I am posting this as a warning to others who may be caught out as well as a way of getting the word out about what I consider to be HUGELY unethical business practice.
I received an SMS to my mobile phone yesterday from this number:
+27 82007024039926
...containing the following text:
"YOU ARE REQUESTED TO PAY R500
URGENTLY ON YOUR MULTICHOICE ACC *the relevant account number here*
CALL MBD INC. (011)560-4268 FOR THE REMAINING BALANCE."
This was odd to me as I have not had DSTV for over a year, since our last move. Suspecting some billing stuff up that somehow regurgitated my details I rang the number supplied and asked why I would receive communications of this sort so long after having concluded my dealings with Multichoice.
First the standard notifications that the call may be recorded, business as usual nowadays in my experience so nothing strange just yet.
Here's where it gets creepy though…
The woman who answered the phone knew (ostensibly from my cell number) who I was and gave my (over a year old) address for my verification in order to ensure she had the right guy, then very quickly dismissed the R500 amount from the SMS, saying: "Oh no - that's an error with our system."
Before the words were even out of her mouth though she quickly pointed out that I DO owe them R190 and some change. I challenged that citing the fact that a DSTV account is paid in advance and could therefore not logically be in arrears. She agrees that the account is paid in advance but insists that I am in arrears. I challenge this again, this time asking for an explanation at this which point the line goes dead… I'm willing to give the benefit of the doubt and assume that I drove out of signal at that point.
Slightly annoyed I go about my day, pretty much putting the whole thing out of my head. It's preposterous really to consider that A.) an account paid in advance could go into arrears and B.) that after more than 12 months this could still be a going concern with no communications from Multichoice (they do, after all have my cell number and we did have mail forwarded for some time after moving house.)
Fast forward to today.
I receive a call from an unknown number, the woman on the other end introduces herself and confirms my identity then points out that she is from a lawyers office and that the call is being recorded for legal reasons. She informs me that Multichoice have handed my account which is in arrears of R190 odd to the lawyers for whom she works and threatens listing me with the credit bureau (ITC in this case) unless I make arrangements to pay the outstanding amount.
VERY aggravated at this point I tell her that I am challenging the claim that I am in arrears based on the fact that the account is paid in advance. She insists that I failed to notify Multichoice of my intent to cease paying and using the account and that as such my bill ran over by a few days (this would be after my move from the premises at which the dish was installed) and that like it or not, whether I used it r not, I am liable for that amount, DESPITE THE FACT THAT A DSTV ACCOUNT IS PAID IN EFFING ADVANCE!!
Not needing to be listed at ITC, I relented and agreed to pay. My wife is 9 months pregnant and we are now on my salary alone - we mat very well need a line of credit or an overdraft over the next six months before she goes back to work and I cannot risk getting a bad credit record over R190 - odd.
I really wish that I was in a position to fight this though and here is why:
1.) As far as I am concerned there was no error, the SMS was sent with the express intent of getting me into a voluntary, recorded phone call with Multichoice.
2.) I have had technical hassles with MC in the past and they do not get your details that quickly. the number that was sent in the SMS and that I naively dialed was hooked up to a system that is designed to fetch your details based on your cell number. I underwent no security verification, no ID or account number was requested - I'm in tech myself and I can tell you that the same system that sent the SMS is rigged to receive the calls from the numbers it sends out to, clearly: there is an initiative at MC to recoup any and all outstanding monies from long forgotten accounts.
3.) Using a fictitious amount of R500 to raise alarm, then quickly backpedalling claiming it was a system error before accosting an individual on (highly questionable) 'monies in arrears' is low. It's clearly unethical, it lacks class and it is underhanded in the extreme. Why would you not simply send a message indicating that your records show my account to be in arrears then ask me to contact you so we can discuss it? …WTF is wrong with you people?
4.) When your foolish ploy fell flat you promptly handed me over to your lawyers threatening me with bad credit listing and you got your way. Threatening my family (and make no mistake - your ITC threat is a threat to my family both currently here and as yet unborn) is an act so cynical, so unutterably scummy that I am currently investigating what options I may have to take action against you, this internet posting is the tip of the iceberg my friends.
5.) When I asked Multichoices lawyers representative why an account so old would suddenly generate an erroneous arrears amount as well as an accompanying SMS which then caused me to call them and then result in my being handed over to their lawyers with no prior warning or indication she said (hang on to your hats guys…) "I guess they are searching their database looking for people who would like to start using their account again. Looking for new business." …that's what she said in response to that question. Seriously.
…to those reading this: do not respond to this SMS! In doing so, I set off a chain of events that has caused huge aggravation in my life and to be honest: a little depression at the state of the world.
Should anyone have any suggestions as to other ways to spread the word about this BS, ps post in the thread.
