Telkom doesn't care at all about their clients

A couple of months ago. Having being on a mobile contract for a while, I decided to call Telkom to inquiry about an upgrade. To my surprise I was in the 25th month of my contract and could have upgraded on the 21st but I had to find out (although I was on a 24 month contract). Needless to say another tablet account just kept getting billed until I asked for a cancellation (which has taken two months to process). This can all be overlooked but for the last three months I have been getting billed between R1000 and R1500 monthly when in theory I have a contact for R480 (on my mobile device) and R150 on data. After a few months of a much higher billed account, I call in to find out why and here is what happened: When they upgraded my account (previously for R350), they took the liberty to put me on any plan of their choice. My understanding is that I went from a SmartPlan which gave me 100 talk time and 1 GB of data monthly. And thereafter I could just load airtime as needed. Now I pay R480 and they gave me a contract with no airtime and 1GB data (plus other data is just smoke and screens). Worse yet, they put a R500 spend limit (without my authorization). Needless to say, under the presumption that I was receiving 100 talk minutes I called as usual only to find out that I was utilizing the R500 they added on my account (obviously to milk as much as possible out of me). Since I am a father of two I courteously ask to remove the spend limit to manage my finances. On the first of this month I cannot call so I call Telkom and only now I am explained they gave me a dud of a contract. I cannot even load my own airtime; I have to call and ask to get airtime. Presumably this is the service that valued customers get!

Now! Surely if I upgrade my account, you keep me on the same plan that has kept me happy for 25 months? Nope, the sales guy is probably thinking how can I get the most commission and gives you the worse contact there is as long as he/she earns more. Surely if I am paying more, I should get more? Nope, summarized, my R480 p/m contact just gives me 1GB data (and no free minutes). I cannot for the life of me even find this "contract" on their contract deals! Surely a client should be informed that a R500 spend limit has been added? Nope, first you get a bill x 3 what you should be paying and thereafter (after you inquire), they explain it is a standard feature (as added value). Surely you should be able to load airtime at will? Nope, call telkom (this is really going backwards).

I asked to cancel the contract but I would be due R8400. Morale of the story: I have been told there is nothing I can do, I must just accept it and ****** off. I just have to accept a sub-standard contract for the next 24 months which is costing more than the previous contract?

Now, as a proudly South African, I believe in consuming SA brands and to be honest I happy with the quality of Telkom's voice and data but to be messed up this bad is just disheartening and to still be told there is nothing they can do is just unacceptable! Would love to have an explanation.