ABSA building insurance, what a joke!

If you’re like me and just got Absa’s building insurance with your Absa home loan, because, well, it was easy, I’d advise you to think again!

It all started on a windy autumn day when the fascia board on my roof blew off, nearly falling on my poor neighbour’s Uno (which surely would have flattened it :)) On my neighbour’s advice, I decided to claim from my building insurance. So, Tuesday morning 10 AM, I decide to brave the Absa call center and submit my claim…

20 minutes of annoying hold music later and I’m put through to an operator – I submit the claim and they tell me its been forwarded to the Cape Town division, great. Knowing how these things go, I make a note of the Cape Town office’s number and end the call.

By Wednesday afternoon I still hadn’t heard back from those lazy Capetonians, so I decide to do some leg work with my fingers and call them up – “no sir, we’ll submit your claim to a contractor immediately”. “So why haven’t you?” – I wanted to ask.  So I wait in vain with a couple of days of rainy weather threatening to destroy my house even further.

Friday afternoon I get a call from the contractor who assured me in a very Afrikaans accent that Absa takes their insurance very seriousness and he wants to come have a look, right now! After insisting that I’m at work and won’t be able to open up for him, he’s so adamant that I just let him be – hope he has good eyes!

The weekend comes and goes and before I know it, it’s Wednesday again. Give them a call – “No, the person who is dealing with your claim is on leave, I’ll follow up and call you back”. Great.

Friday afternoon arives, and yet again I phone. Now, by this time I’ve had enough of their shoddy service and I was planning on switching to Santam the moment the claim is settled. So to my suprise (or maybe not) they refuse to fix the roof – they claim the workmanship on the fascia board is bad because the builder used nails instead of screws. Hmmm. OK, very irate now. I phone up my good buddy Dann at Santam – apparently they need a specific clause in their policy that specifies that nails used on the facia board is considered bad workmanship, otherwise they have to pay up…

So several phone calls later I’m able to get my hands on the policy wording… I quote from section B: Specific Exceptions: “3. defects in design or construction” – Sounds pretty broad and subjective to me.

So I phone some builders, a structural engineer, the Master Builder’s association and the overwhelming opinion is that nails are more frequently used than screws and doesn’t constitute bad workmanship.

Finally, after several emails, phone calls, and weeks later, the claim is reassessed and a contractor is assigned to fix the roof, success! Of course, not wanting to end up in the same situation again I ask him what they use to attach the Fascia boards… NAILS!! They use F#$%#%@ nails!

In conclusion, it doesn’t pay to be an optimist – insurance companies will and do find any excuse not to pay out a claim leaving it up to the consumer to prove their case. I guess most people just give up and with the amount of trouble I went through with this claim, maybe that would have been the saner option!

I’ll be cancelling my insurance with Absa the moment the roof is fixed and start looking for another bank to finance my home loan.

80 thoughts on “ABSA building insurance, what a joke!

    • my geyser broke and messed up the inside of om house. im with outsurance. my house was fixed within 3 days. including the painting of the rooms, new carpets and ceilings… so no co,plains here.

    • I am sending you this email as I am totally disgusted by the unprofessional treatment and incompetent service received from Absa Insurance. I have submitted a claim on February 6, 2014 about my septic tank that collapsed. They sent some guy to come and investigate and what he wrote in his report was never revealed to me. To me he did not seem qualified and there is no way in the world that he or anybody could make a clear finding on why it happened and what caused it as the photo’s sent will prove. I had to phone a few days later to find out that the claim was repudiated. If they were professional and competent, they would have sent me an email or phoned to notify me, in fact they have never reacted on any of my calls or emails or contacted me from their side. I then said to them that I doubt the qualifications of this guy they sent and it was suggested that I get a proper and qualified plumber that is used to working conditions in our area. The guy came around and also said that it was impossible to establish the cause and I sent his report through to Absa. I went through all the possible causes as stated in my insurance contract (1.4) that they probably used to repudiate my claim (without an assessor) and here are my answers:

      1. I have never come across a septic tank system that was not designed to be outside
      2. If an assessor ever came, he must tell me how sand can contract or expand. It is not clay, we live at the coast.
      3. The underground water table has never been a problem here and if the assessor ever come, he should dig up the whole mess and establish or prove it.
      4. this is not a problem that happened over a period of time. On the Wednesday February 5, the garden services were here and mowed the lawn. Everything was fine and they agree to this and are willing to make a sworn statement. The next afternoon February 6, I walked around the house, saw was happened and took photo’s which I have sent to Absa Insurance.

      On Friday February 28, 2014 I spoke to a person of which the name I have, and he promised that he will get weather reports for that period and then he will decide. It is now Wednesday March 12, 2014 and I have heard nothing yet. Their service and attitude towards clients are pathetic. I think the personnel of Absa in this case never had the concern of me the customer in mind as the assessor that was promised never came and I was never contacted by them. Their decision in this matter is one sided as it was never investigated properly. A good investigation is probably too late now as I had to get people in to suck out the tank and it then completely caved in. I have also phoned the action line and reported the situation but nothing happened. Is there any person in ABSA who is not too high and mighty to respond and resolve my situation? On your resolution page you promise to reply within 3 days. Does these promises also apply to your insurance department?

      I really hope to hear from you soon.

      • I had the same experience from ABSA Claims Dept. Anyone insured with ABSA Insurance is looking for trouble and if they continue to remain insured with ABSA insurance deserves the shock of realising that they in fact are NOT insured should they claim. Good advise, change your insurance company before it’s too late!!

