Telkom contracts destroy lives.

Telkom has taken me to a debt collection agency because they have been charging me for services on a contract that expired a year ago. My question is, according to the CPA, when a contract ends, before entering into a month to month contract, shouldn't they get hold of their clients and obtain consent from them? Now after 9 months, and I haven't even been using their services, my account has been handed over to debt collectors, my name is at the ITC and my credit is in the negative. This is irresponsible of Telkom and seems they trap consumers in this cycle, as long as they get to make their money, in return drowning consumers in debt. Could any one with some knowledge or similar experience please shed some light on how to go about solving this. I do not have R9000 lying around, times are rough.