MTN Rip off

[Rinkhals]

In August I bought an MTN 3G dongle and a prepaid SIM card.

The SIM card was loaded with 75Meg of Data Bundle and I bought an additional 200Meg of Data for R149.

The purpose of buying this was to use it while travelling in the Cape and in KZN.

However, I was unable to get it working while in the Cape and only managed to get it working in Mid September after numerous 'phone calls to their help line and at least three visits to the MTN Dealership in the Midlands Mall in Pietermaritzburg.

The whole thing was entirely unsatisfactory, I was only able to sporadically connect and to compound things what data I had bought expired half used.

I still had the original 200 Meg unused, so I took it in to the MTN shop in Cresta to demand my money back.

I was back from my travels and I didn't have any use for it.

The woman behind the counter took my receipt and the SIM card from me and told me that they were under no obligation to refund me. I explained that the SIM card had not had the data charged to it and that they had to give me a refund. Whereupon she took the SIM card and, against my very specific instructions, charged the card.

I now have 200meg in the SIM card that will expire in a month or two and which there is no point in using.

What action can I take?

As far as I am concerned this is a blatant rip off of people who cannot get a contract and are forced to buy pre paid.

 

[reactor_sa]

Arent all prepaid vouchers / airtime non-refundable?? I havent been on prepaid for about 8years, but I see at all the till points they have signs that say 'please make sure you ask for the correct recharge voucher - vouchers are non refundable' or something to that effect.

Ie. I would be surprised if they actually refunded you.

 

[Rinkhals]

And they are allowed to get away with it?

Surely if they sell you something they have an obligation to provide a service?

Or does the consumer protection act not apply to those too poor to qualify for a contract?

 

[reactor_sa]

Its probably worse on a contract. They eat your money without you even realising, and they have debit orders too, so you cant stop them. Its safer on prepaid.

 

[Voldemort]

how on earth is the sales agent that sold you the airtime supposed to garantee the use of such data bundle for your travels? I might be reading this wrong and you struggled for a set period of time to get the sim active? is that what happened here?

 

[zizo911]

They are not obligated to refund you on any prepaid item purchased. Its stated in the T and C.

 

[Mr.CookieMonster]

Ya i dont think they can refund.

You could try filling a complaint at that consumer something something, (cant remember what it is called), telkom customers seem to be filing complaints there.

You could use up the data. download books, software, music, etc.

 

[Venomous]

Ya i dont think they can refund.

You could try filling a complaint at that consumer something something, (cant remember what it is called), telkom customers seem to be filing complaints there.

You could use up the data. download books, software, music, etc.

No. It is not their responsibility to make sure there's signal where he'll be travelling.
If he bought it for travelling the it was his responsibility to ask about the areas where he would be travelling....
So a complaint there is not gonna help.

 

[Rinkhals]

It wasn't a problem with the signal; it was a problem with the setup of the SIM.

Eventually the MTN shop in Pietermaritzburg managed to get it connected, but that was a month and a half down the line.

So, you are telling me that MTN's T and C's override the Consumer Protection Act?

Or are Cell companies exempt from any responsibility to provide a service when they take your money?

I just cannot see how exploitation of those on pre paid (which, let's face it, must be the vast majority of the Nation) is legal.

 

[Voldemort]

It wasn't a problem with the signal; it was a problem with the setup of the SIM.

Eventually the MTN shop in Pietermaritzburg managed to get it connected, but that was a month and a half down the line.

So, you are telling me that MTN's T and C's override the Consumer Protection Act?

Or are Cell companies exempt from any responsibility to provide a service when they take your money?

I just cannot see how exploitation of those on pre paid (which, let's face it, must be the vast majority of the Nation) is legal.

im not gonna lie to you- i deal with MTNSP contract problems here, so prepaid is gonna be a challenge, but not impossible...i think...
pm med your details, lets see what i can do to help- i empathise with your situation and i really want to get this sorted whereby you are a happy and recurring customer.

 

[Venomous]

It wasn't a problem with the signal; it was a problem with the setup of the SIM.

Eventually the MTN shop in Pietermaritzburg managed to get it connected, but that was a month and a half down the line.

So, you are telling me that MTN's T and C's override the Consumer Protection Act?

Or are Cell companies exempt from any responsibility to provide a service when they take your money?

I just cannot see how exploitation of those on pre paid (which, let's face it, must be the vast majority of the Nation) is legal.

The way you wrote initially made it sound like a location/signal problem ...

no their terms do not override the CPA, however there seems to be a few sections of the CPA that is different for SP's than the rest..

 

[zizebra]

pure ripoff, If I were you....

 

[Rinkhals]

im not gonna lie to you- i deal with MTNSP contract problems here, so prepaid is gonna be a challenge, but not impossible...i think...
pm med your details, lets see what i can do to help- i empathise with your situation and i really want to get this sorted whereby you are a happy and recurring customer.

It's not really about me.

It's only R149, but it just irks me that MTN will happily take the money without feeling obligated to provide a service.

It wasn't a signal thing; I was working around George for a while and then was around Nottingham Road. Both areas have very good coverage. I was irritated at having to shell out for the dongle, and the data and then not being able to connect. Not only that, but having my data expire (through no fault of my own) was the last straw.

As it was I ended up borrowing someone else's dongle which I replaced with a couple of Gig, so I was out of pocket on it to the tune of a few hundred on that.

 

[Voldemort]

It's not really about me.

It's only R149, but it just irks me that MTN will happily take the money without feeling obligated to provide a service.

It wasn't a signal thing; I was working around George for a while and then was around Nottingham Road. Both areas have very good coverage. I was irritated at having to shell out for the dongle, and the data and then not being able to connect. Not only that, but having my data expire (through no fault of my own) was the last straw.

As it was I ended up borrowing someone else's dongle which I replaced with a couple of Gig, so I was out of pocket on it to the tune of a few hundred on that.

I understand mate, pm me your details and lemme check if i can assist please man.