WASP *****

<p>Vodacom continue to evade responsibility for the ***** they have admitted to being aware of vis-à-vis WASP (Content Services).Vodacom have billed me for R1329.02 (April 207) and R234.95 (May 2017) for WASP services I never subscribed to. I have an affidavit to this effect as well as proof that I was on a Kulula.com flight at the time when I was accused of (by Vodacom) to subscribing to some of these WASPs. Vodacom call centre agent/s admitted to me that Vodacom do not know how these websites are subscribing people who have not double clicked confirming they want to subscribe.</p> <p>What is amazing is that Vodacom “can't” do my refund, but they “100% able” to REMOVE MONEY FROM their CLIENTS, ON BEHALF OF THE ********** WASP VIA THEIR INVOICING EACH MONTH.</p> <p>I have called the VODACOM call centre many times, and I get nowhere. I have written emails and I get nowhere. Every now and then I get an email from Vodacom or an SMS stating I will get a full refund AND YET I MUST GIVE MY BANKING EMAILS TO a ********** 3rd party? - NO I CAN'T BE EXPECTED TO DO THIS. And yet today, its all still my problem to get the refund. No VODACOM, it’s YOUR PROBLEM. I AM YOUR CLIENT, NOT A ********** 3rd party WASP CLIENT. Afterall I give my money to you each month. When will you start caring?</p> <p>After doing internet research, one quickly notes that WASP ***** has been going on for years and yet the public are powerless to stop it. Vodacom will clearly and happily pair with ************ content service providers because Vodacom are making millions by turning a blind eye to the ***** committed by these affiliate companies every month. Below is the latest reply from Vodacom BASICALLY IMPLYING how they are shying away from any mandate to deal with the ***** they are complicit in.</p> <p>“Dear Mr Conrad Strehlau, The WASP services are not activated by Vodacom it is activated from the device as it is a 3rd party service. The refund has to be done by the WASP provider as the fees charged are paied directly to them. You can log a complaint on the link previously provided requesting a refund. Regards, Cassandra”</p> <p>If the WASP service are a 3rd party, then let the 3rd party bill clients for the content they provide. Hence I say that VODACOM are complicit in the ***** because financially it is of serious benefit to them.</p> <p>The glaring problem with the above behaviour is one of unacceptable corporate governance. As a Director in my own manufacturing business, if I was to be made aware that a 3rd party, ANY 3rd party, is committing ***** DIRECTLY effecting my clients, more especially on invoices I give them in my Company name, then I must immediately take corrective action and eliminate and prevent continuation of ***** or stand the risk of ******** charges. This is grade 1 corporate governance. Moreover as a Director I must make good for losses encountered by my customers at my expense. This again is corporate governance 101.</p> <p>However after complaining repeatedly on Hellopeter and via the Vodacom call centre, Vodacom simply sends me a sms which reads,</p> <p>“Dear Customer, please be advised that you have been successfully unsubscribed from content services. The WASP Company has approved a FULL refund. Should you not be credited and you wish to lay a formal complaint please contact the regulatory, WASP, on ********** 710 (charged) or ********** Vodacom can’t lodge an official complaint on your behalf.”</p> <p>Notwithstanding the above SMS, three WASP companies (Downlou, Whatsmob, NowCeleb) sent me their own emails stating they will refund me R7.00 each. This is a far cry from R1329.02 or R234.95. Is this a Leon Schuster prank? Their emails are shown below and they are obviously all the same company;</p> <p>From Downlou : “Dear Sir Strehlau,We have acknowledged your complaint through WASPA and we would like to offer you a full refund of the amounts charged, that is R7. Kindly provide us with the following bank details: Your full name Name of bank Account number Account type (i.e. Savings, cheque..etc) Bank branch Branch code This refund offer does not in any way or form constitute an acknowledgement of liability and is only provided as a goodwill gesture and serves as settlement of the dispute. Acceptance of the refund will constitute the full and final settlement of this matter. Kind regards, Pauline, Customer Support”</p> <p>From Whatsmob : “Dear Sir Strehlau, After reviewing the matter we would like to offer you a full refund of R7. Kindly provide us with the following bank details: - Bank account holder: - Bank name: - Bank account number:- Account Type: Savings/Cheque - Bank branch: Branch code: This refund offer does not in any way or form constitute an acknowledgement of liability, it is only provided as a goodwill gesture and serves as settlement of the dispute. Acceptance of the refund will constitute the full and final settlement of this matter.Regards,David,Customer Support”</p> <p>From NowCeleb : “Dear Mr Strehlau, The logs are reflecting a compliant subscription and all rules and regulations have been comp**** with. However, we take customer satisfaction very seriously and as a gesture of goodwill, we would like to offer you a full refund of R7. The bank details we require are stated below: - Your full name - Name of bank - Account number - Bank branch - Branch code - Account type (i.e. savings, cheque..etc). This refund offer does not in any way or form constitute an acknowledgement of liability and is only provided as a goodwill gesture and serves as settlement of the dispute. Acceptance of the refund will constitute the full and final settlement of this matter.Best regards,Sam, Customer Support”</p> <p>I am of the strongest professional opinion that Vodacom are not practicing acceptable corporate governance around this ***** which they are very evidently complicit in. Moreover I believe the Vodacom directors should be immediately investigated and the matter be brought to the relevant courts. When will the Vodacom thievery stop?</p> <p>Copy to The Star. Mail & Guardian and the Times</p>