Exorbitant penalty for once off failed debit

I have been a loyal customer of Vodacom for many many years and have never missed a payment. However this month due to the Easter holiday, my debit order commenced 3 days later as per usual and failed. I immediately contacted Vodacom to apologize and inquire how to EFT and was advised. I was also told that a penalty fee of R100.00 has been added due to the unpaid debit order.

T&C 5.6 Vodacom may, in its sole discretion, levy interest in terms of the National Credit Act, 34 of 2005 on any unpaid or overdue amount. In addition, should any payment instrument tendered by the Customer or amount drawn by Vodacom in terms of a debit order authority not be met by the Customer's bankers, Vodacom reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to levy a fee in regard thereto.

Fair enough, levy a fee. But this fee is enormous in respect to the actual debit that failed. My bank already charged me for the unpaid debit order and its not nearly close to this. This is day light ******* - no bank even charges you so much for a unpaid debit order. MTN & Cell C does not charged that they just suspend until you pay.

As it is at sole discretion of Vodacom and asked to waiver this as a gesture of good will ( it has never happened before and I will make sure it never will again) or if fees were incurred, I would be willing to pay half. This request was declined.

I am very disappointed in Vodacom. Do you not perhaps think that there may have been a reason the debit failed? That punishing loyal customers for one failed debit with an additional heavily inflated fee may cripple them further? I will definitely rethink my decision to renew my contracts with you and will rather spend my money at MTN or CellC as they do not rip their clients off.