Thanks for taking the time.
I received an SMS to my mobile phone yesterday from this number:
+27 82007024039926
...containing the following text:
"YOU ARE REQUESTED TO PAY R500
URGENTLY ON YOUR MULTICHOICE ACC *the relevant account number here*
CALL MBD INC. (011)560-4268 FOR THE REMAINING BALANCE."
This was odd to me as I have not had DSTV for over a year, since our last move. Suspecting some billing stuff up that somehow regurgitated my details I rang the number supplied and asked why I would receive communications of this sort so long after having concluded my dealings with Multichoice.
First the standard notifications that the call may be recorded, business as usual nowadays in my experience so nothing strange just yet.
Here's where it gets creepy though…
The woman who answered the phone knew (ostensibly from my cell number) who I was and gave my (over a year old) address for my verification in order to ensure she had the right guy, then very quickly dismissed the R500 amount from the SMS, saying: "Oh no - that's an error with our system."
Before the words were even out of her mouth though she quickly pointed out that I DO owe them R190 and some change. I challenged that citing the fact that a DSTV account is paid in advance and could therefore not logically be in arrears. She agrees that the account is paid in advance but insists that I am in arrears. I challenge this again, this time asking for an explanation at this which point the line goes dead… I'm willing to give the benefit of the doubt and assume that I drove out of signal at that point.
Slightly annoyed I go about my day, pretty much putting the whole thing out of my head. It's preposterous really to consider that A.) an account paid in advance could go into arrears and B.) that after more than 12 months this could still be a going concern with no communications from Multichoice (they do, after all have my cell number and we did have mail forwarded for some time after moving house.)
Fast forward to today.
I receive a call from an unknown number, the woman on the other end introduces herself and confirms my identity then points out that she is from a lawyers office and that the call is being recorded for legal reasons. She informs me that Multichoice have handed my account which is in arrears of R190 odd to the lawyers for whom she works and threatens listing me with the credit bureau (ITC in this case) unless I make arrangements to pay the outstanding amount.
VERY aggravated at this point I tell her that I am challenging the claim that I am in arrears based on the fact that the account is paid in advance. She insists that I failed to notify Multichoice of my intent to cease paying and using the account and that as such my bill ran over by a few days (this would be after my move from the premises at which the dish was installed) and that like it or not, whether I used it r not, I am liable for that amount, DESPITE THE FACT THAT A DSTV ACCOUNT IS PAID IN EFFING ADVANCE!!
Not needing to be listed at ITC, I relented and agreed to pay. My wife is 9 months pregnant and we are now on my salary alone - we mat very well need a line of credit or an overdraft over the next six months before she goes back to work and I cannot risk getting a bad credit record over R190 - odd.
I really wish that I was in a position to fight this though and here is why:
1.) As far as I am concerned there was no error, the SMS was sent with the express intent of getting me into a voluntary, recorded phone call with Multichoice.
2.) I have had technical hassles with MC in the past and they do not get your details that quickly. the number that was sent in the SMS and that I naively dialed was hooked up to a system that is designed to fetch your details based on your cell number. I underwent no security verification, no ID or account number was requested - I'm in tech myself and I can tell you that the same system that sent the SMS is rigged to receive the calls from the numbers it sends out to, clearly: there is an initiative at MC to recoup any and all outstanding monies from long forgotten accounts.
3.) Using a fictitious amount of R500 to raise alarm, then quickly backpedalling claiming it was a system error before accosting an individual on (highly questionable) 'monies in arrears' is low. It's clearly unethical, it lacks class and it is underhanded in the extreme. Why would you not simply send a message indicating that your records show my account to be in arrears then ask me to contact you so we can discuss it? …WTF is wrong with you people?
4.) When your foolish ploy fell flat you promptly handed me over to your lawyers threatening me with bad credit listing and you got your way. Threatening my family (and make no mistake - your ITC threat is a threat to my family both currently here and as yet unborn) is an act so cynical, so unutterably scummy that I am currently investigating what options I may have to take action against you, this internet posting is the tip of the iceberg my friends.
5.) When I asked Multichoices lawyers representative why an account so old would suddenly generate an erroneous arrears amount as well as an accompanying SMS which then caused me to call them and then result in my being handed over to their lawyers with no prior warning or indication she said (hang on to your hats guys…) "I guess they are searching their database looking for people who would like to start using their account again. Looking for new business." …that's what she said in response to that question. Seriously.
…to those reading this: do not respond to this SMS! In doing so, I set off a chain of events that has caused huge aggravation in my life and to be honest: a little depression at the state of the world.
Should anyone have any suggestions as to other ways to spread the word about this BS, ps post in the thread.
Thanks for taking the time.
