Scores reflect the Overall AI Score for each category
Based on recent customer reviews, Foneyam is described by customers as an affordable way to access a smartphone that is undermined by severe execution failures. Recurring themes are lost device claims that stall or are cancelled without reason, payments that are not allocated leaving devices remotely locked, and contracts customers say were sold as short payoffs but run far longer and cost far more.
Top Strengths:
- •Customer Service & Professional Guidance: A small group of named consultants, including Ally, Anastacia, Maxine, Sharde Boks and managers Sophia and Ngosinathi, are singled out as patient, professional and willing to take ownership, showing resolution is possible when the right person engages.
Replied to 100% of negative reviews
Reply time on negative reviews: 19h 7m
TrustIndex
2.6
Ranking
#18
in Loans & Credit
Reply Time
18h 55m
NPS Score
-42
Recommended: Unlikely
Replied to 100% of negative reviews
Reply time on negative reviews: 19h 7m
Nov '25 - Oct '26
Frequently Asked Questions About Foneyam
What do customers say about Foneyam?
Based on recent customer reviews, Foneyam is described by customers as an affordable way to access a smartphone that is undermined by severe execution failures. Recurring themes are lost device claims that stall or are cancelled without reason, payments that are not allocated leaving devices remotely locked, and contracts customers say were sold as short payoffs but run far longer and cost far more.
What is Foneyam's biggest strength?
Foneyam's biggest strength, according to Hellopeter's AI analysis, is Customer Service & Professional Guidance. A small group of named consultants, including Ally, Anastacia, Maxine, Sharde Boks and managers Sophia and Ngosinathi, are singled out as patient, professional and willing to take ownership, showing resolution is possible when the right person engages.
What are the most common complaints about Foneyam?
The most common complaint about Foneyam, based on Hellopeter's AI analysis of recent customer reviews, is Billing, Payments & Financial Accuracy. Customers consistently report payments made via Pay@, EFT or in store not being allocated, devices locked despite proof of payment, duplicate debits converted to credit rather than refunded, and contracts extended by months without explanation or statements.
How does Foneyam compare to other Loans & Credit companies?
Foneyam scores 1.1 out of 5 on Hellopeter's AI analysis of service quality in Loans & Credit, compared to the Loans & Credit industry average of 2.1. Their strongest theme is Agent Quality (1.3); their weakest is Communication (1). The top AI-rated Loans & Credit business on Hellopeter is AutoFin Assist (4.6). How is the AI Score calculated? →
Is Foneyam trustworthy?
Foneyam has a TrustIndex of 2.6 out of 10 on Hellopeter, based on 479 reviews in the last 12 months. They reply to 100% of negative reviews, typically within 19 hours 7 min. Hellopeter has tracked Foneyam across 775 total reviews. How is the TrustIndex calculated? →
Recent reviews (479)
Used this business recently? Share your experience to help others decide.
Used this business recently? Share your experience to help others decide.
Share Your Experience1 reviews | Active since Oct 2024
********** account opened in my name
I found out someone had opened an account on my name, however I don't live in SA anymore. The customer service members were actually quite helpful in steering me in the right direction, but once I had sent an email to the ***** department as advised, they just did not reply. I'm assuming it takes time to investigate these claims, but an acknowledgement of my email would be a good start. I am also concerned how someone can just open an account in my name without proof of who they are. Are there not enough security checks? I have registered with the SA ***** prevention service in the past. You would think companies would do more to combat ********** accounts and work with these organisations.
1 reviews | Active since Oct 2024
********** account opened in my name
I found out someone had opened an account on my name, however I don't live in SA anymore. The customer service members were actually quite helpful in steering me in the right direction, but once I had sent an email to the ***** department as advised, they just did not reply. I'm assuming it takes time to investigate these claims, but an acknowledgement of my email would be a good start. I am also concerned how someone can just open an account in my name without proof of who they are. Are there not enough security checks? I have registered with the SA ***** prevention service in the past. You would think companies would do more to combat ********** accounts and work with these organisations.
