Telkom ******** me over a R28.99

I am writing to express my concerns regarding my Uncapped Lite Internet contract with Telkom, which is valued at R720 per month as per our agreement. In October 2024, I was billed R748.99 without prior notification of a rate increase. Consequently, I paid the usual R720, unaware of the shortfall of R28.99.

I was subsequently informed in my November 2024 account that I would be liable for this shortfall. This has resulted in additional charges: a R202.70 Payment Rejection Fee and R0.09 in late payment interest. I find it concerning that I am being billed over 100% of the amount owed for a mere R28.99 shortfall. Is this practice legal? It seems excessive for such a small discrepancy.

Furthermore, I experienced a lack of internet service from October 26 to 31, 2024. Despite daily calls to Telkom to address this issue, I was left without service, which impacted my ability to work remotely. I incurred additional costs of R313.00 for alternative internet access, and I had to borrow a ****le from a friend to continue my work. My current bill, considering the lack of service, has now risen to R857.05, which is significantly higher than my usual monthly fee.

Additionally, I was not informed that my contract had ended and that I was on a month-to-month basis. In accordance with the Consumer Protection Act, I am supposed to be informed that my contract has come to an end and that I will be placed on a month to month contract. This never transpired. The service I have received has been unsatisfactory, with no clear communication or apologies for the issues I have faced. It feels as though loyal customers are bearing the brunt of poor service delivery.

I would appreciate your prompt attention to this matter and a clear explanation regarding the charges and service issues.

Thank you for your assistance.