blood pressure through the roof. I had to waist my time going through all my records again just to proof my point again, as I did in June 2021 already. For this reason I DEMAND cancellation of my membership with immediate affect. I also need confirmation that it was executed and confirmation that membership is terminated. If do have the right to cancel my contract with VHI and I"m using it now." Up to this date, VHI did not respond to my e-mail. The public should be made aware of this kind of service delivery from VHI.
0 replies
12 months ago
NO SERVICE DELIVERY: NETCARE PTA EAST REFUNDS DEPT
My sister was taken to Pta East Hospital Emergency Services by ambulans on 21/03/25 because she fell. All costs requested was paid in full on the same day. - Case number 1017630258. A statement was requested from the hopsital on 29/03/25. It was received on the same day. Due to the fact that the medical aid also paid the service provider, an amount of R 1 510.42 was to be refunded to my sister. Since the 29/03/25 I've been trying to get hold of the Netcare Pretoria East Refunds department via different channels but NOBODY is answering the phone. Today AGAIN, I was put through to the aforementioned department, but still no answer. This is not the rendering of poor services. THERE IS NO SERVICE RENDERED
406 replies
20 months ago
POOR SERVICE: TYME BANK ***** DEPARTMENT
On 4th August 2024, we tried to open an account on the TymeBank mobile app. To our astonishment, the app indicated that my wife already has an account. She never tried o open an acount with TymeBank before. (The 1st step to open an account is by typing in your ID number). It was at this stage that the app indicated that the ID number is already in use. I opt for the "Forgot password" option and when it indicated that the password was sent we immediately saw that the message to reset the password was sent to a cellphone number that we are not fami**** with. On 5th August we contacted Tymebank ***** division and indicated to them the problem we experience. They then told us that someone stole my wife's identity. We need to report it asap with an e-mail to *****operations@timebank.co.za. In this e-mail a copy of her certified ID as well as a copy of a certified affidavit should be included together with a SAPS Case number. That was done on 6th August and the e-mail was sent to them as requested. They indicated to us that it will take a week to investigate this issue and have my wife's ID removed from their system. Only thereafter she will be able to open an account. Since then we tried to follow up by sending e-mails because when trying to phone them it takes ages for them to answer the phone and when you are put through to the ***** department no one cares to answer the phone. Tymebank does not even respond to any of the e-mails that was sent. Only on 13 August we received an automated response from Tymebank to confirm that our e-mail was received with ref number I-4827513 As for now, my wife still cannot open a TymeBank account due to the fact that her ****** ID number still appears on their system. It was supposedly to take only a week for them to clear the issue and remove her ****** ID number.
106 replies
26 months ago
Pathetic Service Delivery
I've been a client of DirectAxis for many many years. Their turnaround time to assist with a loan up to the point of approval and finalization was tops. Something seriously went wrong with that company. My wife recently interacted with them for a personal loan and she struggled for quite some time to go through their process until it was eventually paid out. I app**** for a further loan yesterday on line. I app**** for an additional amount of R 30 000. Soon thereafter, I received a call from one of their consultants, a lady, and we went through all the financial and personal details, which is the norm of DirectAxis. When we were done with everything, she confirmed that my loan was approved. I also immediately received an sms to this regard. The consultant told me that someone else from DirectAxis will phone me to finalize the contract. I also received another sms requesting me to submit supporting docs to their e-mail "docs@directaxis.co.za. I did it immediately. All of these above are part of the normal process that is followed when applying for a loan. However, then their service dropped to a level of poor/pathetic. I received calls from a DirectAxis number 087 350 6231 and every I answer the phone there was no one on the other side. At one time when I answered, a robot told me to hold on. I hold on and hold on and hold on and nothing. So I ended the call. This all happened yesterday. This morning I phoned back on the above mentioned number and every time after giving all my details the person on the other side told me that she's sent an e-mail to the contracts dept, requesting to phone me back. I was told that my application is with the contracts dept. Thereafter I phoned back and phoned back, every time going through the same HORRIFIC process and then the consultant told me she will sent an e-mail to the contracts dept. EVERY TIME I EXPLAINED THE ISSUE OF NON-RESPONSE from their side. This afternoon when I phoned AGAIN the consultant told me that I can get a debt consolidation loan of R 300 000 with a monthly payment of over R 9000. I explained to him that THAT s not what I app**** for and I'm not interested in the debt consolidation loan. I told him yet again that I app**** for R 30 000. He then told me that I cannot get a personal loan because my current loan's setttle amount is approx R 155 000 and I only qualify for R 99 000 which is therefore a negative. but HE CAN HELP ME WITH THE DEBT CONSOLIDATION LOAN. I told him THAT IS NOT WHAT I APP**** FOR AND WHAT WAS APPROVED. I told him yet again I received an SMS indicating that my further loan for R 30 000 was approved after I went through the whole process and why would my application be at the CONTRACTS dept if my original application was NOT approved. PATHETIC is the only word for this. Their service is at a level NON-EXISTENCE.
56 replies
27 months ago
PATHETIC SERVICE DELIVERY: RCS PLATINUM CREDIT CARD
I app**** for an RCS Credit card which was approved on 09-01-2023. I received my PLATINUM RCS credit card approx one week thereafter. I were unable to use my card because of an apparent technical issue with the Platinum card holders over all the platforms, according to the RCS client services. They requested me to send them my decline slips with additional information, which was done EVERY TIME I tried to use my card. On 22-01-2024 I was told by a consultant that the problem was resolved, however when I tried my card the problem still remained. DECLINED. Even when I want to only do a balance enquiry at the ATM the transaction was cancelled due to a technical issue. On 25-01-2024 I tried again and still my card was declined. When I phoned RCS client services again I was requested to sent through the slips AGAIN. That was done and RCS cinfirmed receipt thereof. And so I did what RCS requested on 26-01-2024 and 27-01-2024. On 26-01-2024 I spoke to a Supervisor at RCS client services and I told him that the services fees that were accumulated on my credit card should be reversed because I DID NOT RECEIVE ANY SERVICE. He immediately reversed it as he agreed with me. I also indicated to him if it is not sorted on Monday 29-091-2024 I will cancel my card. He informed me as well that he will escalate the matter and will try his best to get it sorted out by Monday 29-01-2024. Unfortunately it was not sorted out as I encountered the same problem with my card. I phoned RCS and requested them to cancel the card. I also indicated to the consultant that RCS' services wrt the credit cards are pathetic. I will not recommend ANYONE to apply for an RCS credit card.
116 replies
Review Distribution
5 Star
0 (0%)
4 Star
0 (0%)
3 Star
0 (0%)
2 Star
4 (23.529411764705884%)
1 Star
13 (76.47058823529412%)