Pep Store : JHB Hillbrow Cambridge Good Centre (Sold a Phone With Hidden MDM Lock Even Though I Paid Cash I got No Help From Store

I bought a Hisense H72 Pro cash from Pep, expecting a normal, brand-new device. Instead, the phone came with a hidden app called Telecoms Client, which acts as a Device Administrator / MDM Device Owner. This app has full control over the device, including monitoring, tracking, and remote locking and it cannot be removed.

After researching, I confirmed that review units of the same Hisense H72 Pro DO NOT contain this app, meaning the device I received should not have had this pre-installed. This raises concerns that the phone may have been incorrectly enrolled as a contract/locked unit, even though I paid for it in full.

Within the CPA 7-day period, I returned to the store, but they refused to refund or assist me. They claimed “there is nothing wrong with the phone,” even though an undeletable MDM app with device control is a serious privacy and security issue.

I have been sent back and forth between Pep and Hisense, with no clear solution. I am now stuck with a device that could be locked at any time, despite paying cash.

Customers deserve transparency and should not receive devices with hidden MDM/lock software. I am requesting urgent assistance from Pep, Hisense, or Telkom to remove the MDM profile or provide a proper resolution.