      • ABSA wear and tear
        fail to replaced electronic motorized drive way gate and leaking asbestos roof reported a few months ago written off as wear and tear after 13 years as loyal customer with them only good by eating my monthly bond and insurance premiums I replaced my own motor and waiting again for rain to damage my wooden floors also waiting for ombudsman to give clear indication who is to blame and is it really wear and tear I’m also busy taking my bond somewhere else where I really can get a service with a smile

    • My geyser burst on Wednesday 14th May at 20h00 and I contact ABSA claims department the following morning 09h15 after I read all this complains. I had no other option as to pray that they will help me the same day. At 11h20 I receive an sms with the plumbers contact details. So I phone them and they assure me that they will contact me between 13h00 and 13h30 to replace the geyser. They replaced the geyser and pressure valves within one and a half hour. Thank you ABSA and your supplier for your quick response and good work.

  1. I have not had a single communication from ABSA home insurance, not even informing me of premium increases. I don’t even have a copy of a policy and don’t know what my policy number is. As for getting hold of anyone to speak to at the insurance customer ‘care’ centre – what a joke! I CAN’T claim for these reasons, ironically, nor can I cancel!

  2. JOY RICHARDS
    FEB.28/02/11

    Burst water pipe in roof.Tried all day to get through to Customer Services -what a joke,raised blood pressure after 20 calls and still no joy. Oh well try again tomorrow who knows maybe I’ll get lucky, just can’t bear that annoying music and “will put you through to the first available agent” which just doesn’t happen.Something is seriously wrong.

  3. The reason why I found this website is becaue I am trying to find a number where i can phone absa. Geyser burst about a month ago, was fixed a week later. The assessor also said that the ceiling had to be replaced … i am not trying to get hold of Absa for the past 2 weeks. the number they called from to set up visit by plumber and to inform m e of the excess, seems problematic. every time i phone (when i remember over two weeks) the same recorded voice tells me the message box is full.

    Can anyone please give me a number where i can speak to a human being?

    Surely this must be a matter for the consumer ombud. They have numbers where one can contact them to buy iinsurance,m but nothing to claim!

  4. Hi Sarah,

    It has been a while, but the numbers I used to contact them were as follows:

    Original insurance department number phoned: 0860 100 876

    Number to direct line of reception: 011 288 2600

    Cape town insurance branch: 021 440 4539 / 70 / 77

    Hope these still exist!

  5. Thanks Neil, I found their number via Telkom after doing my little vomit earlier 🙂

    I got through to 021 4404577 and spoke to a human being who found my claim number (that they sent) to be wrong – unable to trace the claim. She will call me back at some point …

  6. Hi all,
    I am having the experiance of a lifetime in 2009 my geyser burst damage to the ceilings. I called in so they replaced the geyser without the release valve thar was for my own pocket when we got to the damaged ceilings here comes the contractors 4 african men when he started talking I could smell the previous night’s booz the first thing he asked me is why is your house so high as we stay close to the magalies copy the front part off the house is elevated I then decided that they was NOT going to fix anything in my house so I sent them away after a big argument, as they left I walked them out they came with a small 1300 Bakkie the driver got in and the rest started pushing the Bakkie was glad to see them go. Now comes my big problem the roof thrus (I think that is what you call it) snaped with a bang so we fixed a homemade support put it under the still damaged ceiling to support the roof it is standing in the middle of my bedroom on bricks and a Jack. The roof thrus that snapped is the one carrying the geyser so can you imagine what wil happen if the geyser comes tumbling down. After much frustration many options cutt of about 4 times on 3rd of Jan 2012 I reached a person Nomfulu she gave me a Ref number 2092354 and said they wil attend to the matter urgently It is now Friday 6 Jan and not a word from them if the geyser decides to come down which can happen any time and fall on one of my family members WHAT THEN Absa home owners is the most pathetic lot I have ever seen Please excuse my spelling as I am afrikaans speaking but I just wanted to share my Grosse experiance with sombody Have a nice day everybody and good luck in the new year for all home owners at the big A LOL
    Regards
    Suzette

    • Sorry I’m sitting with same problem they will send out someone and will tell you later it’s wear and tear after assessing it but its in your insurance agreement only eating your insurance payments you are welcome to put in claim

  7. On the 18th of Jan 2012 my house was broken into. My electric gate was damaged, the front door was badly damaged. Three weeks later an accessor
    phoned to arrange to view the damage. Does Absa honestly expect me to
    leave my gate and front door broken for that period of time. I duely told the eccessor, that I didn’t need him to come out because I had already had the
    damage fixed. To day is the 27th Feb 2012 AND STILL NOTHING. I’M DEFINITELY CANCELLING MY INSURANCE AND CONSIDERING MOVING
    MY HOME LOAN.

  8. Is this the number I have to call to cancel my Insurance with Absa?

    0860 111 555

    Couldn’t really get the details on their website. Will there be any negative effects on my homeloan because of this?

  9. We have a burst pipe in our walls phoned on Sunday to find ABSA Insurance does not work Sundays????? Emergency I think ….no apprarently not they don’t do emercencies. So okay I waited till Monday trying to phone claims department from 7am till 12 pm just got through and they said okay they will send me a contact telephone number and claim number. Now past 4pm and no sms or email with contact number or claim number. Going to Move ot Outsurance once I can get this issue sorted in the mean time my walls are leaking in the kitchen damaging all the cupboards and electrics going to be interesting fight this one.

  10. Had exactly the same problems with Absa insurance refusing to pay when roots penetrated our sewage pipes, wind blown roof tiles off, etc….

    Now, last night the wind blew a gale and our carport collapsed onto our tenants car! Lodged the claim yesterday and now i wait with baited breath. I know they are going to reject the claim due to some obscure reason or another. Will be changing to Outsurance.

