BAD Service and Billing

I took out a contact with Telkom in July 2016 for a cellphone for my son who was 21 at the time. I informed the sales consultant that this was my sons first job and that he really needed a phone because of his job and would have a problem trying to get a contact as he had not received his pay check as yet. I told her that I would pay the debit order amount R384 per month and he would then pay me the cash monthly. I made it VERY CLEAR to her that I want a contract that is capped whereby he cannot run up high data and call bills. I went out of the store under the impression that this is what I signed for. About 2 months later I noticed that the Debit orders were coming off for R1500 and not R384. I had no choice but to go to my bank and reverse the debit order as I had no money for food. I then went into a Telkom store to enquire about all of this as the account was running in arrears. I told them about my situation that I recently separated from my husband and all I'm living on is a small maintenance amount I receive at the moment as I was previously working for my husband. I told them that I could not afford the debit order amount of R1500 and that I had agreed to pay R384 per month. The Telkom assistant that assisted me that day told me that the Sales Consultant who sold me the phone was suppose to set my limit on 0. But that my limit was set of R1500, this is how my son managed to run up the bill. She advised me to close the contract as it would just keep on running. I informed her that I was applying for an increase with regard to our Maintenance and that I would start making arrangements to pay Telkom. However Telkom began making crazy debits to my account and In December 2017 they removed X3 debit orders of R1500 each. I had to reverse them yet again as I had no money for basic requirements like food and rent. I then went to their west branch in the west rand and tried to make proper payment arrangements. I asked them to allow me to pay them the money cash as I no longer receive my money on 25th of the month but on the 1st of every month. I told them that by them debiting my account when there is no funds this is causing major problems and interest and fees which I really cant afford. BUT they REFUSED. I then get a call from someone in Telkom around the end of December. I tell her I would like to make proper arrangements to pay. She tells me she will get back to me as she needs to first confirm my outstanding amount with their billing department. I never received a call back and yet again Telkom just starts debiting my account with no agreement of amount or date. I again went in to the West gate branch on 9 May 2018 as I had some money to pay over to them. I told them I wanted to pay R2000 cash to the account. I asked what the balance would be after I made this payment. I was given a statement and was told my balance would be R1063 after paying R2000. I also told them again that I will not have funds in my account on the 26th can they rather do a debit order on the 1st or can I rather pay cash. The consultant at the west rand branch tells me that they wont debit me if they see that there are no funds in the account. On 27/5/2018 I receive an sms notification of a Telkom debit R1063, Telkom yet again tries to withdraw money when there are no funds in my account and lies to me that they wont debit if there are no Funds. So yet again I get charged bank fees and additional fees by them. I now get a email from some organisation saying the account is handed over and now my Balance owing is now R1200 and no longer R1063 as advised by their consultant at the west rand branch after paying the R2000. So this account never ends as they will not let the customer pay them cash. They are so disorganised, you cant even call them as you never get through. This is not a customer friendly organisation. They have no regard for the customer. I will never do business with this organisation as long as I am living on this earth. I have now decided that I am taking this matter to the consumer protector as these type of businesses need to be exposed.

Ann Dove