Sable International Reviews

Name: Sable International
Rating: 4.83

4.8 Rating 1,751 Reviews

96 %

of reviewers recommend Sable International

Company Reviews

Metrics

Info

4.8

Based on 1,751 reviews

Shipping & Delivery
Delivery Methods	Courier, Postal Service
Average Delivery Time	Next Day
On-time Delivery	97%
Accurate And Undamaged Orders	100%
Customer Service
Communication Channels	Telephone, Email, Live Chat
Queries Resolved In	Under An Hour
Customer Service	4.8 out of 5

About Sable International:

We are experts in helping small to medium-sized businesses, private individuals and clients with international interests. These clients are often global citizens with family, offices, suppliers, clients, property or wealth overseas.

Sable International is the parent company of 1st Contact. Over the last few years we have been merging the 1st Contact brand into Sable International. You'll still get that same great service, just under a new name.

Our clients are at the heart of our business. First-hand referrals are our major source for growth in each sector. We realise that all of our clients are unique in terms of both their current circumstances and their future plans and we pride ourselves on thinking differently to tailor solutions that help.

If you are looking for a smart, approachable addition to your team, we’re always here and we look forward to working with you.

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Phone:

+44 (0) 207 759 7550

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Anonymous

Anonymous // 01/01/2019

Filter: Rated 1 None 5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Stars Helpful

“I find it impossible to get help from your organization after paying over 2000 pounds to move forward I went to the seminar in Durban this week to be told I needed a special appointment on Saturday and I would be contacted with the details Well Saturday is here and I am still waiting Phone calls and emails have been ignored While waiting to discuss there were others who told me of the years they have been dealing with Sable International and little progress has been made”

Helpful Report

“Been a customer for almost 15 years and have been happy. However this weeks service left me disappointed. I did a speed service so that the money could be in the SA account by 24 hours, however 72 hours later the money is not reflecting and there’s no one in the offices to answer the queries. What’s the point of a speed service if this is not followed through”

Helpful Report

“I enquired with Sable about a year ago now and was looking into getting my British Citizenship. I was asked to fill out a form and send in the relevant documentation which was all smooth and seamless. However, it became rather uncoordinated and messy once they asked me to pay the £350 status trace because apparently, they did not have enough information regarding my claim to British citizenship. Anyway, I paid it thinking it's the normal thing to do. However, afterwards, I received a written report stating that I would need more information and that I would need to pay a further £100 per half-hour phone consultation and that it was highly unlikely that I would get my citizenship. I then enquired with another company and I am in the process of applying for my right of abode. No upfront costs or hidden fees, just a straightforward processing fee and the acknowledgement that I had already provided all the relevant documentation. I would advise anyone looking to get their citizenship elsewhere. Sable just like to pretend that it is a long strenuous procedure and milk as much money from you as possible along the way and their so-called 'Specialist Lawyers' are in it purely for the money.”

Helpful Report

Hi Anonymous, This is definitely not the feedback we like to receive and we do take our service, advice and customer care very seriously, so we would love to look into this matter for you if you could write to us or provide your name? Our Citizenship reports are written by specialists and they involve individualised research into your specific case. If you have been through this process and received a negative result from your report, then there was no simple route to citizenship. That means it is highly unlikely that someone would qualify for citizenship, and the truth of the matter is we’d be suspicious of a firm that claims otherwise, especially if they do not require documents to go ahead with an application. As mentioned, we would be happy to look into your case if you could provide more details as we would never want anyone to feel as dissatisfied as you do after engaging our services.

“They rejected my application and refuse to tell me why. The application literally only asks for your name, passport and phone, so I cannot understand what could possibly be wrong. Terrible experience.”

Helpful Report

Hi Anonymous, we'd love to help you as this doesn't sound right at all and might be a technical problem, but we'd need a few more details such as which business division you were dealing with and what you were trying to apply for?

“Made a mistake on an e document, so I say no problem I will redo it, please resend the e document. Anita refuses, tells me to print out the pdf form and fill it in manually. we are in a hard lockdown in the uk, everything is shut, I do not have a printer at home and I cannot get to one. I really cant see any logic as to why you cannot send a new e document by email, it's all done electronically, it does not cost anything and should not take that long!”

Helpful Report

Hi C, Thanks for bringing this to our attention. We believe your estates administrator has been in touch to explain how our processes work in South Africa, which are more complex due to exchange control regulations, and that Anita has now provided you with a fresh docusign link?

“I Don't think you have answered my question.Everything you have told me is available on the UK Gov site. I am in receipt of a British Pension and am too old to work. There Pension is not enough to support me in UK. I expect to go back to UK and be supported by children until my income is adjusted. I expect to bring my wife of 20 years with me. She is young enough to find work. We have both lived in UK before from 2000 to 2007 before leaving together to come back to Zambia. She has unlimited right of abode in her former passport which has expire”

Helpful Report

Hi Martin, We looked into your communication with our team and found that our consultant had sent you a complimentary and comprehensive breakdown of the process and requirements for moving to the UK with your wife. We have also sent you a number of follow up emails with no response. If you require further assistance, please feel free to contact the team again and we'd be happy to assist further.