  11. Had the same experince with Absa.How they choose a sloag “today,together,tomorrow” is beyond me.It should be “maybe tomorrow,maybe the next day,maybe never”.They have no clue on customer service and certainly do not pride themselves on this.I am also cancelling my insurane.There are insurances out there who actually look for reasons to pay as part of there moral value and obligation to there long term customers.I was and happy to say “was” a customer of absa.I fought them with the ombudsman who ruled in my favour earlier this year.Put your comlaints on “hello peter.com” and see how quickly they jump-they just hate bad publicity.

  12. ABSA INSURANCE … WHAT A WASTE OF TIME AND MONEY….

    My glass hob stove was damaged due to a power surge which hapeens alot in JHB, so I called absa to put in a claim ..3 weeks later they tell me.. sorry but power surges are not covered .. I ask why and get told if it was lighting, water or a tree fell on it then its covered ..how would any of these get into my house .. what a load of crap as a few months ago a TREE for next door pushed over my wall and I was told then by ABSA its not covered.
    what is the point of having insurance … you insurance companys change the rules for every claim if its not in your favour and dont tell me you dont cause you do ..
    you are all a waste of time & money

  13. 1. Am actually looking for an Absa email address where one can complain. Futile – only have sites that want to sell.
    1st Property has been insured via Absa for 37 years. Have redeemed the bond on and off and therefore have to remain there. 1st Claim in 37 years – never, ever a geyzer or anything else. When my daughter arrives home on 1 Jan 2013, two of the pillars on my verandah have are lying on the lawn with the slasto slabs attached. The other two one can’t budge. Folk say the wind was terrible two days prior to this, however, we’ve had enormous cape winds in the 37yrs. Result: not honouring the claim based on the ‘assessor’s’ decision that the pergola had ripped the pillars out. What a joke. Went and had a look and there is no way that the pergola’s wood, which in actualy fact rests on the pillars, could have caused the damage. Have told them to send out another assessor. Will wait and hear, however, don’t believe they’ll even revisit the situation.
    2. Property where I’m presently living. Last week notice
    that the geyzer’s overflow is dripping(this geyzer was replaced approx May 2012 after the previous geyzer which had been replaced and was just a month out of guarantee) i.e. this geyzer is still under guarantee. Tell them I’m not paying an excess, to which I’m told if the geyzer has to be replaced, the excess is R500 and if there’s a repair necessary, R250. Hallo, have just told you that the geyzer, according to your own records, is still under guarantee. Then receive 4 sms’es advising me of the claim no and who the plumber will be. 5th sms advises me that if the plumber has not yet called, I should call him on 028……….. . Is this my job?!?!

    Does anyone have an Absa email address for complaints and where someone actually reads and takes action?

    Can’t wait to redeem the bonds.

    I’ve always heard folk complain about Absa Insurance, however, as I’ve never really had claims to speak of, this is my first experience of this shocking service.

  14. Be careful when you cancel with ABSA – I did, and found out six years later that they’re still siphoning premiums from my home loan!! When I ask why, it was because they were not listed as the mortgagor on the outsurance policy documents!! Who on earth can I complain to about +-R60000 theft??

  15. Absolutely disgusted! Claim lodged nearly a month ago; further storm damage, long delays waiting for unavailable/busy consultants. Contractor was actually sent by them for quote, asked to revise the quote; which he did. He also had no further instructions, still waiting!! We’ve been loyal clients of ABSA since the last millennium, and this is the treatment we get from them.
    Do they really think this is healthy and sound business practise?

  16. If any related client has any plumbing problems, the best thing to maybe consider is switching to a broker. Things will move much quicker as on some related insurance companies. But in case you live in the Pretoria or Gauteng area, we do all types of plumbing work and will be able to assist within 2 – 24 hours on plumbing failures. Unfortunately you’ll have to pay the repair costs up front and claim it back from your insurer with less your excess. Its forth a try people. I have dealt with insurance claims on a daily basis and will advise any client accordingly. I know the rules.

    1St Choice Plumbing Experts
    0718790801

  17. I registered a claim on the 1st of November and after e-mails, complaints, numerous calls, waiting for half an hour at a time without anyone picking up, even threatening to move banks, the reparation work will start on the 11th of December. Almost six weeks down the line…
    I will definitely be moving my insurance to a broker.
    This is the WORST customer service I have ever come accross

  18. Hi Guys

    I see most of you are so disgusted by Absa home insurance. At the moment am looking for an insurance company that can cover my house, which one is better or good for that matter?

  19. Yes, its ABSA home insurance? I can only reiterate with all the queries and problems absa are faced with, phone call after phone call no solution to the problems, no Absa employee gets back to you, the companies banks whoever must stop ripping customers of the little finance we have in our pockets by huge advertising but cannot deliver the goods. Let we the customer be behind one month with payments and oh yes you are threatened with legal proceedings. DO SOMETHING ABOUT ALL OF THIS PLEASE ABSA you coin it over and over!

