MTN forces use of their ****py network, locking in cash phones from independent retailers to their network and will not remove network provider lock.

We bought 3 samsung A12 from Peps. They only had MTN sim packs. Now our phones are network locked to MTN. Peps cannot take the lock off. I phoned the call centre gave all 3 IMEI no's they promised to remove the network lock off our phones. This has not happened. Going in store, they also claim not to be able to remove network lock. MTN's app is using my cellc sim data to constantly send messages, the app cannot be disabled or removed. There should be no network lock on phones that are non-contract phones. I do not and will not use MTN because their charges for data in Africa is less than half the cost of what it is in South Africa. It is ********* to lock a phone bought cash that could be used for any service provider had the retailer had other sim packs. The MTN sim packs we got, we have people phoning on the those numbers all hours of the day and night.