OVERCHARGE FOR DATA USAGE

I have been a Telkom customer for mobile WIFI for 5 years now. I had an account for a 5GB per month mobile router at R199 per month and then upgraded last year to a 10GB (+15GB night time data) at R299 per month.

My account has always had a zero credit limit, from when I opened it to when I upgraded. In July this year and again now 1st September, I have been charged an extra R500 for "data usage" that I am told I am responsible for because I used this data. In short I have been charged an extra R1000 for unsolicited charges that have been charged to my account as the "credit limit was not set at zero" on my account.

This money has been taken out my bank account with my monthly debit order and I have been told that the data has been used, so I am liable for this cost.

I have been trying to get this resolved since July. Case number ********** 2 (July) and case number ********** 6 (September) are both for the same complaint and even though they told me my account was reset to a zero credit limit in July, I was charged again for this mysterious data usage in September.

How can you be told you have used data that was never authorized and have R1000 taken from your account without authorisation?

How many people are getting ********** for these unauthorized charges? Even after I complained and asked for this not to happen again, I was charged for the same thing.

I have followed up and spoken with 4 different Telkom employees and the response is: "Billing have come back and said we cannot refund you your money, as you used the data, so you are liable" Every time I call in again and ask to speak to billing, I am told that a Supervisor will call me back and I never hear from them again. I just get emails informing me of my case number. Never any follow up, never any outcome given on my case number.

Another query, is just how much data am I alleged to have used, over and above my usual data plan? I pay R299 a month for 25GB altogether - How much does out of rate data cost for me to have allegedly used R500 on top of my usual amount? And how is it possible that the data supposed used in August was also exactly R500 worth?

Seems you have no issue charging people for things, but you can't get anyone to call back and discuss a resolution to a problem.

The simple fact of the matter is, my account has a zero credit limit, when the data reaches it's cap, I cannot go over, but apparently I can still be charged for this alleged data I am using when I cannot in fact even access the internet anymore??????

I would like this matter cleared up and I would like a refund to my Telkom account. My only other alternative will be to cancel my contract and these overcharges can be accepted as my cancellation fee!!

Regards Catherine Arnold