Billing System is Inflexible and Hostile to Customers - Forcing Failed Debit Orders

I am deeply frustrated with MTN's billing department. Their process is rigid, illogical, and is costing me money for their system's failures.

Here is the problem: My debit order date is the 31st of the month. My salary only comes in on the 27th. To be a responsible customer, I made a full manual EFT payment of R3,720 on 29 October.

Despite my account being fully paid, MTN's system still ran the debit order on 31 October. It failed (as the money was already paid), and I am now being charged bank penalties for this.

When I complained, an agent named Boitumelo told me that debit orders are submitted 5 days in advance (around the 26th) and cannot be stopped.

Then, an agent named Lebogang gave me an impossible "solution": I must make my manual payment 10 days before the debit order date. This means paying on the 21st, but I only get paid on the 27th.

I have explained this, and I have demanded that they simply change my payment method back to a manual EFT/cash payment so I can pay my bill on my own terms. They refuse.

MTN is forcing me to stay on a debit order system that they know will fail every single month, which in turn costs me bank fees and damages my credit profile. This is unacceptable and feels like a trap.