Vodacom **** with Vodefone live and WASP services

Hi Hello Peter I am (and have only been) a vodacom subscriber. Previously I was with NedTell Cellular who were taken over by Nashua Mobile and the rest is history. I am on a Red Advantage package that gives me exactly what I want. 7oo minutes, unlimited sms's and 1 gig of data ( i usually run out and top up with a gig so I guess I actually require 2 gigs minimum). For this my bill should be about R1200 and in a bad month an extra R100 for my extra data. Over the last year it has been as much as R1800 plus! The reason i am told is that when I play games like Bejewelled and word games linked to FB, I get pop ups. When the pop up has a (almost invisible) triangle on it and I touch the X to close it , the pop up automatically subscribes me to a R7, R5 a day subscription. The last time I had 10 of these. They then (Vodacom) will tell you to sms a number (which always changes and never works) to cancel all WASP's. The culprits are many including Vodafone Live! The call center generally does cancel them for me once I get through to them and they go have a look see etc. After many calls and threats to take legal action (because these services in y opinion are unsolicited and they don't warn you that you will be subscribed or ask if you are sure that you want to subscribe?) I got a refund for one account . This was the Message: Dear customer with regards to service request number 1- ********** ********** as a once off gesture of goodwill we have credited R749.04 Exl Vat to your Vodacom account for the VLIVE subscription services charged to your account, this credit also include the current charges reflecting on your current month/proposed invoice. Please note that VLIVE subscriptions are activated/initiated from your device and sim. In future to manage VLIVE subscriptions, open internet browser and go to live.vodafone.com and Select the option (3stripes) icon, Select My Account, and then Select My Subscriptions. Have a great day Vodacom. This e-mail is sent on the Terms and Conditions that can be accessed by Clicking on this link https://webmail.vodacom.co.za/tc/default.html "

But that did not solve my problem. They say that cannot block my phone form being able to accept these types of items being billed on my account? They would be able to block me if i did not pay my account... why not prevent me from being able to subscribe to videos and games (at my request?) Why because they make a helluva lot of money from people on Pay as you go who are not watching their accounts and losing data faster. Account holders just pay and don't check their bills and get *****ed. The once off reimbur*****t sends a message. That they are aware of the problem and that they know that it is their fault! I am looking at closing my account with them and moving to another provider? Not sure who manages this scenario better. No not MTN they are the pits!

I am at my wits end. So far I estimate that I have paid in the last year about R5000 extra on unsolicited services. X that by just 20% of their clients... a lot of free cash for Vodacom.

I believe before I can take this legally further or go to Consumer boards etc, I need to exhaust all other options. Please someone help. I see that if I google this issue as well as search on Hello Peter... I am not alone. Companies like Vodacom cannot be allowed to get away with this. There will eventually (like with Enterprise foods currently) be a fall out that could destroy their business and create a loss of jobs! Please help. Matthew