    • I think absa is a fraud company cause the way they sponsor with our interest and then they can’t look after there customers what’s wrong with them

  20. I have just had a lovely experience with this rubbish company, I have a small two bedroom one bathroom home which the municipality value at R790,000-00, BADSA value it at R1,150,000-00 and that is the amount that THEY charge for insurance, I challenged the increase in the premium and they informed me that they can drop it by 20% but that I will be liable for that amount on any claim I make so I took my insurance to Outsurance and insured it for R825,000-00 which is abouve the municipal amout, BADSA was informed in September that the insurance was not there problem anymore, checking my statement in January I see BADSA are still deducting the full amount for insurance, having called them they told me that the amount insured was not enough and I would have to increase it and so it goes on and on, the reason for this REPLY is to ask and tell you all that I am taking BADSA to the Ombudsman, and I would love to hear if anyone agrees with me and will do the same, these companies over value properties so that they can extort clients out of extra cash when you put in a claim they only pay for the cost of repairs less the excess, but when they are challenged they are prepared to drop by 20% but then only pay 80% of a claim this is really extortion in the first degree, I have an estate agent valuing the house this week then we shall see what BADSA does when the Ombudsman give them a call, I you feel the same lets have a go the more the merrier

  21. My roof was leaking due to heavy rain,ceilings,carports,walls were damage, after spending nearly R400 on phone calls to ABSA, after the claim has been regitered, nobody answer,realy this is not service,its up to chit if i may say so.I am in Parys Free State, if anyone can asist me with answer please call me at 0837922909.This happens a month ago.Thanks

  22. Hi Pieter, I have the same issue. I’ve realized in April that my ceiling was turning brown in a certain spot corner of one of our rooms due to all the rain. Called ABSA insurance a week later to log a claim. The contractor took almost a month to come out to do a quote. His report said that it’s due to bad maintenance on the roof. I’ve been staying in this house for 4 year now, without any issues or changes too the structure. In fact the paint on it did not fade over the past few years even. So the insurance agent’s response was I should maintain my roof more regularly. How regular should this be? I don’t get up on my roof every week to check for physical damages, however I suspect all ABSA insurance guys obviously do live on their roofs and not under it.

  23. ABSA Hoc claims is the absolute pits. You wait for up to 30 minutes before someone answers at the call centre and then you still have to wait to be put through to a consultant. After all this I was told that the system was down so could not help me , went through the whole process again and the consultant tells me the engineer hasn’t submitted the report , so who should be following up on our claims, after creating a big stink on the phone I demand that someone call me regarding the matter. Well believe it or not I did get a call from Shaun only to tell me they will get hold of the engineer and get back to me. This has now been going on for three weeks and no call back to say the report has been submitted.
    A plumber from Starplex was sent to investigate the problem and in his report he said the problem was caused by rising damp and therefore they would not pay out. As we are coming out of winter where no rain has fallen for months I questioned the validity of such a report and after much deliberation it was agreed that an engineer would come out. Well needless to say the engineer did come out and scoffed at the report of rising damp and that he would submit his report. Well you guessed right no report and no feed back.
    Where to from here. I even sent an email today to admin hoc and not even a reply saying that it will be forwarded to the person dealing with the claim. I am at my wits end .
    Who has any suggestions on how I can get some action.

  24. Dueto all the rain storms I have submitted a claim two weeks ago, contractor and assessor have been. No feed back. at this point i am considering instaling a water feature in the main bedroom. I am seriously thinking after 37years being with Allied Building Society/ABSA of moving my entire portfolio to another institution. The after care is getting worse and worse.

  25. HORRID EXPERIENCES with ABSA, almost a year later and nobody has even pitched to asess storm damage! Have storm damage again, can not get hold of any ABSA human being as you are on hold forever. This company is more useless than the current government! Oh wait, of course Maria Ramos is busy ruining ABSA that explains it all.

  26. Absa insurance took 4 days to replace my door after I had been robbed. The people they sent to do it was a joke, after about 50 emails, a letter to the Ombudsman and numerous telephone calls, I finally received a new door and gate. I still had to pay an excess of R1000. It’s a pity I live in a sectional title building, I would never appoint Absa to be my insurer. Since we on the topic of claims etc, can anyone advise, Whose responsibility is it to fix piping that is outside my flat? I have geyser overflow and it drips at odd times of the night, with a terrible echo. The managing agent said it is my responsibility, is this true?

  27. ABSA Insurance operate for less than a quarter of the total number of hours in a week. Emergencies don’t wait for office hours. Called the after hours number, only to be told that that they cannot find any record of my insurance cover without a policy number – my id number and bond account number were not enough. I have to wait till normal office hours to call the ABSA Insurance offices directly, to get my policy number. This is unacceptable. I am left to my own devices while the good folk at ABSA Insurance enjoy their weekend.

  28. I had same problem with absa bank small claim and they over-valued my property on purpose not to pay me out at all don’t go with absa insurance if you can , I never claimed since 2007 that’s 8 years and they find excuse not to pay out anything!!!

  29. our retaining wall at the back collapsed from a severe storm (natural disaster). We phoned absa insurance to come and replace our wall. 2 inspectors later they told us they wouldn’t pay for the wall because it wasn’t built properly. That wall was built when the house was built about 25 years ago, we had to pay for the replacement retaining wall. Then our light on our outside gate kept tripping our power every time we had a storm so we called them they said they’d send an electrician well we ended up fixing them ourself. 3 Months later we got a call to say can we send an electrician. When we said we wanted to cancel our property insurance they said they would have to approve it first ABSOLUTELY PATHETIC.

  30. I have been waiting for Absa to resolve my burst geyser for 11 days now. Had 4 visits from 2 Electricians. The second Electrician is on his way apparently. No hot water for 11 days, with kids and a baby not good.ABSA admitted that due to BEE selection of sub contractors, the quality of workmanship is poor. One claims manage told me that ABSA dont have approved Electricians that have knowledge on solar geysers. What a joke! Absa has failed. No suprise we live in a failing country!! The Absa staff will sit their fat arses in a hot bath tonight, not giving a hoot about clients who pay their salaries. Pay back the money.

  31. Same experience with Absa insurance. Damp claim was rejected with an outcome I did not maintain the walls properly. What a joke. In the 7 years that I live there the house was painted and the walls sealed. I subsequently got damp experts to fix the problem and move to a different insurance company.

  32. Hi Mpho,

    ABSA’S SERVICE IS DISGUSTING!!!!!!!!!!!

