CELL C's Supercharge vouchers

[MikeSA]

I purchased a Cell C Supercharge airtime voucher and really got SUPERCHARGED! Allow me to explain. After recharging, in addition to the airtime purchased, Cell C also gave me free Cell C-to Cell C calls and free data equal to the amount of airtime purchased (valid for a limited period). But when I inserted the sim card into my modem and accessed the internet, in no time was the data depleted but, to my horror, even all my airtime was also depleted without my knowledge and consent. Surely that is simply a sharp business practice. What right did Cell C have to "steal" my airtime. I really feel screwed and will not be taken by Cell C's radio adverts again.

 

[The Rookie]

Hi,

I'm glad I'm not the only one who feels this way.
Seriously, I was disappointed about the same thing today.
and the worst thing is, when I check my iPhone cellular data usage it was at 20mb.
I'm really thinking of switching to another network.
since a lot of my friends/family are on other networks besides CellC and its no use giving me x amount of this and that if my airtime is being stolen, which is how I feel. no sms's to say that I've used up the data and that it would now be deducted from my airtime.

sorry for ranting like this.

 

[Uli]

Supercharge does have a expiry date, just saying.

 

[siyya]

Automatic software updates can be a factor.

 

[Cell_C]

I purchased a Cell C Supercharge airtime voucher and really got SUPERCHARGED! Allow me to explain. After recharging, in addition to the airtime purchased, Cell C also gave me free Cell C-to Cell C calls and free data equal to the amount of airtime purchased (valid for a limited period). But when I inserted the sim card into my modem and accessed the internet, in no time was the data depleted but, to my horror, even all my airtime was also depleted without my knowledge and consent. Surely that is simply a sharp business practice. What right did Cell C have to "steal" my airtime. I really feel screwed and will not be taken by Cell C's radio adverts again.

Hi MikeSA, PleasePM me your number, will check what happened to the data. Thanks *DM*

 

[MikeSA]

The crux of the matter is that, upon depletion of my data, my airtime was utilised without warning and without my knowledge and consent. That I find unacceptable. It is simply tantamount to “theft”, would you all agree?

I have spoken to many of my friends and it appears that the practice is common among all the four major Service Providers in this country. The minute data is depleted, depletion of airtime kicks in and out-of-bundle rates apply. That is most unfair. Surely, Service Providers can be more transparent and display a warning to this effect.

Another question comes to mind. Are Service Providers, by design or otherwise, in a position to “rig” their network settings in such a way that data does get depleted abnormally fast? In this regard, my experience previously with 8TA speaks for itself.

On two occasions, I had similar problems with 8TA. The first time when my data and airtime got depleted exceptionally fast, upon my insistence (at first 8TA denied there was any defect in their settings but subsequently relented), 8TA instigated an investigation and it transpired that their network settings were in fact wrongly configured and customers were being short-changed. In my case, I was wrongly being charged out-of-bundle rates and not in-bundle rates resulting in fast depletion of data. In this instance, at least 8TA had the courage to admit that its system settings were faulty, advised that the necessary repair-work had been effected and promptly refunded me.

However, the second time that the same thing happened, 8TA sang a different tune. This time, their Customer Care agents were most abrupt and would not even give me a proper hearing. They were adamant that that there was nothing wrong with 8TA’s system settings and were not even prepared to correspond with me any further. My e-mails were not even responded to and every time I phoned, I was promptly cut off. It was then that I decided to try Cell C – to my dis-appointment! I think I’ll now try Neotel.

To DM, Cell C representative, please be advised that I did log a query with your Customer Care. One of your agents subsequently advised that, upon depletion of the data, airtime is always utilised. That is unacceptable. You have no right to pounce on my airtime without my knowledge and consent. Furthermore, I was advised that Cell C cannot offer any service whereby warnings are displayed once data is depleted but I can ask for “outgoing calls to be blocked”. That way, “airtime will not be used up when data is depleted”. But then, what’s the point of having a cellphone if you cannot make outgoing calls!

 

[sajunky]

The crux of the matter is that, upon depletion of my data, my airtime was utilised without warning and without my knowledge and consent. That I find unacceptable. It is simply tantamount to “theft”, would you all agree?

[...]The minute data is depleted, depletion of airtime kicks in and out-of-bundle rates apply. That is most unfair. Surely, Service Providers can be more transparent and display a warning to this effect.

