and the absa saga continues (in relation to my post of absa-vs-fnb)
This is a follow up in relation to my post of “fnb-vs-absa”
In summary:
- I listed my complaint on hellopeter.com and got a response from the very competent branch manager at the Absa Heerengracht branch (George Willenburg)
- As I am a firm believer in not only complainging at bad service, but also praising good service, I posted a favourable comment on hellopeter.com for George Willenburg’s attitude and willlingness to resolve problems. Interestingly enough “Dick Garder” supposedly replied to my favourable response – just a shame that he “replied” by copy/pasting the standard response for a complaint to my positive comment.
- After closing my accounts at Absa I received two unsolicited phone calls from external agencies, trying to sell me credit cards and insurance.
- I brought this under the attention of both Dick Gardner AND George Willenburg… No response.
An extract from my email correspondence is listed hereinbelow:
“
from [.h]
to georgewil@absa.co.za
cc iansm@absa.co.za, dickg@absa.co.za
date 16 May 2008 19:17
subject Re: FW: 20 + years customer .
Dear Sirs,
As bitterly disappointed George was in losing a client, as bitterly disappointed I am for not receiving a single reply to my email below.
It seems the only way to get a response from Absa is to basically post a complaint on hellopeter?
I now look forward to any response to my email hereinbelow.
Sincerely,
[.h]
*************
2008/4/25 [.h]:
Dear George,
Thank you for all your efforts.
What still perplexes me is that I, yet again, received a call from a “consultant at Absa”, trying to sell me insurance today? The call was received at 11:59 on my number xxxxxx. The person who called me was Tyrone Oliver, calling from “Absa Finances Division” in “Johannesburg”. After questioning him, I found out that his employer was “Okeeffe & Swarts”, whoever that may be. Subsequent to asking him questions he claimed I was “breaking up” and hung up on me.
Now, yet again, I fully appreciate that you are not in control of everything which Absa does, but I am deeply worried in my personal information being bandied about to sales agents and externel service providors, with whom I’ve had no relationship.
Can you perhaps direct me as to who I should address my issues to in this regard? I would like to formally give notice to Absa, in terms of section 51 of the Electronic Communications and Transactions Act, that I no longer wish to be contacted by Absa or any of Absa’s third party providers to sell me goods or services.
Section 51 of the Electronic Communications and Transactions Act states as follows:
“
1) A data controller must have the express written permission of the data subject for the collection, collation, processing or disclosure of any personal information on that data subject unless he or she is permitted or required to do so by law.
2) A data controller may not electronically request, collect, collate, process or store personal information on a data subject which is not necessary for the lawful purpose for which the personal information is required.
3) The data controller must disclose in writing to the data subject the specific purpose for which any personal information is being requested, collected, collated, processed or stored.
4) The data controller may not use the personal information for any other purpose than the disclosed purpose without the express written permission of the data subject, unless he or she is permitted or required to do so by law.
5) The data controller must, for as long as the personal information is used and for a period of at (cast one year thereafter, keep a record of the personal information and the specific purpose for which the personal information was collected.
6) A data controller may not disclose any of the personal information held by it to a third party, unless required or permitted by law or specifically authorised to do so in writing by the data subject.
7) The data controller must, for as long as the personal information is used and for a period of at least one year thereafter, keep a record of any third party to whom the personal information was disclosed and of the date on which and the purpose for which it was disclosed.
The data controller must delete or destroy all personal information which has become obsolete.
9) A party controlling personal information may use that personal information to compile profiles for statistical purposes and may freely trade with such profiles and statistical data, as long as the profiles or statistical data cannot be linked to any specific data subject by a third party.
”
I would also like to draw your attention to subsections 6 and 8 (highlighted for your ease of reference).
Lastly I would like to be informed to whom by data has been distributed and would like to receive confirmation that my personal data has now in fact been removed from all potential sales list.
I look forward to your (and/or Dick Gardner’s) formal response hereto (as well as to the outcome in due course of your investigation as referred to in your email of the 21st instant).
Thanking you in anticipation.
Kind regards,
[.h]
*********************
2008/4/21 <georgewil@absa.co.za>:
Dear [.h]
I must apologise once again on behalf Absa wrt to the possible sale of a student credit card,especially to someone that has graduated 4 years ago and no longer banks here.We will investigate further.
Regards.
George Willenburg
Branch Manager
Heerengracht
Tel: 021~415 5700
Mobile: 082 450 9333
Email: georgewil@absa.co.za
**************
From: [.h]
Sent: 21 April 2008 02:28 PM
To: George Willenburg (georgewil@absa.co.za)
Subject: Re: FW: 20 + years customer .
Dear George,
Thank you, I have indeed!
Kind regards,
[.h]
On 18/04/2008, georgewil@absa.co.za <georgewil@absa.co.za> wrote:
Dear [.h]
I would like to know if you received your gift yet?
Regards.
George Willenburg
Branch Manager
Heerengracht
Tel: 021~415 5700
Mobile: 082 450 9333
Email: georgewil@absa.co.za
From: George Willenburg (georgewil@absa.co.za)
Sent: 04 April 2008 09:43 AM
To: [.h]
Cc: Dick Gardner (dickg@absa.co.za)
Subject: 20 + years customer .
Dear [.h]
I am bitterly dissapointed in the way this matter was handled.We do not want lose customers at all.I have left a message on your cell phone on the 03/04 and 04/04 and wish to make contact with yourself.I would like to put things right,even if it is to give you a gift for all the inconvenience caused.
Regards.
George Willenburg
Branch Manager
Heerengracht
Tel: 021~415 5700
Mobile: 082 450 9333
Email: georgewil@absa.co.za
August 27th, 2008 at 7:56 pm
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