LS
Louis S
Active since Jan 2012
15
Reviews
0
Industries
Reviews
15 reviews3 months ago
Account Termination & Funds Withheld - Formal NFO Case Lodged (Ref: R5Q40G8M)
I am documenting my experience as a Payfast merchant for the purpose of informing other business owners. This is a factual account of events. 1. Termination Notice & Fund Access: On 8 January 2026, I received a formal "Notice of Termination" for my merchant account (ID: 22665236). The termination was effective immediately. Simultaneously, all access to the merchant dashboard and the funds contained in the account was disabled. 2. Attempts to Seek Clarification & Resolution: On 8 January, I sent formal emails to the provided compliance address disputing the termination and requesting the release of funds. I received no response to these emails. - On 8 January, I contacted Payfast via telephone on the number listed on their document. The receptionist noted the issue and promised a callback. No callback was received. - On 9 January, I called again. The customer service representative I spoke with stated they could not assist and that I must sit and wait for the compliance team to contact me. - On 10 January, I received an unsolicited call from a Payfast representative. This person apologized for the situation and specifically promised escalation and that a manager would call me by 12:00 on Monday, 12 January, to resolve the matter. - On 12 January, the promised callback did not occur. 3. Outcome & Current Status: Due to the lack of communication and the continued withholding of funds, I was left with no alternative but to lodge a formal complaint with the National Financial Ombudsman of South Africa (NFO) on 13 January 2026. The case reference is R5Q40G8M. All funds remain inaccessible. 4. Summary for Other Businesses: My experience indicates that Payfast may: - Terminate service and restrict access to funds without prior discussion. - Provide contradictory information (termination notice vs. account "under review"). - Not respond to formal written communication from merchants. - Make specific verbal commitments regarding resolution timelines that are not honoured. This sequence of events has caused significant operational and financial disruption to my business. I am sharing this information so other South African SMEs can make a fully informed decision when selecting a payment service provider, considering both functionality and procedural risk.
168 replies
3 months ago
Immediate Termination & Funds Withheld - Unprofessional, Uncommunicative, A Business Risk
I am writing this review as a formal warning to any South African business considering using Payfast as their payment gateway. Our experience has been nothing short of a nightmare, highlighting extreme business risk. Without any prior warning, notification, or opportunity to rectify any alleged issue, Payfast's Compliance Team terminated our merchant account with immediate effect. The termination email cited a vague "notification from ABSA" regarding our product categories (legitimate supplements) but provided zero specifics or evidence. Crucially, they have blocked all access to the account, which still contains our business's revenue. This means they are ********ly withholding our funds. The complete lack of due process is bad enough, but their customer service has been appalling: 1) Zero proactive communication: Termination came without notice. 2) Ignored formal dispute: A detailed email disputing their claims and demanding fund release has gone unanswered for days. 3) Dismissive and unhelpful support: When calling the number they provided, reception promised a callback that never came. A subsequent call to customer service (representative "Hannah") resulted in being told to "sit and wait" and that no questions could be answered. We were effectively told to "****** off." They have left our online store without a payment gateway and are holding our money hostage without explanation or timeline. This is not just poor service; it is a fundamental breach of trust and a demonstration of how poorly they treat merchants once they have your funds. Do not use Payfast if you value your business's financial stability and operational continuity. Their actions show they can—and will—act as judge, jury, and executioner without dialogue, leaving you without access to your income and no recourse. Consider this a serious risk warning.
168 replies
5 months ago
****mers
Allport Cargo Services used by Temu and Fastway is ****ming people by deducting double payments for customs fees from their online payment page and then refuses to refund the duplicate payments, even when provided with all the proof. It's been 4 months and still no refund, just lies, bad attitude and time-wasting. Please do not support these companies who **** and treat customers like dirt.
0 replies
12 months ago
Faithful-to-Nature promoting ***ist, woke ideologies and agendas
I'll let the e-mail conversation speak for itself: To whom it may concern, I was browsing the store to place another order and came across something rather strange, on some of your product pages I noticed an icon advertised stating woman founded company, as if it is some kind of benefit or good cause or something. Can you please tell me what is going on here, is your company ***ist or openly promoting ***ist ideologies? Regards, Louis ---------- Hi Louis Thank you for your email Faithful to Nature aims to highlight diverse and inclusive business practices, including supporting woman-founded companies. By showcasing products from woman-founded businesses, the store promotes diversity and supports gender equality in entrepreneurship. This is not intended to be ***ist or promote ***ist ideologies, but rather to celebrate and support women-led initiatives in the business world. Hope that is helpful. Faithfully Yours ---------- Hi Nicolene, If that's true, where are your icons for male and transgender founded businesses? Let me guess, there aren't any... What you guys are doing is encouraging ************** based on *** which is the very definition of ***ism. I am appalled that a company such as Faithful-to-Nature would participate in such absurd and nonsensical agendas, luckily most of your products can be found elsewhere, so you won't be seeing me again. Goodbye, Louis
58 replies
33 months ago
Absolute waste of time...
