Two or three weeks ago, I got a cryptic SMS from ABSA essentially saying, “Oh it looks like you have a problem with your credit card. Ignore if you’ve already reactivated or else go into a branch for assistance”.
Okay. The fact that my credit card was then declined whilst trying to pay for Emily’s birthday supper at Spur confirmed the fact that ABSA had indeed seen it fit to cancel my card on my behalf.
Not that I was informed of course. Maybe their fraud algorithm picked something up? Maybe pirates were seen close to Gordon’s Bay? Who knows – I certainly don’t!
Look, there probably was a good reason for the cancel, and one day when I’m privy to it I’m sure I’ll be pleased – after all, when it comes to my money, “rather safe than sorry” is the go to policy! (Still, an informative e-mail, SMS or phone call would have been rather nice!)
A couple of days later (not debilitating because I still have my debit card – it just costs me money every time I swipe it!), I received a phone call from UTI couriers asking me to verify some personal information and who then informed me that they would be delivering my card in a couple of working days’ time.
I got to choose between having it dropped off at home or work – to which I responded home, seeing as thanks to my knee I am here pretty much 24/7 at the moment.
(Also, luckily for me, an SMS from ABSA arrived shortly after, just to let me know that UTI would be contacting me – meaning that I didn’t necessarily just fall prey to a scam. Oops.)
Anyway, a lot more business days than promised passed, and so eventually I looked up the ABSA Credit Card division number to find out what is up with my delivery. After holding the line for a bit, the helpful operator informed me that UTI had in fact dropped off my credit card in the complex’s single, communal post drop off point – yesterday.
Say what?!?
I know that technically the card can’t be used until activated, but I can’t say that it makes me feel particularly comfortable that a card together with my details were happily lying there for anyone with an smidgen of bad intentions (hello Internet) to take advantage of.
ABSA’s twitter account was quick to respond to my query, asking if I had opted for the “knock and drop” option, and after a brief exchange I gave them my details and escalated my concerns. (The fact that the “knock and drop” option even exists worries me slightly, mind you!)
Anyway, so now I have a new and shiny credit card after two or so weeks of not having one – without even asking for it.
