Content Services that turned into bad credit rating

In 2014 I started getting charged for Content Services that I did not sign up for. I contacted MTN, who told me to block them on my SIM card. I did this but kept getting charged. My monthly bills, which were being directly debited from my account, kept going up until I had paid over R14 000 in Content Service charges. MTN was extremely difficult to get hold of. After hours and hours on hold, I sometimes got through, but mostly the call was dropped. I escalated the problem, but no one ever got back to me. Occasionally I received some kind of generic email saying that I should contact WASPA about these charges, which I did and thankfully managed to get a small refund for these charges.

MTN told me that they had nothing to do with the billing for Content Services, and they couldn't understand why I kept getting billed. They advised me to do a SIM swap and a number swap, and then to block all Content Services immediately. I did this but still got charged. I left complaint after complaint but no one from MTN ever took any notice. I closed my account and then still got charged a month later! I refused to pay this last R300 or so, and requested that my bank reverse the transaction.

A few weeks later I have contacted Hammond Pole attorneys and then later VVM Debt Collectors. Out of shear frustration, and fear, I paid the outstanding bill, plus all the additional debt collection charges that amounted to over R1000. But now this has given me a bad credit rating and I am struggling to borrow money from the bank to buy my first house.

I emailed MTN's legal team, and I received an immediate notification that they would ‘endeavour to respond within two working days’ – but that never happened. Then nearly a month later I got a generic response from them (that was addressed to Albert, whoever that is), saying that I should take it up with WASPA again.

MTN is by far the most appalling company I have ever come across. They don't care at all. I have been ********ly charged by several thousand rand, but they dont care. I am struggling to move forward with my life and buy a house to raise a family, all because of MTN, but they don't care.

Very upset customer, Neil