Changed Debit Amount

J

JustinSerf

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Hi

I signed up for a 36 month contract with MTN for an iPhone 13 Pro Max on the 14/09/2022. The initial debit amount/monthly contract amount was for R879 per month. I also started my first job a few months earlier so I checked that the debit order was going through properly and it was, the statement also confirmed the same amount.

At that point I never opened the monthly statement again and didn't physically check any debit orders because I always budgeted to have enough in my account for all fixed expenses and moved the rest into investments accounts etc...

This month is my "early" upgrade month so I used MTNs online tool to check that:

1745910628919.png

An outstanding amount of R87 236.98... Seeing this was quite a shock. So I went to check my account statements and from what I can gather, at some point the "iPhone portion" of the monthly amount had been completely zeroed on the statement.

1745911181274.png

Of course this changed what the debit order amount was, so there was no indication to me that this had happened, other than some extra cash accruing in my bank account.

I'm not quite sure what to make of all this and how exactly I should tackle it, but I do know that the R87 236.98 can't be correct in the slightest.

Any suggestions or guidance would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Current Resolution:
Hi All

So I carved out some time now while at work and called MTN to try and figure out what the story is.

I was transferred twice and all 3 support people I spoke to all said to me the exact same thing. None of them have ever seen a case like mine and all sounded genuinely confused at what my account is showing.

Apparently my account is showing that my current monthly payment is that of R29k which all 3 of them confirmed is the total amount for the device itself. Even though the account shows that, they also noted that my monthly statements show a normal (not in arrears) amount of R195/month.

The last person I spoke to escalated this to the back office and gave me a case number.

As far as I can work out, the R87k is based on the second option the "early upgrade" image shows. Which is R29 078 each month for the next 3 months until the end of my contract (R29 078 * 3 months = R87 234). That does line up with what they were saying about the system showing my monthly payment as R29k.

Side Note:
I do appreciate all the comments about "being very out of touch" with ones finances. I am young, still learning, maybe different background to everyone here. But even so I know those aren't excuses, so I'll try and learn from this experience and be more on top of my finances. Thanks everyone
Click to expand...
 
Last edited:
Your starting point to get this resolved is to go to an authorised MTN store, not a franchise store.
 
RedViking said:
Uhm.... What does MTN say. Surely you have disputed this with them?
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Sorry I should've clarified. I have not queried it with them yet. I haven't disputed something like this before, so I just wanted to know if there is anything I should know before going to them.

For example: If there was any interest accrued because of the reduced payment, am I liable for it? or are they liable since they changed the debit order amount
 
It boggles my mind how people are able to just let their finances go and yolo it, not a hit against OP as i've seens this countless times and seems to be the norm with most people, maybe I'm the different one.

I go through my budget every month and mark off a sheet with what has gone off and what is expected etc, meaning I would catch something like this relatively easily.
 
JustinSerf said:
Sorry I should've clarified. I have not queried it with them yet. I haven't disputed something like this before, so I just wanted to know if there is anything I should know before going to them.

For example: If there was any interest accrued because of the reduced payment, am I liable for it? or are they liable since they changed the debit order amount
Click to expand...
Well just start by going to them. That would be step one.
 
JustinSerf said:
Ok thanks. If there's nothing specific I need to sort out/know before hand then I'll go to them as soon as I can

Thanks for you help
Click to expand...
Come back here on what their response is. You obviously going to have to pay and there will be interest. Best would be for both parties to come to an agreement and they might cut it down to 40-50 000 if you are lucky.
 
Zuner said:
It boggles my mind how people are able to just let their finances go and yolo it, not a hit against OP as i've seens this countless times and seems to be the norm with most people, maybe I'm the different one.

I go through my budget every month and mark off a sheet with what has gone off and what is expected etc, meaning I would catch something like this relatively easily.
Click to expand...
Yeah you will be surprise how little people know about their finances between the beginning of the month and the end of the month. I think most people prefer to be ignorant on purpose.

Also, sad that someone start off their live like that. It is a vicious circle and comes from bad parenting if not rebellious child.
 
Calculate Total Device Cost Over 36 Months:
\text{Total device cost} = \text{Total paid} - \text{Total contract cost} = 31,644 - 6,084 = 25,560
Click to expand...
If you go into arrears on the device cost of $25,560, after 36 months at an interest rate of 20%, the compounded interest would be approximately $19,204.96, and the total amount owed would be approximately $44,764.96.
Click to expand...

Am I smoking something or is 87k way too high even if you are charged compounded interest from month 1.
 
I don't understand why MTN didn't cut the service when the arrears started increasing?
 
Hi All

So I carved out some time now while at work and called MTN to try and figure out what the story is.

I was transferred twice and all 3 support people I spoke to all said to me the exact same thing. None of them have ever seen a case like mine and all sounded genuinely confused at what my account is showing.

Apparently my account is showing that my current monthly payment is that of R29k which all 3 of them confirmed is the total amount for the device itself. Even though the account shows that, they also noted that my monthly statements show a normal (not in arrears) amount of R195/month.

The last person I spoke to escalated this to the back office and gave me a case number.

As far as I can work out, the R87k is based on the second option the "early upgrade" image shows. Which is R29 078 each month for the next 3 months until the end of my contract (R29 078 * 3 months = R87 234). That does line up with what they were saying about the system showing my monthly payment as R29k.

Side Note:
I do appreciate all the comments about "being very out of touch" with ones finances. I am young, still learning, maybe different background to everyone here. But even so I know those aren't excuses, so I'll try and learn from this experience and be more on top of my finances. Thanks everyone
 
JustinSerf said:
Hi All

So I carved out some time now while at work and called MTN to try and figure out what the story is.

I was transferred twice and all 3 support people I spoke to all said to me the exact same thing. None of them have ever seen a case like mine and all sounded genuinely confused at what my account is showing.

Apparently my account is showing that my current monthly payment is that of R29k which all 3 of them confirmed is the total amount for the device itself. Even though the account shows that, they also noted that my monthly statements show a normal (not in arrears) amount of R195/month.

The last person I spoke to escalated this to the back office and gave me a case number.

As far as I can work out, the R87k is based on the second option the "early upgrade" image shows. Which is R29 078 each month for the next 3 months until the end of my contract (R29 078 * 3 months = R87 234). That does line up with what they were saying about the system showing my monthly payment as R29k.

Side Note:
I do appreciate all the comments about "being very out of touch" with ones finances. I am young, still learning, maybe different background to everyone here. But even so I know those aren't excuses, so I'll try and learn from this experience and be more on top of my finances. Thanks everyone
Click to expand...
That sounds better, I would fight them if they try to charge interest.
Learn from this, start a budget, visually seeing where your money goes helps a lot in planning how to use it.
 
Zuner said:
That sounds better, I would fight them if they try to charge interest.
Learn from this, start a budget, visually seeing where upir money goes helps a lot in planning how to use it.
Click to expand...
Thanks, I will definitely do so
 
Leisure Larry said:
How exactly does one so this?
I'm already on debit order.
Click to expand...

I had a month, where I upgraded, and MTN kept on taking debit orders as they like, for no reason.

You can walk into any MTN store, and just tell the guy, you want to change to CASH.

And I do payments now via the MTN app (and all control in my hands).
 
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