False advertising and changes contract terms without explicitly stating what has changed.

*******ly changing month to month contracts to fixed term contracts, and then charging a commitment amount.

I signed up on a Month-to-Month contract with Cell C under the impression that I was going have no hassle cancelling the contract, with their agent and website promising 'Cancel Anytime, No Fees'. The website literally says that right now for Month-to-Month contracts.

I called them today to cancel the contract only to be told that I have now been changed to a fixed-term contract, where I am liable for 10 months of the 'remaining contract term'. How do I have a remaining contract term if I have a month-to-month contract. They also have pointed to Terms and Conditions they have sent out last year saying a cancellation penalty fee has changed. They do not say in the SMS nor in their Terms and Conditions link in the SMS that I have no been moved to a fixed term contract and I have a 'Commitment Amount' to be paid if I chose to cancel. I had to find out from the Retention Department that my contract is now fixed term, 24 months and if I want to cancel, I need to pay R1600 for the remaining term, FOR A MONTH-TO-MONTH contract. Furthermore, after reviewing the updated Terms and Conditions, no-where does it state anything about a commitment amount, neither do they state any calculations on how this new 'cancellation penalty fee' is decided.

The Terms and Conditions actually only state: 6.3.1.3. a reasonable cancellation penalty in respect of any of Services which would have continued for the remaining contract period of the Agreement.

A 'reasonable cancellation penalty'. R1600 as a penalty fee on a month-to-month contract is not reasonable.

The Manager refuses to call me back. The Head Office number I received does not work.