“I went through Sable to organise my British passport. Very disappointed in the way they handled my case and will not be recommending them to anyone! Still waiting for my refund and its been over a year.”

Helpful Report

Hi Murray, thank you for the review and we are sorry to hear that you were not happy with our level of service. Often with these types of applications the documentation needed is quite onerous, but is completely necessary. We have looked at all the correspondence, and we will try ensure that we can possibly expand on this more clearly to set the expectations earlier on. I can confirm that your refund is being done and we will make sure to follow up to make sure it is completed.

“No reply from my case worker... and no one had taken the time to explain the root that I'm on and how long it will take to complete... before paying I was contacted and felt helped now I feel used and abandoned.”

Helpful Report

Hi Anonymous, We definitely do not want you to feel let down, and we will make sure any confusion is cleared up. I see that your caseworker has been responded to your recent emails, and advised that she had tried to call you to explain the way forward. I have contacted her and she will call you again this morning. Kind regards, John Dunn, Director Citizenship and Immigration

“I am in London. I deposit R51000 into 1st contact account on 01.05.2020. to be transfered into my credit card in South Arica. Today is 13th May and the funds have been transfered into someone elses account in another bank. I have spent so much money on fone calls trying to find out where my money is! All first contact say is that this should not have happened! I'm a pensioner and trusted First Contact, but have to go to the Ombudsman 😠”

Helpful Report

Hi Moira, We’re so sorry you had this experience and can imagine how worrying it must have been. The transaction was processed on the 6th and when you alerted us of the funds not arriving on the 12th we did an investigation immediately. The funds were always with Nedbank they were just assigned to a different division but as discussed they are on route to you and will be in your account first thing tomorrow morning if they're not there today already. I hope you received the voucher codes we sent you this morning and benefit from the saving they’ll provide on your next transfers, as our way of hoping to make up for the inconvenience you experienced on this one.

“No detail of service info first but give card info over the phone?”

Helpful Report

“They keep sending me garbage inappropriate text messages. I dont know this company. So i will say you are 21st century Con Artist.”

Helpful Report

Hi, we've checked across departments and we can't find records of your name or email address on any of our contact lists so we're not sure how you could be receiving text messages from us. Perhaps you could provide a few more details about the contents of the text messages? We only send text messages to customers who specifically subscribe to them, mostly forex alerts or customers who have used one of our visa services.

“I want to register and receive money from abroad but Its not helping .It is only giving room to people sending meaning I won't be able to get the code .”

Helpful Report

Hi there, The person who is sending you money will have to register to send the money to you. We're happy to talk you through the process. Please feel free to email us or give us a call, or even chat to us on our website at https://secure.1stcontact.com. Our forex team is standing by to assist.

“Had to pay R7000 for a 2nd status trace after the first found we needed extra document to make an application. The second status trace factually contradicted the first leaving us wondering which was the correct. each took over 12 weeks. Now the case worker assigned has been confusing me and my father. Avoid! We are now a further 6 months down the line and still no progress and just been informed my case worker has changed again. What a farce, they are just taking our money whether they have the resources to provide the service or not!”

Helpful Report

Hi Mike, we believe your problem was resolved? Please let us know if there's anything more we can do to assist you.

“At this point I don't even know where to start with Sable, to put quiet simply the Lack of Communication is astounding, I would have to ask for an update for my application before being told "yes we have heard back and your application has been rejected". this has now happened twice, is my application, time and money a joke? I don't know if it is because I am dealing with you guys from overseas. it's been 3years of back and forth and nothing to show. On the Phillip Gamble website, they make it seem clean cut, No Passport, No Payment. so far this process is painting a different picture. I have spent so much in this process, I feel like i cant go anywhere else as I will most likely start spending afresh. I feel like I am being held ransom.”

Helpful Report

Dear Juliet, We are sorry to hear that you feel this way. Having conducted an internal investigation we find the below facts; • You first application, which was with the Home Office in the U.K. for a status confirmation letter confirming that they agree with us and you are a British citizen, was lodged on 26/6/2018 and it was approved on 5/12/2018. The Home Office then issued a status letter. • Your next application, which was for your passport and used the above letter as proof, was lodged with Her Majesty's Passport Office (HMPO) on 21/2/2019 and much to our surprise it was rejected – we felt this was unfair and agreed to lodge a complaint/re-application process on your behalf for no additional fee. • Your first re-application was lodged on 12/12/2019 and no extra fees for our time was charged to you – sadly, this application was also, in our opinion rejected incorrectly and we agreed we would work on a no fee basis to compile another re-application on your behalf. • Your second re-application was lodged on 21/2/2020 and no additional fee for our time was charged to you – sadly, this application was also rejected incorrectly. • This bring us to this present moment where our Managing Director has agreed to lodge a Director General’s review – we emailed you this on the 16th of March and once again, we were happy not to charge you for our time. As you can see, our firm have always gone beyond what is expected and a lot of uncharged time has gone into your application because we thought you were being treated unfairly and we are on your side! Lastly, we have always maintained that we would be happy to issue you a full refund of the case fee you paid (email sent you on the 16.3.2019). As you can appreciate we are not in control of the Passport Office or responsible for their actions and we are as frustrated with them as you are.