1 reviews | Active since Jul 2012
Lizam from foneyam is very rude
I received a call from Lizam from foneyam that rude person must NEVER EVER call my phone again. I need someone to take accountability for malfunctioning phone that I took from foneyam. From day 1 the phone was a s**** and the manager from Ackerman's in Palm Springs is well aware of the s**** they sold me. I took this phone back and I was told I would need to pay R1500 to cancel a contract does that make sense that I must accept a faulty device. Now I am sick and I am receiving calls from rude Lizam telling me I owe a rental device tell her to come and pick up this s**** device since she knows best.
1 reviews | Active since Jul 2012
Lizam from foneyam is very rude
I received a call from Lizam from foneyam that rude person must NEVER EVER call my phone again. I need someone to take accountability for malfunctioning phone that I took from foneyam. From day 1 the phone was a s**** and the manager from Ackerman's in Palm Springs is well aware of the s**** they sold me. I took this phone back and I was told I would need to pay R1500 to cancel a contract does that make sense that I must accept a faulty device. Now I am sick and I am receiving calls from rude Lizam telling me I owe a rental device tell her to come and pick up this s**** device since she knows best.
1 reviews | Active since Oct 2026
FoneYam Cancelling Legitimate ******* Claims
FoneYam Cancelling Legitimate ******* Claims Brand Exploitation – FoneYam Cancelling Legitimate ******* Claims I am utterly appalled by the predatory practices of FoneYam, which operates directly under Pepkor Holdings. I (Oosthuzen, Contract: ***) was cornered and ****** of my phone in broad daylight. We have submitted the official SAPS case details, ITC blacklisting, we have explicit timestamped CCTV video footage proving the crimebut nowhere to upload it. Instead of processing the claim fairly, FoneYam sent an automated SMS "cancelling" the ****** device claim and demanding ongoing monthly rental payments for an asset she no longer has. This is a blatant attempt at "double recovery" and unjust enrichment, hiding behind highly one-sided contract terms to exploit a traumatized crime victim. As the holding company of PEP, Ackermans, and Abacus Insurance, Pepkor needs to take accountability for how its financial products treat vulnerable South African consumers. This practice directly violates Section 48 of the Consumer Protection Act (CPA). We have formally disputed this via *** and expect Pepkor head office to intervene, reverse this cancellation, and stop attempting to collect debit orders for a ****** device. If not resolved, this matter goes straight to the CGSO and National Consumer Commission. — Simone Oosthuizen
1 reviews | Active since Oct 2026
FoneYam Cancelling Legitimate ******* Claims
FoneYam Cancelling Legitimate ******* Claims Brand Exploitation – FoneYam Cancelling Legitimate ******* Claims I am utterly appalled by the predatory practices of FoneYam, which operates directly under Pepkor Holdings. I (Oosthuzen, Contract: ***) was cornered and ****** of my phone in broad daylight. We have submitted the official SAPS case details, ITC blacklisting, we have explicit timestamped CCTV video footage proving the crimebut nowhere to upload it. Instead of processing the claim fairly, FoneYam sent an automated SMS "cancelling" the ****** device claim and demanding ongoing monthly rental payments for an asset she no longer has. This is a blatant attempt at "double recovery" and unjust enrichment, hiding behind highly one-sided contract terms to exploit a traumatized crime victim. As the holding company of PEP, Ackermans, and Abacus Insurance, Pepkor needs to take accountability for how its financial products treat vulnerable South African consumers. This practice directly violates Section 48 of the Consumer Protection Act (CPA). We have formally disputed this via *** and expect Pepkor head office to intervene, reverse this cancellation, and stop attempting to collect debit orders for a ****** device. If not resolved, this matter goes straight to the CGSO and National Consumer Commission. — Simone Oosthuizen
1 reviews | Active since Jul 2023
Disappointed and ****med
My son's phone was ****** and when I called the foneyam to find out about the insurance appearantly they say if your phone is lost or ****** when you claim insurance and if your claim is approved then your contract will be renewed even you have 1 or 2 installments left now I asked *** what is the point of saying the phone is insured if your contract is going to be renewed if you have never defaulted and are left with the last installment because now it means you are going to be paying the phone for another 12 months yet they says it is insured ****************.This was never mentioned when I app**** for the phone they said it's insured and it does not affect the contract yet it is renewed once you a phone is lost or ****** ...we are being sold lies PLEASE BE CAREFUL BEFORE APPLYING
1 reviews | Active since Jul 2023
Disappointed and ****med
