Unfairly billed for Vlive / Vodafone Live

From three months ago my monthly bill from Vodacom was suddenly bumped by about R200 every month.

I saw that I was suddenly charged for Vodafone Live services. Vodacom's website or app or my bill did not show any details on this or how to stop this. Making me wonder why I pay for itemised billing, but Vodafone Live services are not itemised on my bill.

I was unable to look deeper into the problem, since as a teacher, I work really long hours and weekends, and can only attend to these personal problems in school holidays.

I phoned the call centre today on 111, was disconnected the first time, but got through to a rather unfriendly agent, sounding like someone who just woke up, on my second attempt. He had to send requests to Vodafone Live, or "Vlive" as he called it, to unsubscribe me from all services. He also sent me SMS's on how to unsubscribe from Vlive services.

Why could I not find any such instructions on Vodacom's website or app? (I have included these instructions at the bottom of this review, should anyone else need it.)

I also requested to be refunded for the services I was billed for, since I did not give consent to subscribe to any such thing. The agent said they (Vodacom) can't do it and had to request it from Vlive too, which he did. So what is Vodafone Live then and how is it different from Vodacom, which basically shares the same name and logo?

Apparently someone from Vlive will contact me in three business days to discuss the refund option, so time will tell how this issue was resolved or not. I will update the review accordingly.

In the SMS sent to me from Vodacom with the instructions on how to unsubscribe from vlive, there is a ling (www.vodacom.co.za/WaspSupport), but the link doesn't work. Opening it shows "Oops! Something went wrong"

My two simple questions are: why did Vodacom not protect me, a hard working, paying client, from these unfair billings? And will I be protected from it in the future.

I am seriously considering moving to another network. ----------- Instructions on how to cancel Vlive / Vodafone Live services: - Dial *111# - choose fun & rewards - choose fun stuff - choose next - choose unsubscribe - choose and confirm the services shown. - Repeat these steps to cancel al services.