    ON 21 DECEMBER WE HAD A FREACK STROM AND VERY UNUSUAL SSTRONG WIND BLEW FIR 10 SECONDS AND TREE FROM OUR NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOUR WERE UPROTED AND IT FELL AND LANDED ON OUR HOUSE.

    WE WERE TOLD BY THE ENSURANCE TO GET SOMEONE TO REMOVED THE TREE FOR THE DAMAGE TO BE ASSED WHICH WE DID. INVOICE ATTACHED ONES AGAIN!
    THEN A CONTRACTOR WAS SENT TO ASSES THE DAMAGE. HE TOOK ALOT OF PHOTO’S. HE TOLD US HE DOESN’T KNOW THE CORRECT AMOUNT BUT HE THINKS THERE IS 30+ TILES DAMAGED. WE WONDER IF HE KNOW THAT THESE TILES ARE NOT AVAILABLE ANY MORE. HE SAID HE WOULD GIVE THE PICTURES TO THE INSURANCE AND THEY WILL CONTACT US!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    STILL WAITING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    MY HUSBAND ENQUIRED AGAIN TO FIND OUT WHAT IS HAPPENING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    THEN TWO OTHER CONTRACTORS WERE SENT OUT. THE ONE ALSO TOLD US YOU DO NOT GET THESE ROOF TILE ANYMORE BECAUSE THE HOUSE IS OLD BUT WELL LOOKED AFTER. OUR CARPORT WAS PART OF THE HOUSE AND THE WEIGHT OF THE TREE ACTUALLY TORE THE BEAMS APART AND OUT THE WALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    THE STEAL CONSTRUCTION OF OUR ENTERTAINMENT THAT IS ALSO PART OF THE HOUSE HAVE ALSO BEEN BENT BY THE TREE. THEY SUGGESTED THAT BEAMS BE PUT IN TO HOLD THE BEAMS UP MUST BE PUT IN.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    FIRSTLY WE ARE NOT COMFARTABLE WITH IT. THE PALACE HAVE NEW FLOOR TILES IN AND THERE IS NO EXTRAS. ANDYOU ALSO DON’T GET THAT ANY MORE. THAT AREA IS PLUS MUNIS 82 SQUARE METERS. ARE THEY GOING TO RETILE THAT AS WELL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    THEN EVENTUALLY AN ACCESOR WAS SENT OUT A VERY YOUNG AND WE WONDER HOW MUCH EXPERIENCE HE ACTUALLY HAS. HE ALSO SUGGESTED DOWN BEAMS TO LIFT THE DAMAGED ONES. WE DO NOT WANT THAT. WHAT IF SOMETING HAPPENS IN THE FUTURE. MY QUESTION AGAIN ARE THE GOING TO RETILE AN AREA OF ABOUT 82 SQUARE METERS. AS I SAID THERE IS NO EXTRAS AND THEY DO NOT MAKE IT ANYMORE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    HE TOLD US THE FRIDAY SOMEBODY WILL COME START WITH THE REPAIRS. WE STILL WAITING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    WE GAVE HIM ALL THE PHOTO’S WE HAVE. WE WILL FORWARD IT TO YOU!!!!!!!!!!!
    ONCE AGAIN MY HUSBAND TRIED TO MAKE CONTACT WITH HIM NO REPLY BACK. ABSA’S SERVICE IS PETETIC TO SAY THE LEAST.
    AGAIN NOBODY CAME BACK TO US!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    WE ARE STILL WAITING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    NOBODY LETS US KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON OR WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN.
    IN THE MEANTIME WE HAD A CONSTRUCTION ENGINEER HERE TO HAVE A LOOK AT EVERYTHING FOR US. HE ALSO CONFIRMED THEY DO NOT MAKE OUR HOUSES ROOF TILES ANYMORE. EVERYTHING WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE YOU CAN’T USE ANOTHER TYPE OF ROOF TILE TO FIX THE BROKEN ONES. SO WHAT KNOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    THE DAMAGE IS GETTING MORE AND MORE AS TIME GOES BUY.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    WE BOUGHT THIS HOUSE ABOUT 27 YEARS FROM ABSA AND THIS IS THE SERVICE WE GETTING. IT IS DISGUSTING. OR IS IT BECAUSE OUR HOUSE IS PAID OF AND NOW THE ATTITUDE IS WAY HELP EVEN ALTHOUGH THE INSURANCE IS STILL PAID TO THE ABSA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    IF THAT CARPORT COLLAPSES ON ONE OF MY GRANDSONS 5YEARS AND YOUNGER THAN FIVE YEARS. BECAUSE WERE CHILDREN ARE NOT SUPPOSE TO GO THEY WILL GO.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    I WILL SUE ABSA IF ANYTHING HAPPENS TO THEM OR ANY ELSE FOR THAT MATTER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    WE HAVE ALSO BEEN ADVISE TO GO TO THE COMSUMER BOARD, AND OMBOETSMAN. AND I AM ALSO GOING TO CONTACT CARTE BLANCHE.
    WE ARE SICK AND TIRED TO HEAR NOTHING. IF WE DON’T CONTACT YOU WE HEAR NOTHING. ONCE AGAIN BAD, BAD, BAD SERVICE. WE ANSWERS AND ACTION NOW. PEOPLE AROUND US PROPERTIES HAVE BEEN FIXED AFTER THE FREACK WIND AND STORM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    PEOPLE GET SENT OUT TO ASSES AND WE GET TOLD THE BANK WILL CONTACT YOU. SO FAR WE HAVE BEEN DOING ALL THE CONTACTING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    BAD SERVICE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    WE WANT AN ANSWER BY THE END OF TOMORROW (MONDAY AFTERNOON 1 FEBRUARY) BEFORE THE END OF THE DAY. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    THE NEXT EMAIL WILL GO OUT TO ALL THE ABSA MANAGERS AND CEO’S OF THE INSURANCE DEPARTMENT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    WE HAVE WORK HARD TO PAY THIS PROPERTY AND ALL THE YEARS THE ONLY CLAIMS WAS A GEYSER HERE AND THERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    BE WARNED THIS IS NOT A TREAT IT IS A FACT WE WILL LEAVE NO STONE UNTURNED. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    ON 14 FEBRUARY MY GRANDSON OF A YEAR IS BEING BAPTISHED AND THE FUNTION IS HEAR AFTER CHURH.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    THIS IS A FRIENDLY WARNING OF WHAT OUR NEXT STEP WILL BE.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    THE CLOCK IS TICKING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    HERE IS PICTURE WE TOOK STRAIGHT AFTER THE STORM WICH THE FIRST CONTRACTOR TOOK. WE ALSO GAVE THE PHOTO’S TO THE ACCESOR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    WE WERE TOLD OUR CAZEBO WOULD NOT BE REPLACE ALTHOUGH IT WAS A PERMANET FIXTURE
    THE END OF MONDAY 1 FEBRUARY IS THE DAY FOR RESPONES AND NOT FROM YOU BUT YOUR MANAGER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    DON’T SAY WE DIDN’T WORNE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    Attach:
    scan.pdf [299.1KB] 20151221_160435[1].jpg [5.6MB] 20151221_160440[1].jpg [4.7MB] 20151221_160459[1].jpg [5.7MB] 20151221_163207[1].jpg [3.2MB] This_is_what_the_tree_looke_like_in_the_neighbours_yard[1].jpg [4.4MB] branched_been_cut_away[1].jpg [7.7MB] carport_when_branches_were_been_cutting_away[1].jpg [6MB] branches_had_to_be_cut_away_to_get_our_vechicle_out[1].jpg [5.7MB] carport_damage[1].jpg [7.5MB] cazebo[1].jpg [2.4MB] Indication_hhow_the_wind_blew[1].jpg [4.2MB]