“Behaved like bullies after I highlighted irregular practices. Malicious and unethical. Not Jew-friendly at all.”

Helpful Report

Hi there, we are disturbed to read this review as we are fully regulated and dedicated to ensuring that our business practices always remain legal and above board. We are also proud of our diverse global workforce and embrace all cultures and religions. Please provide more details so we can follow up on your concerns.

“Had to pay R7000 again for a 2nd status trace after the first found we needed extra document to make an application. The second status trace factually contradicted the first leaving us wondering which was the correct one . Each took over 12 weeks. Now the case worker assigned has been confusing me and my father which is critical to the application . Avoid!”

Helpful Report

“Paid $40 for next day transfer and 2 days later still no finds transferred”

Helpful Report

Hi Garry, thank you for your feedback and a one a star is definitely warranted here. The funds will be in today but that’s one day late, which isn’t what we promised and I’m very sorry we didn’t deliver. Please accept our sincere apologies and email your Australian account details to: money@1stcontact.com (Attention Gemma (FX manager)) and we’ll make sure we refund you the full $40 transfer fee. Apologies again for any inconvenience caused. If you have any further questions, please do let us know.

“Don’t waste your money. They did nothing for me but book an interview for a centre that was a few hours from my home. I had to call and change the appointment myself anyway, to a centre that was 10 minutes away. When I eventually had the interview they told me that companies like this are a scam. There’s literally no point.”

Helpful Report

Hi Katie, Thank you for taking the time to feedback on our services both online and via our customer satisfaction survey. I'm sorry that you weren't happy with the service provided. We can understand your frustration with us having your appointment booked so far away from where you stay, only for you to call the DWP and change the appointment to a venue closer to you. In terms of the appointment and venue taking place so far away from your address, this isn't unusual and has happened to a number of clients we've assisted through this process. The reason for it is that the DWP is currently dealing with a surge of NINO applications and simply do not have the capacity or venues to meet this influx. Up until April 2018, visa holders were not required to attend evidence of identity interviews, this suddenly changed but it seems that the DWP did not make provision in terms of opening more centres to conduct these interviews. Although there are 100s of Job Centres scattered around the UK, not all of them hold these interviews. The DWP work on a live booking system, this means that whenever we call to book appointments, the appointment date and time we are given is the soonest available appointment at that given moment. They also take into consideration the UK residential address provided and will book at the nearest available DWP which has appointments available. Up until recently they'd only book at DWP's closest to the address and would ask us to call back at a later stage if appointments were not available. From our side, if our clients tell us that the DWP is too far out for travel, we will call as many times as we need to in order to get an appointment closer to their UK residential address. With regards to the DWP consultant calling into question the legitimacy of our service, we have never advertised our services as anything other than administrative, we don't advertise that we fast track appointments and our terms and conditions clearly state that we are not the DWP and that if you call them directly, you'd be able to set everything up without costs. 1st Contact has been a registered financial services provider for over 20 years with offices all over the world. We have assisted thousands of clients from their visa process right through to purchasing property in the UK, we'd never jeopardize the rest of our services by offering one that wasn't legal.

“Used them for getting a National Insurance Number. The NIN officer would not accept any of my documentation for being self-employed. So I should have saved me the trouble by going through 1st Contact”

Helpful Report

Hi, We’re sorry to hear you had a bad experience at your DWP appointment. We always provide a comprehensive list of documentation needed for individuals who are self-employed. Your consultant will be in touch with you shortly to see what we can do to further assist you.

“DO NOT USE SABLE !!! Incompetent, lack of urgency, will ruin your reputation with international suppliers !!! STAY AWAY !!!”

Helpful Report

Dear Mr Maharaj, We’re sorry that you are disappointed in the service you received. Just to clarify the circumstances: On Friday afternoon, the 1st of February you confirmed a quotation for your invoice with our Forex team and we subsequently booked the deal and sent you the trade advice immediately reflecting the ZAR required to cover your deal. You only made your payment the following Monday, not including the SWIFT fee of R 450 and on Tuesday 5th of February your funds cleared which was the settlement date. On Wednesday the 6th our bank informed us the balance in your account did not cover the ZAR amount to settle your deal because it was short the SWIFT fee. We informed you via email on Wednesday to please pay the outstanding amount, but as at Friday 8th had yet to receive a response regarding the matter from you or the required payment. Today, 11th February, we have made a plan to cover your outstanding balance with our funds to settle this deal and trust that we can resolve this matter directly through the Forex team going forward. Whilst we understand that you are upset, from our side we tried our best to assist you as quickly as possible and we are sorry that you are disappointed.

Sable International is rated 4.8 based on 1,751 reviews