Huge bill on topup contract

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CptNukeEm

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Around March this year I upgraded to an MTN topup100 contract and asked them to set it so that works like Pay as you go where I have to put airtime on, thus not billing me after my balance reaches R0. So I recieved my bills for the first month, R386, second month, R314, third month R885(This amount includes the contract which costs R280 a month). Now the first 2 months I didn't notice that I was paying a different amount (so I didn't know that I was going over my R100 airtime). I never checked to see how much airtime I had on, so I assumed that I was still using the R100 airtime that I get a month. For the third month, I made R480 worth of calls!!! On my contract it states that I have an MTN Topup100 subscription but I still got billed for additional charges! It's like being on pay as you go and getting billed even though you have R0 airtime...

I went to the MTN branch where I did the contract, and they say that there's a mistake and that I should not be able to go over my R100 monthly airtime, since it is a TOPUP contract, and that they will fix it. But now I have to pay R480 worth of calls which I feel I am not liable for, since it's a topup contract and I clearly asked them to let it stop at R0.

I never checked my airtime value, so I wasn't aware that I was going over my limit.. Do you think I am liable to pay for those calls?
 
Griz said:
Read your contract bro.
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It has nothing to do with the contract. I'm on a TOPUP contract in other words PAY AS YOU GO. It's supposed to stop when my balance reaches R0, not go over and send me the bill later.
 
CptNukeEm said:
It has nothing to do with the contract. I'm on a TOPUP contract in other words PAY AS YOU GO. It's supposed to stop when my balance reaches R0, not go over and send me the bill later.
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Fully agree with you.

If its a topup...you first need to top it up before you can use it again!

Hopefully MTN will get a huge fine for this skelm & unethical tactics.

They are still milking South Africans to fund their operations in other countries.

MTN sucks. Donkey balls.
 
CptNukeEm said:
I should not be able to go over my R100 monthly airtime, since it is a TOPUP contract, and that they will fix it. But now I have to pay R480 worth of calls which I feel I am not liable for, since it's a topup contract and I clearly asked them to let it stop at R0.
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You should have read your contract ;) MTNs does not work like Vodacoms TopUp. On MTN you pay, say R100 pm, you get R100 airtime for voice/data/sms etc BUT you can use that up and still get billed. On Vodacom you get the R135 pm airtime and when it is finished you have to buy prepaid airtime before you can use the network again.

This difference with MTN is in the fine print with all their adverts. I think it is a USELESS system and it should rather work like Vodacoms system. However, the fault still lies on you. R100 airtime does not go far when making peak hour calls so you should've realised something was up when you could just call and call and call with no end.......
 
Edduck said:
You should have read your contract ;) MTNs does not work like Vodacoms TopUp. On MTN you pay, say R100 pm, you get R100 airtime for voice/data/sms etc BUT you can use that up and still get billed. On Vodacom you get the R135 pm airtime and when it is finished you have to buy prepaid airtime before you can use the network again.

This difference with MTN is in the fine print with all their adverts. I think it is a USELESS system and it should rather work like Vodacoms system. However, the fault still lies on you. R100 airtime does not go far when making peak hour calls so you should've realised something was up when you could just call and call and call with no end.......
Click to expand...

I've had this contract for more than 2 years.. It used to be that after the R100 I still got billed. So I asked them to change it so that I don't get billed and I have to add airtime (3 months ago when I upgraded). It did change on their system and it shows a different contract name on my bill than it previously did(used to show just MTN 100 and now it shows MTN Topup 100). When I complained 3 days ago, they finally changed it for me and I can't make calls now at R0. But it should have been changed 3 months ago when I initially asked them to do it. So because of their "problem", I now have to pay.
 
Edduck said:
You should have read your contract ;) MTNs does not work like Vodacoms TopUp. On MTN you pay, say R100 pm, you get R100 airtime for voice/data/sms etc BUT you can use that up and still get billed. On Vodacom you get the R135 pm airtime and when it is finished you have to buy prepaid airtime before you can use the network again.

