Cell C - Controlchat 100 billing issues [NOT SOLVED]

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Jeffrsnapln

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I have a serious issue with Cell C.

I have a Controlchat 100 contract that my wife uses. It costs R100.00/month. It can ONLY cost R100.00/month. It is impossible to run up a high account on this contract, this is the reason I chose it. I pay the account manually a month in advance to prevent them debiting me random amounts as has been their habit (another story for another day).

3 weeks ago the line gets suspended. I call to see whats going on. They tell me the account is in arrears by R818.17. Now a drunk, blind, retarded, monkey could see at a glance that it is an error. But of course it must be investigated. I log a case, get a reference number and am assured that I will hear from them within 48 hrs.

This gets repeated 3 times and still I hear nothing. No surprise.

Today I strip and decide I will get to the bottom of it if it kills me so I start phoning every Cell C contact number I have accumulated in my long and bitter history with them. With all of them its the same thing: the person who answers can't help and has to transfer you to someone else. You hold for anything from 20 - 50 min (I actually did hold for 50 min today) and then eventually get through to someone else who promptly cuts you off. This has happened to me 4 times this morning.

This is not the first time I have had this problem. The last time it happened, it took 11 months... thats right ELEVEN MONTHS to fix.

Its unpleasant to get raped. To get raped repeatedly is somewhat more than unpleasant. Luckily this is the last of my contracts that is still with Cell C and it ends in 2 months. There is a light at the end of the tunnel.

I don't expect this thread to fix my problem, but at least if I die today, I'll rest in peace knowing that someone has read this and hopefully been dissuaded from giving Cell C their business. :whistle:
 
Last edited:
Awesome. Dissuaded me. I would have thought that they changed with lots of positive response (amid some negative) with regards to the their broadband offerings which I was considering seeing as Telkom won't upgrade me to 512 ADSL. I guess I'll stick with the devil I know.
 
If they can put the same efforts on customer service as they do with their anti-Voda ads they would have a better customer service dept. Cell Cs customer care is on par with that of Empty N, they simple don't care about customers.
 
Post this on HelloPeter, you might get a response.

Companies that hate HelloPeter - if you actually listened to us, we wouldnt need to use HelloPeter.
 
Jeffrsnapln said:
I have a serious issue with Cell C.

I have a Controlchat 100 contract that my wife uses. It costs R100.00/month. It can ONLY cost R100.00/month. It is impossible to run up a high account on this contract, this is the reason I chose it. I pay the account manually a month in advance to prevent them debiting me random amounts as has been their habit (another story for another day).

3 weeks ago the line gets suspended. I call to see whats going on. They tell me the account is in arrears by R818.17. Now a drunk, blind, retarded, monkey could see at a glance that it is an error. But of course it must be investigated. I log a case, get a reference number and am assured that I will hear from them within 48 hrs.

This gets repeated 3 times and still I hear nothing. No surprise.

Today I strip and decide I will get to the bottom of it if it kills me so I start phoning every Cell C contact number I have accumulated in my long and bitter history with them. With all of them its the same thing: the person who answers can't help and has to transfer you to someone else. You hold for anything from 20 - 50 min (I actually did hold for 50 min today) and then eventually get through to someone else who promptly cuts you off. This has happened to me 4 times this morning.

This is not the first time I have had this problem. The last time it happened, it took 11 months... thats right ELEVEN MONTHS to fix.

Its unpleasant to get raped. To get raped repeatedly is somewhat more than unpleasant. Luckily this is the last of my contracts that is still with Cell C and it ends in 2 months. There is a light at the end of the tunnel.

I don't expect this thread to fix my problem, but at least if I die today, I'll rest in peace knowing that someone has read this and hopefully been dissuaded from giving Cell C their business. :whistle:
Click to expand...

Good day Jeffrsnapln

Please PM me your detail and i call you and we can get to bottom of this

Regards
~AM~
 
@Jeffrsnapin

forward me your details and we'll sort this out. Sorry for the mishap.

Best

Lars

Jeffrsnapln said:
I have a serious issue with Cell C.

I have a Controlchat 100 contract that my wife uses. It costs R100.00/month. It can ONLY cost R100.00/month. It is impossible to run up a high account on this contract, this is the reason I chose it. I pay the account manually a month in advance to prevent them debiting me random amounts as has been their habit (another story for another day).

3 weeks ago the line gets suspended. I call to see whats going on. They tell me the account is in arrears by R818.17. Now a drunk, blind, retarded, monkey could see at a glance that it is an error. But of course it must be investigated. I log a case, get a reference number and am assured that I will hear from them within 48 hrs.

This gets repeated 3 times and still I hear nothing. No surprise.

Today I strip and decide I will get to the bottom of it if it kills me so I start phoning every Cell C contact number I have accumulated in my long and bitter history with them. With all of them its the same thing: the person who answers can't help and has to transfer you to someone else. You hold for anything from 20 - 50 min (I actually did hold for 50 min today) and then eventually get through to someone else who promptly cuts you off. This has happened to me 4 times this morning.

