Cell C changed my month-to-month contract to 24 months without my knowledge or concent

In November 2021 I went to Cell C in Kenilworth Centre as my contract had expired and the device I wanted was not available. They offered me a month-to-month contract in the interim, which I accepted. On the contract document I ask them why they put '24 months' if the contract was indeed month-to-month. They told me that 'they had to put it there but I can cancel at any time with no penalties as it is month-to-month'. As a customer, I accepted this as I am unfami**** with how Cell C drafts their contracts.

On 20 December 2022, I went back to the store to cancel the month-to-month in order to open a new contract. The store informed me that my month-to-month had been converted to a 24 month in November 2021 and that communication was sent via SMS. The call centre said that Cell C has the right to change the terms and conditions of their contracts and if I want to cancel the current contract, I will incur penalties.

This is completely unacceptable: -Cell C staff had directly **** to me regarding the month-to-month contract and coerced me into entering into a 24 month contract by providing incorrect information; -Cell C does not have the authority to change the type of contract I believed I was entering into as this is a legal agreement to which I need to agree to and accept as this directly affects me as a customer; -The alleged communication with regards to the change in the contract terms and conditions was apparently communicated via SMS - This is completely unacceptable as there are legal implications and affects my rights as a customer. ALL contract documentation, statements etc. are sent via email, but yet this communication was not. -In order to be released from the 24 month contract, Cell C now wants me to pay a settlement amount. -Cell C has taken advantage of their position and taken liberties to change the terms and conditions of a legal agreement, which was not communicated effectively and violates my rights as a customer. -Cell C continues to offer month-to-month products, so there is no justification as to why they changed their terms and conditions on certain month-to-month contracts.