TELKOM MOBILE DOESN'T LET YOU GO

Hi

I've had a nightmare experience with Telkom Mobile which has left me R10 000 in debt and my name ruined with credit bureaus. For years I had quite an expensive mobile data contract (R1 0000 plus p.m.) with Telkom, mainly for work purposes. They supp****, I paid by debit every month - no problem. When I retired end December 2022, I decided to end my contract and install wifi at home, to suit my new lifestyle and reduce my monthly costs. That's when my trouble started - it seems Telkom doesn't like customers canceling on them. Firstly, I trotted off to the nearest Telkom Customer Care Centre , where staff ensured me they couldnt help, they don't deal with cancelations, and that I should phone the Helpline. I phoned and told my story, that I am now retired and no longer need that expensive data and intended to install wifi. The call centre lady listened, asked some questions, and the call ended with me ASSUMING that was that. However the debit order still kicked in at the end of the month - which I ascribed to normal business practice in cancellations. However when the next debit also went through, I had an inkling that trouble awaited. Thus my nightnare began: call after call , with me growing increasingly exasperated. And some of og the ladies on the other end sounded utterly disgusted that I should contemplate ending my contract. One kind lady listened patiently and apoliged. In desperation I opened a new bank account and had my debits and income moved there. I paid another two visits to the Telkom store, begging for any kind of assistance, but they threw their hands up in the air and again referred my to the Call line. Then one day the returned debits miraculously stopped. Telkom had randomly decided tfat my account had been cancelled. But decided that I owed them R10 000 - and I am now pursued by an attorneys firm and am on a trial check, whatever that may be. Have been reported to credit bureas. This entire experience has ruined my retirement and affected my peace of mind. I do not know what to do with this so called debt. I have seen on other fora that Telkom is struggling for survival and one of its strategies seems to be delaying admitting cancelations.