WARNING: Switch Telecoms hidden billing traps, non-disclosure, and refusal to release call recordings

[Tshepo Kunene]

I want to put out a massive warning to any business owners or IT managers looking to onboard with Switch Telecoms. They are engaging in predatory, non-disclosed billing structures and hiding behind their fine print when called out.

The Situation:
I engaged with a sales agent named Ashley last week for a premium plan (R350/pm) for Mayekisa Holdings (Account A32211). I finalized the agreement and paid today while live on the phone with an agent. Immediately after taking my money, the service generated an automated "LOW AIRTIME ALERT" threatening service suspension unless I immediately injected more funds to cover a hidden "pro-rata" billing charge.
At no point during two separate voice consultations did their sales team verbally articulate this immediate double-funding requirement. They focused entirely on closing the sale and omitted material billing details.

The Corporate Response:
When I escalated the matter, the administrative management team and supervisor were incredibly condescending. The supervisor openly admitted that Ashley’s internal CRM notes failed to log a major requirement I raised last week. Despite admitting their internal documentation is flawed, Switch Telecoms is actively withholding the call recordings and refusing to release them.
Furthermore, I have canceled the service immediately due to this material non-disclosure. They are now trying to pocket a portion of my money and refuse a 100% full refund based on a single outbound "test call" made to verify the activation.

Regulatory Action Taken:
I am not letting this go. I mean business and have already escalated this across the board:

• ICASA Reference: GAU005387/26
• CGSO (Consumer Goods & Services Ombud) Reference: 64QMJPND

Be very careful dealing with their sales desk. If you ask for specific custom setups, verify it via your own call recordings because their internal tracking is flawed and they will block you from accessing the audio files when they mess up.

 

[Tshepo Kunene]

Here are the rest of the messages ..

 

[Tshepo Kunene]

And is the last of them

 

[Heisenborg]

Probably a bad idea handling it this way, in public

 

[Tshepo Kunene]

Your opinion doesn't matter to me. Thank you for it though

 

[Sparky43]

You signed up on a prepaid account, so you have to pay up front.

You used a few days in that month, and obviously need to pay in full before the next month for next month's service. I really don't see the need for all the drama.

The post paid option would charge you after the month ends but requires credit checks etc.

Switchtel is the best in the game. Swallow the pride and just continue using their services, you won't go wrong.

 

[Jade @ Absolute Hosting]

We’ve used Switch for years and their service is phenomenal.

Greg personally reached out to us to advise that an old account under another company had credit and they were wanting to refund us.

 

[Tshepo Kunene]

You signed up on a prepaid account, so you have to pay up front.

You used a few days in that month, and obviously need to pay in full before the next month for next month's service. I really don't see the need for all the drama.

The post paid option would charge you after the month ends but requires credit checks etc.

Switchtel is the best in the game. Swallow the pride and just continue using their services, you won't go wrong.

 

[rustypup]

Your opinion doesn't matter to me. Thank you for it though

You sound like a delightful customer. Bet other SPs out there are just clammering for your flavour of drama.

 

[Tshepo Kunene]

We’ve used Switch for years and their service is phenomenal.

Greg personally reached out to us to advise that an old account under another company had credit and they were wanting to refund us.

You sound like a delightful customer. Bet other SPs out there are just clammering for your flavour of drama.

No need to waste your money on a losing bet...i guarantee. I dont take nonsense..dont take issue with me because you do.

 

[neoprema]

I’m about to lose it with Euphoria. Our company needs international calling and they just decided to block it all after years due to “protecting us against security threats by misuse of the account” - it’s prepaid.
You now have to fill out some silly online form listing every country you want to phone that no one has processed in a week…

So I’m looking for a new voip provider of anyone can recommend.

 

[repitah]

Switch takes a little getting used to. Also on a prepaid account (something went wrong with credit vetting) and in the first couple of weeks, the person (account manager?) who took me through the sign up and porting, phoned me and explained that I had to assign credit to the service. Now the process is fairly smooth: purchase credit, assign and monitor around a certain time of the month. Apart from the initial hurdles, the porting of a number range (100 number then reduced to 40) went quite well and the service is pretty good.