Cell C pulls the wool...............

I renewed my contract with Cell C last month, and was told by the lady that assisted me that the account would be marginally higher this month, as there would be a pro-rata charge for the new contract. The contract would have expired on 13th August 2019 but was told that I could renew it last month and no mention of a discount being lost was made – more so because the lady who assisted me did was unaware of that than from her being negligent in failing to inform me.

The average account over the past five months is R1, 809-00, with the July invoice being the highest at R2, 029. The August invoice was a little more than marginally higher at R4, 062-00.

When I went to ask the lady at Cell C, North Cape Mall, Kimberley, she had no explanation but called whoever they call to find out why the invoice had doubled. )I must say that Sasha at Cell C has been most helpful and her service is great).

However, this is the explanation that was given to her: There is a monthly “extra” 20GB data each month. That data is then discounted for whatever reason. However, because I renewed the contract before month end, the data discount was not given, resulting in me being done in with R2, 000-00.

Why did the lady helping me not tell me that? The simple answer is that she did not know that herself, and she admitted as much to me. And of course, Cell C has me tied up for a further 24 months, because to cancel that contract now is out of the question.

Why does Cell C do such underhanded business? Because most people have no idea how to read the invoice with all its figures and discounts, and would just accept that there is a higher charge and leave it at that. And if every person that renewed a contract was done out of that kind of money, imagine how much extra revenue Cell C is generating by doing dishonest business?

It must surely be their responsibility to be able to advise clients correctly when renewing a contract and that the full cost implication be given upfront. Should the client then decide to proceed with the transaction, that is his / her option. But, when the assistant admits that she was not aware of how the charges work, they must accept responsibility and pass the credit.

Cell C should not be allowed to get away with ********* business practice as they are obviously managing to do.