********* billing practices and lack of customer service

<p>I have been a customer of Telkom for many years and it seems that on a monthly basis, I am following up on issues with billing with Telkom.</p> <p> </p> <p>The most recent I contact the person that has been helping me over the last few months, but he now too seems unable or unwilling to help.</p> <p> </p> <p>I have a mobile phone in my name that I have let my mother use. On a regular basis she gets sms’ being told that the bill is unpaid. I always ensure that the bill is paid before the due date.</p> <p> </p> <p>Her contract ended with Telkom last year and I have kept her on and not yet upgraded the contract as I am waiting for a good deal that would suit her.</p> <p> </p> <p>I received my second to last bill and the amount at the bottom said ‘Amount due including VAT R40.00’ which was promptly paid. She then indicated that she was received sms’ again saying that the bill had not been paid and Telkom were going to cut her line. I queried this and was told that there was an amount of R93 outstanding which I paid straight away. I’m not sure what that was for as the bill did not reflect that amount but I did not want my mother to be left without a phone line.</p> <p> </p> <p>This month I received a bill for R271.44. Much higher than normal seen as I have paid the device. I paid the bill before the 1st of the month as I always do but decided to look more closely at the bill and saw I was being charged a late payment fee of R200. </p> <p> </p> <p>I want that money refunded immediately. Your bill states total amount due as R40 and then I get told know an extra R93 and am charged a further R200, that is not ethical business practice and I will be happy to report this to the ombudsman.</p> <p> </p> <p>I have sent proof of the bills I received and the amounts payable that I have paid and no one could explain the extra R93 and no one has bothered with explaining why I was charged a late payment fee of R200. An extra R293 for a R40 bill is ridiculous. </p> <p> </p> <p>I am at the end of my rope with Telkom. I am in the process of upgrading this account and adding other lines/services for my home office but with the ongoing issues, you might lose a long term customer.</p>