This difference with MTN is in the fine print with all their adverts. I think it is a USELESS system and it should rather work like Vodacoms system. However, the fault still lies on you. R100 airtime does not go far when making peak hour calls so you should've realised something was up when you could just call and call and call with no end.......
Click to expand...

This can't be. I have topup contract with MTN and once I reach my limit I can't call/sms or use data until I purchase more airtime. I did not ask for this by the way, as far as I know that is the whole point of topup. Once you reach the limit you have to buy more airtime, why else call it topup?
 
With MTN one never knows. Their topup contract does indeed go 'over the top'. However,due to many complains from the public they began to 'self limit'. But they do you a FAVOUR by doing that! READ the small print! Yes, unfortunately you'll have to pay. You have profited from all this calls. Even if you can show in writing that you asked for 'special treatment',MTN will say 'they decided not to grant your 'special treatment',MTN will say 'they decided not to grant your request'. You should have checked your usage. Ask me all about it. You have been caught with your pants down. Fortunately is only around 1 grand to cough up. A school buddy of mine had to sell his old pickup in order to settle a 11000Rand internet usage bill with MTN ! ! !
 
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Mtn sux. A topup is a topup. But here in SA the onus is on us to check. Thought the CPA was supposed to fix this. U will be liable for that bill. Similar to caps that dont cut off once reached.
 
Edduck said:
You should have read your contract ;) MTNs does not work like Vodacoms TopUp. On MTN you pay, say R100 pm, you get R100 airtime for voice/data/sms etc BUT you can use that up and still get billed. On Vodacom you get the R135 pm airtime and when it is finished you have to buy prepaid airtime before you can use the network again.

This difference with MTN is in the fine print with all their adverts. I think it is a USELESS system and it should rather work like Vodacoms system. However, the fault still lies on you. R100 airtime does not go far when making peak hour calls so you should've realised something was up when you could just call and call and call with no end.......
Click to expand...



Sorry dude you are incorect
I have 2 contracts ith MTN phone is a top up and the other is normal billing (mtn anytim and mtn top up),
the top up one as soon as the credit is finished doesnt allow calling and a recharge voucher has to be purchsed so we can use it. (yes I have tested)
Theres no cost difference if you have a top up or not and both work on an airtime value only diference is one canot be used once airtime value has been depleated, from above it looks as if when CptNukEm asked them to change his contract and they didnt do it.
@CptNukEm as you have used the actual credit you being charged for you are liable for that cost, but MTN is at fault for not changing you to top up contract, they do have to fix it for the future


edit i checked there no small print about the being billed for the Top up, this rule is on the normal anytime contract
 
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Edduck said:
You should have read your contract ;) MTNs does not work like Vodacoms TopUp. On MTN you pay, say R100 pm, you get R100 airtime for voice/data/sms etc BUT you can use that up and still get billed. On Vodacom you get the R135 pm airtime and when it is finished you have to buy prepaid airtime before you can use the network again.

This difference with MTN is in the fine print with all their adverts. I think it is a USELESS system and it should rather work like Vodacoms system. However, the fault still lies on you. R100 airtime does not go far when making peak hour calls so you should've realised something was up when you could just call and call and call with no end.......
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This is a big lie,who are you working for?
 
Went to MTN again, they said that it was a fault on their side and that they would refund me for the call charges for those 3 months. gg..

Now I just have to wait and see if they do in fact refund me..
 
Come on. We are all adults here?? Can't believe that some people think that "TopUp" is not "TopUp". What does TopUp mean? Think it out.

wow you are lucky if they actualy refund you

isie, What makes you think that MTN may NOT refund this money. They are obliged by law to do so. Where have you been?
 
marco said:
isie, What makes you think that MTN may NOT refund this money. They are obliged by law to do so. Where have you been?
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Just common sense He used the airtime, so legally he is liable for it, even though mtn was at fault for not setting up his contract correctly, I'm not sure if or how CPA would rule in this case

but IMO its great customer service if he gets refund
 
CptNukeEm said:
Went to MTN again, they said that it was a fault on their side and that they would refund me for the call charges for those 3 months. gg..

Now I just have to wait and see if they do in fact refund me..
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If they dont, lemme know, il sit on them. If you signed for a topup theres no reason you should be on one.
 
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