TELKOM / Sell Direct Cape Town

RE: Telkom Dispute for Account Number: 33.......2 Good day,

I refer to the above mentioned matter

In my opinion a false/********** transaction / contract was sold to me via Sell Direct Cape Town.

After no luck with all the calls, sms’s and e-mails sent to Telkom, Sell Direct, Hello Peter and even ICASA’s Ombudsman my son got hold of another Telkom Ombudsman from a new wireless devise he bought from Telkom.... now I've posted a new complaint to them as well.

I’ve tried to explain in the following bullets * below how my journey started late June 2020. I first dispute the account with my bank, thinking Telkom will call me to discuss the account situation with me…. ?? and finally stopped the Telkom account after the 2nd month that they tried to collect money on a different code as the bank advised.

On 15 Dec 2020 I received a call form Telkom’s Debt Collector….. I’ve explained to her the situation why I don’t pay the account and she was quite surprised they did not want to assist. She referred me back to a Telkom store and asked to speak to the Accounts Dept. making use of the store’s telephone (as they have blocked my phone and I am making use of a pay as you go sim card at the moment).

Story:

I was working throughout December and only @ home during Christmas and New Year. I went to Irene Mall’s Telkom store on the 3rd of January 2021 and again explained my query and that I would like to speak to the accounts department. The assistant at Counter No. 5 listened to my story and then apologised for there is no one working in the Accounts Department on Sundays; He suggested I pay the balance due to get my phone open and then try to cancel the contract’s ?? He was surprised how Sell Direct could have sold me the contact as he said I was only due for a upgrade on 19.01.2021 ??

Sell Direct Story: I received a new Huawei P30lite late in June 2020 as was liaised with a consultant from Sell Direct (introduced herself phoning from Telkom Mobile of which I have the recording); The package I received with this phone is NOT what I was asking from the start ? I am with Telkom Mobile for more that 4 years now on the number 07.............. 6 for R150-R155.00 p/m – which I did pay. I’ve asked the Sell Direct consultant if I enter this NEW contract can I keep my existing number and will the current contract be cancelled – she agreed upon that. Firstly I received 1 x Sim card…. The courier explained that I will receive a second parcel in a few days… The parcel arrived and was told this is your 2nd Sim card and phone. I received a call from Sell Direct within an half an hour after the courier left…. asking whether I have received my phone. I rep**** I received a second parcel and I did not open it yet as I was busy with a urgent tender to complete. Sell Direct called me 3 times that same afternoon to activate my phone by means of inserting the sim cards. I’ve explained that I said from the beginning I will only start with this contact in August – Covid-19 and job uncer*****y. They said Yes we do understand, but can I confirm my ID so that they can do the changes on my account in the mean time. . . . So I confirmed my ID. I received another call from Sell Direct the following day asking if I’m happy with my instrument. There all started…. I phoned Telkom Centurion Mall asking info on my cell phone 07......... 6 and received the news that I have 3 cell phone numbers. I still have to pay the R150 contract until April 2020 and also have 2 x NEW numbers ?? The one for the new contract and the other for additional Data (Yes, I DID AGREE for the additional Data @ R40/month a day after my first call from Sell Direct to explain the deal).

As my current package for R150 is for Telkom to Telkom calls only, I’ve asked for a new package at least 150 min to other networks and remaining of 500 minutes Telkom to Telkom calls ( I still explained that if you call (011) or (012) or (051) it is not always Telkom but other network companies such as Liquid Telekom; Neotel ext……. the assistant still laughed on the other side of the line. The actual contract received is only for 15 minutes to other networks…. ??

I was not in line for an upgrade in June 2020 ??

They were false by introducing themselves as Telkom mobile !!

When I phoned Sell Direct (after opening the box to see what I have received and get the correct number to phone) there was NO ANSWER at the number provided. I received another number from Telkom to dial and got through to Sell Direct the next day. The assistant taking my call said she will transfer my query to the finance dept. I spoke to a Mr. Randal Muller. Before I could explain my situation he asked me whether I have opened the box… I said yes, he then said sorry he cannot help me… as the phone was now second hand. !!!! and I cannot return this phone I have to pay the contract. I continued paying the R150-R155 p/m on 07..........6 via EFT not reliasing my account was blocked and had NO benefit from paying the account.

I am not happy with the service received from Sell Direct, neither Telkom.

What I do not understand…. Telkom is aware of how Sell Direct and apparently 3 other agents are treating Telkom’s customer’s, but does not do anything from their side to stop these agents ??? I have the NEW (NOT USED) phone and (UNOPENED) sim cards in my possession for proof.

Yet Telkom refuse to stop or cancel this transaction or give me any other package (more calls to other networks) for the same value of money. I will start paying if I receive the deal I app**** for OR would like to cancel my contract with Telkom.

Kind regards, WR Laubscher