My son's phone was ****** and when I called the foneyam to find out about the insurance appearantly they say if your phone is lost or ****** when you claim insurance and if your claim is approved then your contract will be renewed even you have 1 or 2 installments left now I asked *** what is the point of saying the phone is insured if your contract is going to be renewed if you have never defaulted and are left with the last installment because now it means you are going to be paying the phone for another 12 months yet they says it is insured ****************.This was never mentioned when I app**** for the phone they said it's insured and it does not affect the contract yet it is renewed once you a phone is lost or ****** ...we are being sold lies PLEASE BE CAREFUL BEFORE APPLYING
1 reviews | Active since Mar 2024
Terrible service
I am extremely disappointed with the way my FoneYam insurance claim has been handled. I took a phone through FoneYam at PEP and the phone was insured. Unfortunately, the phone was lost and I followed the required process to submit an insurance claim. My claim was approved for a replacement value of R1,299. I went to PEP to collect a replacement phone, but I was informed that there was no device available for R1,299. The cheapest available device was R1,599. I asked whether I could pay the difference myself, but I was told that this was not allowed. I then asked what I should do and was informed that the PEP store needed to send an email to FoneYam explaining the situation. The store did send the email. After several attempts to have the matter resolved, I eventually received an email from FoneYam stating that my case had been resolved and that I should return to the store to collect my device. I went back to the store, only to find that NOTHING had actually been resolved. There was still no suitable device available for the approved amount. When I contacted FoneYam again and explained what had happened, I was once again told that the store must send an email. I am now being sent from FoneYam to PEP and from PEP back to FoneYam, despite having already followed all the instructions given to me. My claim was approved, yet I still do not have a replacement phone. I am asking FoneYam to take ownership of this matter and provide a clear and practical resolution instead of repeatedly referring me back to the store. Please provide me with: 1. A replacement device as provided for under my approved claim; OR 2. A clear alternative solution if the approved R1,299 device is unavailable; and 3. Written confirmation of exactly what I must do to collect the replacement device. I have cooperated with the process and provided everything required. I should not have to keep travelling to the store and repeating the same explanation because FoneYam and PEP are referring me to each other. Please resolve this matter properly and provide me with a reference number and a written response.
1 reviews | Active since Mar 2024
Terrible service
I am extremely disappointed with the way my FoneYam insurance claim has been handled. I took a phone through FoneYam at PEP and the phone was insured. Unfortunately, the phone was lost and I followed the required process to submit an insurance claim. My claim was approved for a replacement value of R1,299. I went to PEP to collect a replacement phone, but I was informed that there was no device available for R1,299. The cheapest available device was R1,599. I asked whether I could pay the difference myself, but I was told that this was not allowed. I then asked what I should do and was informed that the PEP store needed to send an email to FoneYam explaining the situation. The store did send the email. After several attempts to have the matter resolved, I eventually received an email from FoneYam stating that my case had been resolved and that I should return to the store to collect my device. I went back to the store, only to find that NOTHING had actually been resolved. There was still no suitable device available for the approved amount. When I contacted FoneYam again and explained what had happened, I was once again told that the store must send an email. I am now being sent from FoneYam to PEP and from PEP back to FoneYam, despite having already followed all the instructions given to me. My claim was approved, yet I still do not have a replacement phone. I am asking FoneYam to take ownership of this matter and provide a clear and practical resolution instead of repeatedly referring me back to the store. Please provide me with: 1. A replacement device as provided for under my approved claim; OR 2. A clear alternative solution if the approved R1,299 device is unavailable; and 3. Written confirmation of exactly what I must do to collect the replacement device. I have cooperated with the process and provided everything required. I should not have to keep travelling to the store and repeating the same explanation because FoneYam and PEP are referring me to each other. Please resolve this matter properly and provide me with a reference number and a written response.