I checked in my handgun with them to swop out the sights and trigger, which they advised they could do and wouldn't take long as they could do this in-house. After a week I phoned them to follow up and said they haven't gotten to it. Another week went by and was told they haven't looked at it yet again... I decided to fetch it and take it somewhere else as it is not acceptable to have the gun sit there for two weeks with no end in sight. I purchased my gun from them and is mainly the reason I would have preferred them working on it as not to void the warranty... Not the first time I've received poor service from Gun Shack PE and they definitely won't be seeing me again.
0 replies
33 months ago
Absolute waste of time...
I checked in my handgun with them to swop out the sights and trigger, which they advised they could do and wouldn't take long as they could do this in-house. After a week I phoned them to follow up and said they haven't gotten to it. Another week went by and was told they haven't looked at it yet again... I decided to fetch it and take it somewhere else as it is not acceptable to have the gun sit there for two weeks with no end in sight. I purchased my gun from them and is mainly the reason I would have preferred them working on it as not to void the warranty... Not the first time I've received poor service from Gun Shack PE and they definitely won't be seeing me again.
0 replies
37 months ago
Would not recommend
I had a terrible experience in my dealings with this company and a person called Romano. I bought a voucher for an aircon installation from them which was valued at R3000. First thing we struggled with was actually getting them to come out and do the installation, it took weeks upon weeks of back and forth discussion and repeating of said discussion for them to come out. When they eventually pitched up here they arrived without all the equipment and tools necessary for the job. We had to fit the brackets for installation ourselves and I had to drive to go purchase trunking for them to cover the aircon pipes (which is standard installation practice and was mentioned as a requirement beforehand). After the installation the aircon didn't work and they blamed it on a faulty aircon (it was a brand new Samsung) and then blamed it on our electrician; they eventually got it working somehow... Above and beyond the installation voucher they charged me R2090 extra for cable, copper tubing and travelling... Now, months later, after the aircon outdoor unit stopped working, we got another aircon company out to investigate and they found the problem to be cheap electrical cabling that was broken and barely making contact (this would also have been the reason the aircon didn't want to work in the first place). Spare yourself the trouble and hassle of having to deal with these people.
0 replies
60 months ago
Disgusting service from Sunridge Park Post Office in Port Elizabeth
Disgusting service from Sunridge Park Post Office in Port Elizabeth. I waited months and months for an order to arrive from overseas, after phoning JNB customs they said the parcel was delivered to Sundridge Post Office, after going there they said that they returned the parcel to sender because nobody collected the parcel - yet we never received ANY notifications to collect!!! The company from which we ordered has closed in the meanwhile and thanks to Sunridge PO's incompetence I have now lost R5000. When asking the manager for proof that they returned it to sender (a tracking number or slip for example) he couldn't provide us with ANYTHING and we have to take his word for it. Not even as much as an apology, and he went about systematically gaslighting, taunting, verbally and emotionally abusing us, yet it is 100% their fault that the package was not received. Absolutely pathetic service and gross incompetence by this branch and branch manager.
0 replies
64 months ago
False Advertising & Poor Customer Service
I bought a REPLAY-10 MAXXIM IGT Swarm 5.5 from these guys back in July. The velocity was rated on the product page of their website as 286 m/s / 938 fps and when I received it I was quite disappointed to see that the actual velocity rating on the side of the product packaging is 220 m/s / 722 fps.. I have emailed them multiple times since to ask the actual velocity of another product I am interested in but they are ignoring my emails.
0 replies
69 months ago
Horrible Experience at Decofurn PE
Absolutely horrible experience at Decofurn PE.. After temperature screening etc. I was rudely confronted and escorted out of the store by staff because my face mask was not sitting "quite right" on my face. The same standard medical face mask I have used to enter multiple stores.. I went there with the intention to support their business but instead I was treated and kicked out like a bad dog.. Please boycott this company and avoid them at all costs!
0 replies
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