My Experience with the Worst Cellphone operator in South Africa [RESOLVED]

kevrodr

New Member
Joined
Aug 15, 2011
Messages
6
In my experience with CellC I have learned that CellC is all talk, they promise you everything and then falter on the delivery.

My experience with CellC began in January 2011 when after hearing about the seemingly incredible CellC internet deal I went to enquire about it at Rustenburg CellC only to be dissappointed to find out that CellC had not yet installed the internet hardware in the area so I could not yet get the deal, they did however tell me that the internet would definitely be coming to Rustenburg in March 2011, that proved to be the first lie.

I then went back to them on the last Sunday of February to get this so called internet deal that they told me that they had limited stock of modems for, so I should buy quick. I was helped by George at CellC on that day, he promised me that the internet would ,no doubt, be on by the end of the week, "no doubt by Friday, even earlier”, he reassured me. He however made me sign the addendum that I acknowledge that the network was not yet running in the area. When I asked,before signing the addendum, if I could bring it back for a refund if the network wasn't running within that first week he replied with confidence that I would get a full refund.

I tried that internet every day in the next week and it proved to only be on edge which is insignificant compared to the speeds that CellC promises and can barely even open a webpage and even by the next Friday the network was not yet running. More lies and empty promises on CellC's part.

In those two weeks I attempted to contact CellC on their call line with no success, no consultant answered my calls in any of my attempts waiting at least ten minutes each time. I then tried to contact CellC on their tell Trevor feature of their website to which I was answered by an automatically generated email and by nothing else, a serious disappointment compared to what they promise on their adverts. I also tried emailing CellC on an email address I was given for their technical team to which I again was answered by an automatically generated email and nothing else. I have to this day not been answered by CellC for any of those emails. More lies and disappointment on CellC's part.

I then returned to the store with my modem, box, sim and slip to get my refund I was promised. I walked into the store and asked to speak to George. I was told that he would return to work on Monday. The next week I went to the store and asked to speak to the manager. Who after hearing what George promised me, with all hostility in his action showed my the addendum that I signed, told me that George had been fired and that I could do nothing about my predicament.When I asked when the network would be running they told me the second week of March. Yet more lies, disappointment and empty promises on CellC's part.

The second week of march passed and I began to phone the store in Rustenburg to try and get some answers, they didn't even know now when the network would be up and running in Rustenburg I was told that I had to speak to Chantelle who handled the internet but typical of CellC she was never in. I was told to leave my number and she would call me back. I am still waiting for Chantelle to call me back having left my number with her countless times. I phoned almost every day in one week in March to no avail. More lies, disappointment and appalling service from CellC.

I then returned the second time to the store with my sim, modem, box and slip to try and get my refund. I was then greeted to a far different tune to the first time. I was told to leave my details and they would contact me back. To this day they have not contacted me back about the service. More lies, disappointment and appalling service from CellC.

I returned a third time to the store with the sim, modem and slip (unfortunately the box was destroyed but this was already late in March) to try and get my refund, I was told again by the manager that I couldn't get my refund so I demanded to speak to the franchiser. I was given the card of the store and was told to call and find out when Bradley the franchiser was in to come talk to him. I tried to get in contact with Bradley for on week yet he was not in for the entire week, still no contact from Chantelle. More lies, disappointment and appalling service from CellC.

When I finally went in to talk to Bradley, I was told that I could choose either to have my data plan start from when the network comes to Rustenburg or I could choose to get a refund. I chose to get a refund. He requested I bring my modem, box,sim and slip in to get my refund.

When I went in with the modem, sim and slip I was told by Chantelle who was now, supposedly, handling my case that I cannot get my refund because I didn't have the box, she then told me she would try and get my refund and I should leave my modem and sim with her. I also left my number and asked her to give me feedback on the enquiry. To this day I have not received even one call with feedback.

I went back to the store at least 5 times to this date and they still haven't given me any positive feedback. She supposedly is trying consistently to get my refund from CellC national. More disappointment from pathetic Cellphone operator CellC.

To this day I have not had any progress with my case and I have not had any contact from CellC on my case not from CellC national, regional or the franchiser itself, equal non delivery of services to your customer from each department, pathetic, it is no wonder your CEO is a joke.

An ex-employee of CellC that was there at the time of my enquiry has told we that nothing is being done about my case. CellC employees have been told to refer all complaints about the internet to Chantellele.

Now I can’t get my refund because CellC wants the box. The fact of the matter is CellC is not providing the service we have paid for, whether they have the box or not is irrelevant, I want my money back or they must provide me with the service that I paid for immediately.

Having Contacted the Cell C regional, Mr Ace Sello, I still haven't received any answer regarding the matter, can someone out there please help me.
 

kingdong

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jan 7, 2010
Messages
195
In this instance, Cell C are clearly breaking the law.
It is against the Consumer Protection Act (Consumer Protection Act, 68 of 2008) to refuse you a full refund, and this is why:-

You did everything within the prescribed time to obtain your rightful refund.

