heartless ******** DSTV

I own a pub and have been a loyal dstv subscriber for decades. Needless to say, my industry was decimated by the lockdown regulations when we were forced to close between April and August. Most of my fellow pub owners are battling to stay afloat whilst a vast majority have closed shop permanently leaving thousands unemployed and destitute. During the same time Multichoice is posting record profits due to people couped up at home.

My DSTV at the pub was cut on Friday. i promptly paid the invoice amount of R620 and phoned the call centre. The automated system told that if I pay R0 [yes zero rand] I will be reconnected within 5 mins. After numerous attempts I eventually get hold of the business call centre operative who informs me that her system shows that I owe an amount of R2800 being the subscription from April to September and that this needed to be paid before i can get reconnected. I told her that we were not trading as per government lockdown to which she responded that because i didnt deactivate the service, that i was still liable for the costs.

I subsequently explained to her that first and foremost on my mind was how i was going to support 16 families that are dependant on my business running and that furthermore, i knew that DSTV would immediately suspend the account due to non payment. She the non chalantly responds that the contract says that THEY MAY OR NOR NOT suspend the service due to non payment. Utterly flabergasted I was going to read her the CPA Act but soon realised that this would be in vain. She indicated that only her supervisor can sort this out and thereafter proceeded to take down my contact details. Almost 2 days have passed now and no correspondence. Furthermore i have lost the whole weekend of turnover as important matches could not be screened.

ADT, Telkom, Sanlam and every other company we diligently pay have all not charged us during this unprecendented time. I refuse to bow down to tyranny and greed and if DSTV wants to continue to demand payment for services not rendered. let them do so. There will soon come a time when they cannibilise the very people that keep them going. Im done with their **** even if it means me joining the other thousands that have closed shop already. Lets chat in a year DSTV once you have scortched your entire pub base.....and I will have this chat with your senior managers in the unemployment line to which you will hugely contribute to.