Are Vumatel and Home-Connect involved in ********** Activity?

I switched payment accounts and completely forgot to transfer the required amount to my main account. The debit order did not go through. Granted, it was my mistake.

As soon as I received the notification from my bank, I made the transfer for the debit order to go through. At midday, there was still no debit order and, as I didn't want the service to be interrupted, I WhatsApped Home-Connect, who handles Vumatel clients.

I was advised by the consultant that it be best that I make the payment and was sent a Payfast link. The link requested my card details and I received a notification from my app to accept the payment which I did and the amount was paid.

Later that day, Friday 17 June 2022, Vumatel attempted to debit my account again and, as I only transfer funds when needed, the debit order failed following which, my WiFi was disconnected.

I enquired on Saturday and received no response. On Sunday, I was promised that the matter will be escalated to Vuma and I will receive feedback, after I adhered to their request of a POP. This never happened.

On Monday, I called after receiving no response on Home-Connect WhatsApp line and was told that paying via a link, in such a situation, was not the preferred method and overheard the supervisee tell the consultant that there are always mess-ups with EFTs. The consultant advised me that the amount hadn't been received by Vumatel even though it clearly reflects in my list of transactions, which I provided together with a POP.

It is now Tuesday and I've paid for a service which I'm currently not receiving, the amount I paid cannot be tracked and I now have to pay for additional internet to keep my business running.

1. Why are Home-Connect consultants sending links when this is not Vumatel's preferred method of receiving payment?

2. Seeing that the amount cannot be traced, are Vumatel and Home-Connect involved in ********** activity. If it can be done to me, imagine how many others are being ********?