Vodacom supports *****

<p>Good day</p> <p> </p> <p>I would like to expose how Vodacom does not do credit checks when giving out credit and cellphones to applicants. I am a victim of ***** and have been fighting with Vodacom since 2015 to clear my name. I found out again that Vodacom has opened another contract in my name whereas they told me the first contract was sorted.</p> <p> </p> <p>It has come to my attention that they don’t care about clients, they just a money hungry corporation that gives out credit recklessly and it implicates innocent citizens like myself.</p> <p> </p> <p>Below is an email that I have sent to their legal department:</p> <p> </p> <p>Dear Sir / Madam</p> <p> </p> <p>It has once again come to my attention that Vodacom has seemingly issued a contract in my name, Neo, identity number ***xx. I have recently been informed by Transunion that there is a Vodacom account overdue in my name. From the Transunion report (the “Report”) I note that a ********** account with account number ***xx was issued on 23 May 2016 in my name (“May 2016 Account”). Furthermore, I note from the Report that the current balance on the account as at 30 September 2016 is reflected as R9879.00. For your ease of reference I have attached to this email an extract of the Report marked Annexure A. </p> <p>This is not the first incident where Vodacom has granted credit in my name to a ********** applicant. In October 2015 I noticed that various amounts were being debited from my bank account by Vodacom, where a lawful agreement for such debits was not agreed to by myself.</p> <p>Prior to the unknown debits I had a single debit agreement with Vodacom in the amount of R109.00 for 2Gigs of data (“Data Agreement”), which agreement came to an end in December 2015. The Data Agreement is the only agreement which I consented to between Vodacom and myself. The reference number known to me which is associated with the Data Agreement is ******.</p> <p>In the month of October I noticed that I had two debits with the above reference number, the debits where as follows:</p> <p>Date <br />Amount (R)<br />Reference <br />Bank Statement <br />14 October 2015<br />199.0<br />Vodacom *********<br />Annexure B<br />30 October 2015 <br />109.00<br />Vodacom *********<br />Annexure B<br /> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p>The debit on the 14th October 2015 is unknown to me. I did not query this debit as I was of the opinion that it was in respect of the Data Agreement.</p> <p>However, in the months that followed I noticed the following debits which I was not fami**** with:</p> <p>Date <br />Amount (R)<br />Reference <br />Bank Statement <br />30 November 2015<br />458.00<br />Vodacom ******xx<br />Annexure C<br />31 December 2015<br />469.00<br />Vodacom ******xx<br />Annexure D<br />31 December 2015 <br />469.00<br />Vodacom ******xx<br />Annexure D</p> <p>You will note from the above summary that the debits have a similar reference /account number as the Data Agreement, however the amounts are substantially higher than the amounts agreed upon in respect of the Data Agreement. Upon noticing these debits I contacted Vodacom for clarity.</p> <p> </p> <p>On enquiry, I notified Vodacom that a ********** account had been opened in my name. I was requested to send through to Vodacom various documentation which consisted of inter alia an ID copy and an affidavit stating that I had not opened the account with Vodacom, I sent the requested documents some time in December 2015.</p> <p>In January I was contacted by (“Megan”), a Specialist Investigator from Vodacom who informed me that she was the investigating officer on the matter. When the investigation began, I requested that all debits on my bank account be suspended pending the investigation. The debits were indeed suspended and on 04 January 2016 my bank account was credited with an amount of R469.00.</p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p>During the investigation I received numerous calls and emails from Megan regarding the case. The last email I received from Megan was on 25 January 2016 informing me that she would call me regarding the case. An extract of this email is annexed, marked Annexure E. I received a call from Megan on the same day informing me that the case had been finalised and that the account would be closed. The reference number provided to me by Megan was ******x. This reference number is a bit strange in that it is very similar to the account number for the May 2016 Account.</p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p>On 26 April 2016 I wrote to the Southern African ***** Prevention Service (“SAFPS”) requesting that my ID number be blacklisted to avoid any further ********** accounts being opened in my name. I was informed by the SAFPS that I should obtain a letter from Vodacom confirming that the accounts where **********ly opened in my name and that the accounts had now been closed. See attached an extract of the email I received from the SAFPS marked as Annexure F.</p> <p>As advised by the SAFPS I immediately wrote to Megan requesting a confirmation letter that the Vodacom account had been closed. I attach hereto an extract of this email sent to Megan marked as Annexure G. Unfortunately, to date I have not received a response or letter from Megan confirming that the ********** account investigated in January 2016 has been closed.</p> <p>I have contacted the subscriber’s collections department at Vodacom to get clarity on all Vodacom accounts that have been opened in my name. I called on 05 October 2016 at around 12:00pm and I was assisted by Surprise ***xi who advised me that she is unable to assist me and that I should send copies of my ID and an Affidavit so that the matter can be investigated again.</p> <p>I am perplexed at how the May 2016 Account was opened considering the ********** activity that has occurred using my identity number. I am uncertain how an account was opened while there was a pending investigation in my name. This appears to be recklessness on the part of Vodacom, and I believe that the National Consumer protection Act places very stringent requirements on credit providers to guard against reckless credit. It appears to me as though Vodacom does not does not undertake the necessary credit checks or even internal checks to ensure that credit is not being granted recklessly.</p> <p>It has also come to my attention that in May 2016 my bank account was debited as follows:</p> <p>Date <br />Amount (R)<br />Reference <br />Bank Statement <br />26 May 2016<br />163.48<br />Vodacom ******x<br />Annexure H<br /> </p> <p>This account is unknown to me and it has caused my credit score to drop, and it is hindering me from lawfully applying for credit elsewhere because it reflects as an overdue account.</p> <p> </p> <p>I am appalled at Vodacom’s negligence in granting credit to ********** applications, which in turn has a negative effect on the real owners of the identity numbers, even after cases of identity theft has been notified to Vodacom.</p> <p> </p> <p>As requested I have attached to this email a certified copy of my ID an affidavit stating that the account has been **********ly opened in my name.</p> <p>I demand that:</p> <p>1. Vodacom investigate ALL accounts opened in my name;</p> <p>2. Vodacom CLOSE ALL ********** accounts opened in my name;</p> <p>3. Vodacom issue me confirmation letters that all ********** accounts opened in my name have been closed and that all ICT listing in respect of such accounts against my name be removed; and</p> <p>4. Vodacom REFUND ALL AMOUNTS WHICH WERE ********LY DEBITED from my account INCLUDING ANY INTEREST which has accumulated in respect of such amounts.</p> <p>I look forward to receiving your response and to have this matter resolved as a matter of urgency. Please do not hesitate to contact me should you require any further information</p> <p>Kind regards,</p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p>Neo Seshoka</p> <p> </p> <p> </p>