Predatory lending / Exploitation of pensioners

One 2 one is a shocking organization that engages in the worst kind of predatory lending practices. They target pensioners, hard sell them products that they barely understand then do not allow clients to cancel. Two things that are disturbing and frustrating is that The Foschini group is providing them with client data and then takes no accountability or responsibility when you try and complain of the predatory lending practices of the call centre.

A call centre agent from 121 contacted and sold my 80 year old grandmother an airtime package (they got her data from Foschnini. She did not contact 121 or even know who the are). They did not explain how it worked, only the benefits. When she tried to cancel it the agent told she would be financially penalized if she cancelled and would have to keep it for at least six months. Six months passed and she tried to cancel the airtime agreement again and they told her again that this would not be possible. I called the Foschini group as my grandmother was quite distraught and feeling trapped and harassed by this organization 05/10/2018. I called Foschini first and explained the issue to Zola, she stated it was not her departments problem and that I would need to speak to 121 even though my grandmother was a Foschini client. I asked to speak to her manager and she blatantly refused to connect me. I asked for her surname and her mangers surname, she advised that she did not know her managers surname and refused to give her own. Her manager Eugene who was aware of my call refused to take my call. I was then transferred to 121, I spoke to an agent named Blanche and explained the situation. Blanche was indifferent and quite condescending in dealing with the query and was unwilling to assist. I asked for her name and surname and her managers details. She refused to provide me with her surname and her manager refused to not only speak to me but to provide me with her surname so that I could address my complaint with the correct person via the appropriate channels. One2One then proceeded to again debit my grandmothers Foschini account.

It is mind boggling that predatory organizations that prey on pensioners such as 121 not only exist but that the Foschini Group endorses this one with zero oversite. It is extremely frustrating and disturbing to know that my grand mother can be exploited this way with no recourse. I share this because we all have parents and grand parents who can very easily be targeted by a hard selling, exploitative call centres quite easily, and these guys obviously think we are helpless to stop them which is not the case.