1 reviews | Active since Feb 2025
worst phone company
the worst company to rent a phone from, they do not respond to emails, their AI generated bot for calls is a bummer, they cancelled my insurance claim even though i submitted everything from an avidavite that has *** number, *** number, date of incident, *** number and everything else required to claim, and guess what? they cancelled my claim 5 times and have the audacity to not respond to my emails?????? yiey foneyam count your days you'll be boycotted and i'll be there to witness your downfall, im furious writing this cause how am i required to pay for a phone that was ****** and never replaced by the same insurance im required to pay for after losing my phone? i advise anyone reading this to reconsider renting a phone from foneyam, they're too good to be true, they dont live up to their ''marketing or words'', the biggest exploiters in the device industry, there's more i wanna say but i'll be raising awareness about foneyam and their tactics to never approve insurance claims, y'all cancelled the wrong insurance claim kele gen z nna and letlo utlwa
1 reviews | Active since Feb 2025
worst phone company
the worst company to rent a phone from, they do not respond to emails, their AI generated bot for calls is a bummer, they cancelled my insurance claim even though i submitted everything from an avidavite that has *** number, *** number, date of incident, *** number and everything else required to claim, and guess what? they cancelled my claim 5 times and have the audacity to not respond to my emails?????? yiey foneyam count your days you'll be boycotted and i'll be there to witness your downfall, im furious writing this cause how am i required to pay for a phone that was ****** and never replaced by the same insurance im required to pay for after losing my phone? i advise anyone reading this to reconsider renting a phone from foneyam, they're too good to be true, they dont live up to their ''marketing or words'', the biggest exploiters in the device industry, there's more i wanna say but i'll be raising awareness about foneyam and their tactics to never approve insurance claims, y'all cancelled the wrong insurance claim kele gen z nna and letlo utlwa
1 reviews | Active since May 2020
I got treated like I owe Asthandile money
I have just spoken to Asthandile from Frone yam. God what a ****ing rude person. What a rude person. I have been trying to unlock my phone for three days and this morning I phoned in and spoken to a gentleman who told me to load a monthly data for my phone to be unlocked, then I did that. Then the phone had a message that I need to insert the Sim card on Sim 1 slot. So I phoned in to say that the Sim card is on Sim slot 1 but the phone will still unlock, unfortunately I spoke to Asthandile, a very rude person. She asked me for *** and did not give me a chance to check for the number on my banking app, she told me she had a lot of calls to attend to. When I had to give her a lecture about customer service. I think Foneyam customer consultants are very rude people, because this is not my first encounter with an entitled woman from Foneyam. I am terribly appauled at the level of disrespect I have gotten from Foneyam on two occassion.
1 reviews | Active since May 2020
I got treated like I owe Asthandile money
I have just spoken to Asthandile from Frone yam. God what a ****ing rude person. What a rude person. I have been trying to unlock my phone for three days and this morning I phoned in and spoken to a gentleman who told me to load a monthly data for my phone to be unlocked, then I did that. Then the phone had a message that I need to insert the Sim card on Sim 1 slot. So I phoned in to say that the Sim card is on Sim slot 1 but the phone will still unlock, unfortunately I spoke to Asthandile, a very rude person. She asked me for *** and did not give me a chance to check for the number on my banking app, she told me she had a lot of calls to attend to. When I had to give her a lecture about customer service. I think Foneyam customer consultants are very rude people, because this is not my first encounter with an entitled woman from Foneyam. I am terribly appauled at the level of disrespect I have gotten from Foneyam on two occassion.