The Sweet Service Award goes to Albourne Boutique House in Somerset West, and its Manager Glen, for his excellent service when I stayed over there recently. He was on duty until 23h00, allowed me to take a drink from their Bar, listened to my feedback about the disappointing meal at Giovanni’s in the Waterstone Centre, and was on duty at breakfast the next morning again. The winter rate is excellent value for money.
The Sour Service Award goes to Standard Bank. I have a new staff member, who does not have a bank account. To pay him his salary I had to use the bank’s Instant Money. I was told by the Garden’s Centre Branch how to do this, and it worked easily, it being on the Standard Bank app. Then the nightmare began. I was called by the bank’s Fraud department, to do a security check on me. I was furious, and no matter how much I assured the caller that the payment was legitimate and that I had made it. He insisted on asking the questions, threatening to block the transaction if I did not cooperate! I answered the two questions under duress. I had to create a PIN number which the staff member had to use to draw the money. I sent him the details, but he messaged me back, saying that it was not working and that the PIN was incorrect. I had to pay a supplier, and no matter how many times I tried, it would not go through due to a ‘technical error’. I received a SMS from the bank, requesting that I call them. I explained that I could not make a payment. I was forced to answer the most bizarre security questions, to be told that my card had been blocked by the Fraud department! The bank staffer promised to unblock my card, and I could do the supplier payment. The next morning my staff member told me that he had been back to the bank, and that his payment was still not going through! He was given a number to call, being the Instant Money Customer Service Department. She explained that his payment had been blocked, despite the bank having taken my money! Once again I had to be subjected to security questions, and had to wait for a call back to confirm that the payment has been received by my staff member, three days later!
The WhaleTales Sweet & Sour Service Awards are presented every Friday on the WhaleTales blog. Nominations for the Sweet and Sour Service Awards can be sent to Chris von Ulmenstein at chrisvonulmenstein [at] gmail.com. Past winners of the Sweet and Sour Service Awards can be read on the Friday posts of this blog.
Chris von Ulmenstein, WhaleTales Blog: www.chrisvonulmenstein.com/blog Tel +27 082 55 11 323 Twitter:@Ulmenstein Facebook: Chris von Ulmenstein Instagram: @Chris_Ulmenstein
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