Lessons in Debt Collection & False Product Offerings

<p>Since the beginning of last year (March 2016), Edcon as well as their previous and current debt collection agencies (SSDA) have been peristently sending me communication regarding an amount of R149.95 which I apparently owe to them.</p> <p> </p> <p>Listed below are the issues and concerns I have regarding the level of professionalism (or lack thereof) that this organisation has displayed:</p> <p>1. The R149.95 is an amount charged in respect of a cellular product (insurance or something to that effect - a product which I have never heard of prior) that I apparently agreed to verbally over the phone. I have no recollection of such events, as a result I ask that Edcon management send through the verbal recording of this conversation / agreement that solidified this contract and their right to charge me. Once I have a formal response and the recording, I will reference this to the Consumer Protection Act in order to gauge and understand the TCF implications of being charged for something I did not agree to.</p> <p> </p> <p>2. The persistent phone calls have taken place during both working hours (interrupting countless meetings at my workplace) and thereafter. Each phonecall has been an incredibly frustrating and embarassing conversation, knowing that the amount was incorrectly charged to my account.</p> <p> </p> <p>3. Halfway through last year (2016) I eventually got hold of someone at Edgars who assured me that the incident would be sorted and the balance cleared. I then closed the account immediately.</p> <p>A week later I again started receiving calls from the debt collection agency, who informed me that this was my problem whether I liked it or not. They also informed me that my credit rating would be changed if I did not pay the amount above. Working in the financial sector and understanding the seriousness of this claim, I was furious. They then went on to say that they do not make contact with Edcon and that I would need to get a reference number from Edcon to clear it on their side. So I did. To my surprise, I again started receiving phonecalls from SSDA a week later (to date).</p> <p> </p> <p>So my questions to Edcon are as follows:</p> <p>1. What right do you have to charge me for a product offering I did not (under any circumstances) agree to? </p> <p>2. How does your mistake then become a mess that I have to spend valuable time cleaning up (re: reference numbers & your failed internal processes)?</p> <p>3. How do you decide on your intermediaries (i.e. debt collector SSDA) and are there any kind of Service Level Agreements in place to protect your customer?</p> <p> </p> <p>Surely an organisation of your size understands it responsibility to its customers.</p> <p> </p> <p>This has been the worst retail experience I have ever edured. </p>