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I upgraded my 2 contracts last month (month 22 of the old contracts). From the first of this month i have been battling to have 2 issues resolved. i logged a query on the first and its still unresolved. Problems were incorrect data allocated for this month and the device fee. To date this problems are not yet resolved and after numerous calls and mail to 8ta today i have finally referred the matter to ICASA and the National consumer council.
ok that was my problem - but my main reason for the post is the above have got me thinking -How many other people are being scammed by their network operators?
When you sign a contract where a portion of the device fee is only subsidized... like i did for the iPhone 5, the balance of the device fee is added to the contract. for example: normal contract "A" cost is say R100. You can get an iphone on contract "A" for R199 per month. That is cos R99 per month is the device fee you paying over 24 months. no Argument with that -you want the device - pay the fee.
Now. when you upgrade like i did in month 22 - you should not pay the device fee until month 25 (month 1 of the new contract) otherwise you will be paying the device fee for 26 month instead of 24. The network operator is charging 2 months extra on the device fee when the contract is agreed on 24 months. This is if i am not mistaken illegal as per the CPA as you are being falsely overcharged without your knowledge or consent. In the example above it is R99 x 2 months which does not seem like a lot, but in my case it was for 2 iPhone 64Gb contracts - which adds up to well over R1000. let me see a network that will find it ok to under charge by R1000 - so why should it be OK to overcharge me?
Also -what happens after 24 months and you do not sign a new contract but continue on a month to month basis- does the network operator reduce the subscription by removing the device charge?
just some food for thought
I upgraded my 2 contracts last month (month 22 of the old contracts). From the first of this month i have been battling to have 2 issues resolved. i logged a query on the first and its still unresolved. Problems were incorrect data allocated for this month and the device fee. To date this problems are not yet resolved and after numerous calls and mail to 8ta today i have finally referred the matter to ICASA and the National consumer council.
ok that was my problem - but my main reason for the post is the above have got me thinking -How many other people are being scammed by their network operators?
When you sign a contract where a portion of the device fee is only subsidized... like i did for the iPhone 5, the balance of the device fee is added to the contract. for example: normal contract "A" cost is say R100. You can get an iphone on contract "A" for R199 per month. That is cos R99 per month is the device fee you paying over 24 months. no Argument with that -you want the device - pay the fee.
Now. when you upgrade like i did in month 22 - you should not pay the device fee until month 25 (month 1 of the new contract) otherwise you will be paying the device fee for 26 month instead of 24. The network operator is charging 2 months extra on the device fee when the contract is agreed on 24 months. This is if i am not mistaken illegal as per the CPA as you are being falsely overcharged without your knowledge or consent. In the example above it is R99 x 2 months which does not seem like a lot, but in my case it was for 2 iPhone 64Gb contracts - which adds up to well over R1000. let me see a network that will find it ok to under charge by R1000 - so why should it be OK to overcharge me?
Also -what happens after 24 months and you do not sign a new contract but continue on a month to month basis- does the network operator reduce the subscription by removing the device charge?
just some food for thought
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month 25 should be when the device fee for the upgrade begins.