  33. I have reported a claim on the 1st of Feb 2016. A pipe that Absa got a contractor for leaked again and caused damage to the ceiling, cupboard and solid wood door. After 12 phone calls they finally sent out an assessor to determine the damages. I requested a cash pay out since they get such pathetic constructors to fix problems. The assessors adivice are to only paint over the water damage. I told them I am not happy and should rethink that. I then sent photos of the damage after the women at asba promised me that she will sort it out. Now 12 emails later that are being ignored and 16 calls nothing has been done.
    It is the most pathetic service, client care and there is no professionalism. They talk over you and blatantly ignore you. Every time I have phoned the call centre there is no log of my previous call and no one knows what is going on. Each time I have to explain everything from the start.
    I am more that tired and disgusted by ABSA insurance.

  34. I’m so sick of absa I ph them the beginning of may 2016 and only after to log a complain for my roof yoh after 2weeks I contact the builder who didn’t come himself and then send his son to check it out after the 3rd week I ph absa to find out what is happening the guy from absa say I can’t claim its raining and I have to run with bucket to through water out absa is a joke since 1996 I have deal with them never claim so I have paid them the value of 3 houses already they pathatic will go and see them tomorow. To change my insurance Absa is a laughing joke what do they take peoples money for going to press with them too

    • I need to know where do I get the ombudsman cause I’m really not done with absa I got someone to go on the roof and took photos there is four holes on my roof and that boy that came to look for insurence company said it was the srew I’m really piss of cause the water leaking in my house when it rains I’m now Gatvol of this fucken absa insurance

  35. Please people out there do not use Absa for building insurance they are a sick joke company believe what people tell u .Don’t make the same mistake I made not o listern to others PLEASE DO NOT USE them for building insurance they a SICK JOKE believe me

  36. I could just copy the above and that would tell the story.
    I have two claims that have not being settled,I went into the insurance offices in Cape Town and discussed the problem with a manager who has taken the time to assist me and it seems that he has being unable to get any where.
    The insurance has now loaded my account with the new year premium, so now the fight is on to get this reversed.I recently spoke to one of the call center personal and he stated that there is nothing on my portfolio with regards to any complaint that i have made.
    All i can say,is that, i will never again deal with an insurance company again through a call center.
    I am going to cancel my bond,credit cards with this bank, i have a bond of R5.00,yes 5 Bucks.
    The only advise i can give is get out or better still dont go near ABSA insurance

  37. Claim number 3081685. On 28 June a contractor pitched up to check on my reported issue of a “lifting floor”. He took pictures and went away. That was it! I had to phone ABSA to find out what is happening?? Reply was they would now sent an assessor. Why was this not done earlier?? He pitched two days later stating that he would report back on Monday 18 July. Still nothing! I called later that day to ABSA who stated that the claim has been rejected. I asked for the report and I am still waiting.

  38. I also have the same problem and once the minimal repair is conducted i am going to change ABSA as well, kindly advise on other suitable service providers

  39. In Oct/Nov 2015 my geyser started leaking under claim no 2894612. The Flange was replaced – I was without water for 2 weeks.

    In Aug/Sep 2016 my geyser eventually burst claim 3092908 – again without water. Eventually geyser is replaced.

    Resultant damage on both occasions. As I cannot continue to take time off from work – I asked for repairs to be done on a Saturday. 1st time no problem. I asked assessor if the same crowd could do repairs as it is after hours and they don’t have a problem. They sent other people and did not take my request into consideration. The ppl who were appointed are not up to scratch. They don’t keep appointments (09h00 appointment they rock up 11h00) are rude and shout at me. The job is not finished – assessor company want to close the claim and send me a few rand to have the repair work completed. I don’t agree with this type of conducting of business. Of course I am livid and of course bad workmanship and bad business arrangements are not acceptable by me. Shocking to say the least.