This is not the first time I have had this problem. The last time it happened, it took 11 months... thats right ELEVEN MONTHS to fix.

Its unpleasant to get raped. To get raped repeatedly is somewhat more than unpleasant. Luckily this is the last of my contracts that is still with Cell C and it ends in 2 months. There is a light at the end of the tunnel.

I don't expect this thread to fix my problem, but at least if I die today, I'll rest in peace knowing that someone has read this and hopefully been dissuaded from giving Cell C their business. :whistle:
Click to expand...
 
For the record, my line was reconnected yesterday.

What I've learned: If you are ever so unfortunate as to have anything to do with Cell C, don't waste your time with the call centre, don't bother telling Trevor, and don't bother emailing or faxing them. Just post your problem on MBB.

Many thanks to LPR and Cell_C for your assistance. As helpful as you guys have been, you won't retain me as a client - that ship sailed way long ago. At least I know who to speak to if I have any more problems in the last 2 months of my contract.
 
...Aaaand its off again.

Since my last post, I have had no feedback from cell c, or from Lars or the Cell C rep. Line was suspended again today, even though I have sent Cell C ample proof that my account is in fact paid up a month in advance.

Can't say I'm surprised.
 
Unbelievable

Even after getting written confirmation from Cell C that my account is paid up in advance until the end of the contract period, I just got an SMS saying that it has been handed over to debt collectors.

Is it not enough for them to take my money, my time, my patience and anything else they can get their hands on? Must they really take legal action against me aswell?

Just one question for you Cell C: WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM ME??!!?? :mad:
 
Hey, I feel your pain, but something tells me its got to do with that accursed software they use to trace disputes, account info etc.

The reason is, they never seem to know whats going on, they always have excuses, it takes them months to provide any info.

The company/person/organization that provided them with that software needs to be hung :erm:

It never displays anything correctly or it doesn't provide them the necessary info at all!

I know their trying to revamp their self image, but this is disgraceful and embarrassing.

My exp:
http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showthread.php/340069-CellC-service-sucks-bad.
 
It will be a bit of a hassle but why don't you lay a claim against them with the Small Claims Court? I'd like to see the CEO's face when the sheriff rocks up and summonses him to appear in court. And the great thing about it - no lawyers. Just you and Mr Lars (if he turns up). If he doesn't, you'll get a judgement against them. You probably won't be able to execute the judgement but oh the satisfaction.
 
My goodness, this just gets better and better:

Monday 6th Jun:
Got an SMS from VVM Inc saying that my accoung has been handed over to them for collection of a R300.00 debt. I immediately posted it in this thread (above) and PMed Lars Reichelt and Armando Morris and emailed Thuto Monama, who has been assisting me with this problem since I first started this thread.
Thuto replies: "Ignore the message, send me proof of your latest payment and I will sort sort it out". I comply.
Armando phoned me very soon afterwards to say that he had PMed me his email address and to please send him all the info, which I promptly did.
I also emailed EVERY email address on VVM's website, giving them all the proofs of payment as well as Thuto's contact details, and asking them to speak to him directly.

Tues, 7th Jul:
I get an email and an SMS from VVM stating that my line will be suspended within 48hrs if payment is not received.
I ignore these, as I have the assurancethat it will be taken care of from two Cell C representatives who I have come to love and respect. Why should I doubt their word? Why indeed.

Today, 8th Jul:
Line suspended.
I am actually beginning to find this quite entertaining.

I am pretty sure I'm getting wise to the scheme now. Its really quite simple: Regardless of what a client owes, or what they have paid, just keep on insisting that they pay more, and continually suspend service to ensure that they keep paying. I'm pretty sure theres a word for that... Oh yes: EXTORTION. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extortion
 
kennym said:
It will be a bit of a hassle but why don't you lay a claim against them with the Small Claims Court? I'd like to see the CEO's face when the sheriff rocks up and summonses him to appear in court. And the great thing about it - no lawyers. Just you and Mr Lars (if he turns up). If he doesn't, you'll get a judgement against them. You probably won't be able to execute the judgement but oh the satisfaction.
Click to expand...

That is very tempting. Very very tempting. The trouble is where will it get me? I'll just waste days, weeks, months, who knows how much time fighting a lost cause.

What I would be very interested to know is If I kept on paying every time they claim money from me, would it ever stop? I have provided every possible proof of the up to date state of my account and they take absolutely no notice. They just keep asking for more money.
 
man oh man and here i was about to sign up with them as i have a data bundle with them and its been smooth sailing after my start-up spat with their accounts and western cape manager who also promised to sort out the issues but alas his holiday was more important than sorting out a R3000 account and so they kinda screwed me but after that its been smooth sailing again and now i shudder to think if i should take out a voice contract with them lol
 
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