I agree that it should be a warning, but I see you had a problem with 8ta which normally cuts you off and wait for your approval for charging OOB, so you had to give them such approval at least one time.
In this case (while you didn't specify it in your first post) I expect that your free data had been used properly, before OOB kicked off. I must say, many modern phones use internet connection without user approval, so you must be prepared for it and make neccesary changes in your phone settings before loading any airtime. In Cell C there is a mechanism protecting you from OOB sharks, so listen now how people are dealing with a problem.

Every month purchase a small bundle R7.50 minimum, it will give you the same OOB rate for the next 30 days. Problem solved.

 

[Hamish McPanji]

Every month purchase a small bundle R7.50 minimum, it will give you the same OOB rate for the next 30 days. Problem solved.

Good tip. Have been doing this since they reduced the OOB rates.

Works well, have Cell C sims on all my devices (Nexus 4, Nexus 7 and 3g router) except my Blackberry. My expenses have gone down substantially as am mostly on wifi

 

[cavedog]

8ta sends tons of sms messages to your phones as your data gets depleted. Once your data bundle is depleted you no longer have access to the internet until you select a option of buying another bundle or selecting the out of bundle option. So I'm not sure what went wrong with ur 8ta sim......

As for cellc yes its disturbing but it happens with all networks. If data is depleted you will use airtime. The problem with cellc is that its 99c per megabyte IF you did not buy a bundle which I assume happened to you since you only received the supercharge data.

 

[SaiyanZ]

I don't see any problem with this especially since it is on CellC where the in-bundle rate equals the OOB rate. You bought a bundle and got charged 15c/mb for data that you actually used. If you wanted to save your airtime for calls then you should've kept an eye on the data bundle balance.

 

[pboy]

i see no problem here..
you used up your airtime... and you complain?

 

[Budza]

i see no problem here..
you used up your airtime... and you complain?

Despite the username, OP sounds like he's new to SA. That's how our delightful MNOs roll Mike. Just be glad you weren't on a contract!

 

[MikeSA]

i see no problem here..
you used up your airtime... and you complain?

Correction, I did not use "up my airtime". Upon depletion of the data, my airtime was used up without warning and without my knowledge and consent. That is precisely the point you appear to miss.

 

[sajunky]

And now you know how to prevent to be charged 99c/MB. Doesn't it solve your problem?

 

[Madhawk]

Correction, I did not use "up my airtime". Upon depletion of the data, my airtime was used up without warning and without my knowledge and consent. That is precisely the point you appear to miss.

This practice happens with all Networks. The safest option for you is to buy the 3GB/R399 voucher from a Cell C store.

That way you have 3GBs to keep an eye on and it's valid for a year. Works well with a modem.

 

[MikeSA]

This practice happens with all Networks. The safest option for you is to buy the 3GB/R399 voucher from a Cell C store.

That way you have 3GBs to keep an eye on and it's valid for a year. Works well with a modem.

Yes, it's common practice with all the Networks. Although competitors, perhaps they all work hand-in-hand and the consumer has no other option but to choose any one of them! Be that as it may. in selecting a Network and if price is the determining factor, it appears that currently 8TA is the cheapest. 8TA also has a 3GB prepaid bundle (2GB anytime + 1GB NightSurfer) for just R149.00, would you believe it? That is very cheap and works out to only
5c/per MB. In fact, 8TA is the cheapest of the lot and, despite problems with 8TA previously, I think I will go back to 8TA! Perhaps the other Networks will take note, and some day will match or beat 8TA's rate. The other Network that also has cheap prepaid bundles is Neotel. Currently Neotel has a 24GB data bundle for just R799.00. Let's see what the other Networks come up with in the near future.

 

[MikeSA]

This practice happens with all Networks. The safest option for you is to buy the 3GB/R399 voucher from a Cell C store.

That way you have 3GBs to keep an eye on and it's valid for a year. Works well with a modem.

Yes, the practice is common with all the Networks and one has no option but to choose one of them. Be that as it may, if price is the determining factor (it always is), one needs to ask oneself : Now who is the cheapest? Currently 8TA is definitely the cheapest for prepaid data bundles. 8TA also has a 3GB prepaid data bundle for just R149.00, would you believe it? That works out to only 5c/per MB. Very cheap indeed. Then there's Neotel which has a 24GB prepaid data bundle for R799.00. One can only hope that someday Networks will take note and match or beat 8TA's rates. Despite problems with 8TA previously, I think I'll go back to 8TA!

 

[ChocolateBadger]

People complaining about super charging....YOU GET WHAT YOU PAID FOR. It's free so you cannot complain.

Don't make me bring the tight lipped gift horse here.