    Foreman never on site. Painter speaks to me and I ask to see the foreman (conflicting messages and inconsistent with previous message). Foreman says to me – why must he (foreman) communicate to me. The painter can speak for himself. Owner screams and shouts at me. The workers and foreman know about this – it was a telephone call.
    I have had to pay for parts and my excess has been in the region of R1,500.00.

    I am hereby requesting that an investigation is done and the repair work is finished and work is done as per scope of work to be done. This has to be done after hours at my convenience by a reputable company and the company who did repair work in first instance or a company of the same calibre.

  40. So, in January my retaining wall of 40 years collapsed in the heavy storms. I am still waiting for ABSA to send me a letter informing me of the reasons for declining the claim but have received a letter stating that all objection processes have been followed and the claim is now closed. One wall of my house has collapsed due to the rains and I was advised that I do not have coverage for subsidence so claim will not be considered. Found old copy of insurance policy to find out that I do have subsidence coverage so lodged a claim only to be told that it is now too late to claim. Ombudsman, expect my complaint shortly. ABSA HOIC, your customer service is deplorable. I will be changing companies as soon as my objection to the Ombudsman has been resolved.

  41. I have a similar claim that has been rejected by med bank, based on poor workmanship and design, because the lap company used nails instead of rods to construct my Lap , which is 15 years old and they say it was poor workmanship.

  42. Absa is really disgusting and their staff is unprofessional. They couldn’t help me with my geyser claims and kept on telling me that I changed it even though I didn’t. I need a new home insurance company that is reliable because absa is definitely not. We just paying a lot of money for nothing

  43. I didn’t even read through all the above pathetic info.

    After an hour and four different operators who can’t open their mouths and speak up and transferring me from one to the other, I haven’t even had the privilege to FILE my claim. They collect premiums monthly by debit order but can’t find my policy. These people should be reported to the Ombuds Service ocer and over. Have one of did that?

  44. Think twice before you have your asset insured by Absa !!!!!!!
    During August’16 i lodged a complaint on previous claim (Claim nr 2753023) where Absa’s contractor done poor workmanship on the tiling work in shower after a burst pipe in wall between the shower rose & mixer.
    The tiles are falling off the wall, all 18 tiles has a hollow sound when knocking on it. After numerous visits by the assessor & contractor (Jack s Corp) the assessor (Henry Franklin) then claims that i have to replace the mixer, which never leaked before, before they will fix the tiling.
    Upon replacing the mixer & a new shower rose i discovered that all the tiles has been glued onto the wall and Not cemented and my plumber showed me that the contractor who worked there has damaged my old mixer cartridge when it was removed to do the tiling at that point of time. All evidence has been forwarded to the assessor. Besides the cost of the new mixer it costs me R1425.00 just for labour replacing the mixer which i feel they are responsible to fit the bill.

    Now a week later and we still don’t have a shower as they don t come and repair their poor workmanship. Keep following up with Mandy Ferreira from Digicall and the assessor with no joy. Mandy said yesterday when she gets time she will look into my claim/ complaint. Also waiting 10 minutes for your call to be answered by Absa Insurance and still waiting for “Lionel” to call me back since 29 Nov’16. The service are pathetic compare to what you pay for your building insurance comparing to their competitors are shocking!!!
    The assessor also promised to contribute R500 towards the damage of the paint on adjustend wall caused by the burst pipe, which i still haven t received.

    I’ve now switched over all my properties building insurance to Santam and premiums are also more than half cheaper.

  45. I have never experianced such bad , no , useless service as from Absa home owners insurance. I SUBMITTED A CLAIM IN March…. it is now August. Still waiting!!!!!!!Send

  46. ABSA Home Insurance is beyond useless . Today will be our 9th day without hot water . The people that they have sent to my home is as useles as ABSA . Everytime we call the call centre there is a new person who has no idea what they are doing and then I have to repeat the problem again and then I get transfered to somebody else . Our last call took 26 minutes . THE SERVICE SUCKS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  47. Extremely disappointed with Absa. I lodged a claim in September and my roof has still not been repaired to date,The contractor who was approved to complete the job has made contact with me once. I had to contact them twice and the excuse for the poor service was that they were extremely busy with other jobs! The contractor was also rude and unprofessional on the call. Absa has not made any attempts to contact me in the last 3 months. I had to call several times …very very disappointed and will probabally be switching to another insurance company soon!

  48. i had a major burst underground pipe at my home, i reported it oline on the absa claims section an sms was sent to me stating i will be contcted within 48hrs, nothing happened i called absa insurance, gave them the reference number, they could not locate the claim, i reregistered the claim with the consultant, the appointed a contarctor, but they could not help me immediately as they where busy, called absa insurance and explaine my poistion and told them i will get anothe contractor , they agreed,stating i must send photos, i sent the invoice and photos to them, my house in on hill, and full of rocks, the contractor detected two major leaks but could not dig because of the rocks and thick concrete, he suggested re rooting the pipies as it was the only way out, this was done, now absa says they dont pay for re rooting of pipes

  49. The ceiling in our passage way started to colapse, and big cracks form in the passage to the kitchen. The master bedroom ceiling is also opening up. And if not fix, will also start colapsing. I lodge a claim end of October with Absa. They were quick in sending the contractors, which sent the quote back to Absa. That was about the third of November. Since then, no communication from there side. A week after that a portion of the passage ceiling colapse leaving an opening where dirt are falling down. I call on a weekly basis to find out whats going on. Each time they promised to call me back. But I think they dont know how to work with the phones because after four weeks I am still waiting for them to call me. Yesterday morning I tried calling again, after ten minutes of listning to music I hang up and sent an e-mail instead. Well 24 hours later and I am still waiting. Next I want to lodge a complain. We are insured at Absa for almost 20 years. We only claimed once for a mirror in that time. The service is very bad.

  50. On three different legitimate occasions I tried to put in insurance claims and got an absolute run around with nothing but BS stories from them. I have to change insurance. Service that sucks is putting in mildly.

  51. On 10th October 2017 we had a violent storm on the Bluff in Durban with many trees blown down in my area. The wind blew off roof tiles and barge boards. damaged the awnings on the back veranda. A tree in my neighbours yard blew over braking the precast wall at the back yard. The assessor came and inspected the damage on the 12/10/2017 he said all he sees is WEAR and TEAR of the roof and awnings with a bit of storm damage. In his report he only says WEAR and TEAR and nothing about storm damage. He also reported the precast wall must be replaced. I only got the outcome of my claim on the 18/12/2017 that the roof and awnings have been rejected and they will help with the cost to replace the precast wall. All this time the roof has been exposed to the weather causing further damage. I have written to absa complaints department but don’t expect any reply before the New year. So I am in the need of help.

  52. I put in a claim for my gutters that blew down with the strong south easter wind on the 5/12/2017.
    Have not heard a word from ABSA. Tried to send a n EMAIL> NO RESPONSE. Call and hold on for 15 mins at a time and not getting hold of any one.

  53. Struggled for 8 months last year to get them to repair my bathrooms – to no avail. This had to do with a burst pipe which unfortunately compromised both bathrooms. They only would replace the damaged tiles yadayada…….. This after they initially sent a company out to do a leak detection with the outcome of ‘no leak, shower floor requires resealing’. Threatened them with private leak detection company who has no gain out of repair work. Voila, within 5 minutes the chap found the leak!!!
    Have insured 5 properties with them over the last 40 years – all they’re willing to look at is geyzers. Everything else they have excuses for. Pillars not planted according to regulations albeit that the building inspector approved it according to building regulations that many years ago. Onus on me to keep up with latest building regulations. I thought that Absa et al were there to keep us informed. Are they not in the service industry. Unfortunately they feed Digicall who in turn feed contractors who in turn pay them to be able to deliver the service. SHOCKING STATE OF AFFAIRS TO SAY THE LEAST.
    Well, today I’m going to attempt to institute a claim for a wall that seems to be konking, which was pointed out just by the way last Jan 2017 to the assessor who eventually came for the leak. Looked minor then, however, is not looking good now. Hold thumbs.

  54. ABSA IS A JOKE
    I have had a claim from October 2017 storm that hit Durban that is still not resolved.
    communication with absa is pathetic,nothing for a month to go by before you get a reply to an email.
    180km/h wind blows fascia boards and gutters off and its wear and tear.i ask them if the wind didn’t blow would the house still be in tact,no answer.
    my advice if you are insured with them is to be very very carefull.
    one can insure with another company although bonded with absa,certainly my intention!
    USELESS,USELESS USELESS

  55. ABSA insurance is realy a joke, they just refuse to pay my wall that fell over and there excuse is that there is roots which is not the case.
    I am 32 years with ABSA with a clean account record and will close my account with them as from immediate effect

  56. Our house is on a slope and our washing room and porch is completely detached from the rest of the house. Absa denied the claim. If our house isnt fixed, we will just end up moving out and not paying the bond anymore. Blacklisted or not. The house is a danger to live in and we cant afford to fix it. We also owe more on it than what its worth so it will be their loss.

  57. I’ve been a loyal client of ABSA ever since their existence. Before ABSA, I’ve been with Volkskas Bank. However, I’m fed up with ABSA Insurance ignoring me while they are more than willing and happy to accept my yearly premium. On top of it, they stick with their so called prefered service providers, who is NOT capable of doing the job, or seemingly not interested to do the job! Example: Believe it or not, they would appoint a Plumber time after time, from another town, some 100 km away from the house that requires attention, to come and “fix” a leaking roof after a gail winds, heavy hail and rain storm. These storm occurred quite often the past two years. All the prefered service provider did, was replacing a section of the ceiling and painted some of the walls. Ever since, there were more and more storms, worsening the situation. Never did he performed ANY roof inspection. None of my written and telephonic questions neither any suggestions made to them, received any attention, except for ABSA Insurance requesting “proof of maintenance” After providing proof, I’ve been blatantly ignored. I had to cough up R500 every time to their prefered service provider. Eventually, another contractor was appointed, who took MONTHS to respond, only after complaining to ABSA Insurance a number of times. This happened only after I got hold of a well known Property developer in the home town, who conducted a thorough roof inspection. He found, among other roof damages, several cracked tiles, as well as a hole in one of the tiles. Needless to say, the problem has been finally solved after almost two years! I,ve paid the Developer an amount of R27000 from my pocket by the end of last year. ABSA Insurance has been officially informed about my decision. I’h provided them with all the proof, i.e photos, quotation indicating the scope of work and proof of payment. AGAIN with NO response from their side, whereafter I’ve escalated the issue to the Complaints Department, who after taking their time, requested a cost breakdown by the Developer. How ridiculous!! I finally obtained it and officially submitted it to the Complaints Department…. just to wait again for better days! My NEXT STEP is to escalate this issue to the Ombudsman, which I intend to do straight away.

    My advice to EVERYBODY out there: PLEASE STAY AWAY FROM ABSA INSURANCE AS FAR AS YOU CAN!!!!! One can not complain about their service, since you can not complain about something that does not exist…………!

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