In terms of the said Act, goods (in this case your modem) was found to be unsuitable for a particular purpose communicated to the supplier when entering into the transaction, and may also be returned at the risk and expense of the supplier within 10 business days of delivery.

Unsealed packaging or a missing box is NOT justification to refuse a 100% refund. Cell C are acting illegally by requiring you return the original packing for a refund.
The product on offer was never a 'box', but the modem and data plan you paid up for in advance.

The only way a refund can be reduced in any way from the original price you paid is if 'fair use' of the product took place.
In this case, you have NOT had 'fair use' of their offering.

Do NOT accept a percentage of your original price to be withheld for ADMIN cost-recovery either. This practice is also unlawful.
DEMAND NOTHING LESS THAN THE FULL FEE YOU PAID!

No signed waiver or piece of paper signed by you is in force or effect, because the Act supersedes these dodgy agreements.
Recently, the National Consumer Commission (NCC) took cellphone companies to task, on non-compliance with the Consumer Protection Act (CPA) for this, among other reasons.

I'd suggest you contact the National Consumer Commission and have them take on this store with the full might of the law.

0860 266 786
Fax 0861 515 259
E-mail - ncc@thedti.gov.za
 
Last edited:

Cell_C

Cell C Representative
Company Rep
Joined
Sep 7, 2010
Messages
3,721
In my experience with CellC I have learned that CellC is all talk, they promise you everything and then falter on the delivery.

My experience with CellC began in January 2011 when after hearing about the seemingly incredible CellC internet deal I went to enquire about it at Rustenburg CellC only to be dissappointed to find out that CellC had not yet installed the internet hardware in the area so I could not yet get the deal, they did however tell me that the internet would definitely be coming to Rustenburg in March 2011, that proved to be the first lie.

I then went back to them on the last Sunday of February to get this so called internet deal that they told me that they had limited stock of modems for, so I should buy quick. I was helped by George at CellC on that day, he promised me that the internet would ,no doubt, be on by the end of the week, "no doubt by Friday, even earlier”, he reassured me. He however made me sign the addendum that I acknowledge that the network was not yet running in the area. When I asked,before signing the addendum, if I could bring it back for a refund if the network wasn't running within that first week he replied with confidence that I would get a full refund.

I tried that internet every day in the next week and it proved to only be on edge which is insignificant compared to the speeds that CellC promises and can barely even open a webpage and even by the next Friday the network was not yet running. More lies and empty promises on CellC's part.

In those two weeks I attempted to contact CellC on their call line with no success, no consultant answered my calls in any of my attempts waiting at least ten minutes each time. I then tried to contact CellC on their tell Trevor feature of their website to which I was answered by an automatically generated email and by nothing else, a serious disappointment compared to what they promise on their adverts. I also tried emailing CellC on an email address I was given for their technical team to which I again was answered by an automatically generated email and nothing else. I have to this day not been answered by CellC for any of those emails. More lies and disappointment on CellC's part.

I then returned to the store with my modem, box, sim and slip to get my refund I was promised. I walked into the store and asked to speak to George. I was told that he would return to work on Monday. The next week I went to the store and asked to speak to the manager. Who after hearing what George promised me, with all hostility in his action showed my the addendum that I signed, told me that George had been fired and that I could do nothing about my predicament.When I asked when the network would be running they told me the second week of March. Yet more lies, disappointment and empty promises on CellC's part.

The second week of march passed and I began to phone the store in Rustenburg to try and get some answers, they didn't even know now when the network would be up and running in Rustenburg I was told that I had to speak to Chantelle who handled the internet but typical of CellC she was never in. I was told to leave my number and she would call me back. I am still waiting for Chantelle to call me back having left my number with her countless times. I phoned almost every day in one week in March to no avail. More lies, disappointment and appalling service from CellC.

I then returned the second time to the store with my sim, modem, box and slip to try and get my refund. I was then greeted to a far different tune to the first time. I was told to leave my details and they would contact me back. To this day they have not contacted me back about the service. More lies, disappointment and appalling service from CellC.

I returned a third time to the store with the sim, modem and slip (unfortunately the box was destroyed but this was already late in March) to try and get my refund, I was told again by the manager that I couldn't get my refund so I demanded to speak to the franchiser. I was given the card of the store and was told to call and find out when Bradley the franchiser was in to come talk to him. I tried to get in contact with Bradley for on week yet he was not in for the entire week, still no contact from Chantelle. More lies, disappointment and appalling service from CellC.

When I finally went in to talk to Bradley, I was told that I could choose either to have my data plan start from when the network comes to Rustenburg or I could choose to get a refund. I chose to get a refund. He requested I bring my modem, box,sim and slip in to get my refund.

When I went in with the modem, sim and slip I was told by Chantelle who was now, supposedly, handling my case that I cannot get my refund because I didn't have the box, she then told me she would try and get my refund and I should leave my modem and sim with her. I also left my number and asked her to give me feedback on the enquiry. To this day I have not received even one call with feedback.

I went back to the store at least 5 times to this date and they still haven't given me any positive feedback. She supposedly is trying consistently to get my refund from CellC national. More disappointment from pathetic Cellphone operator CellC.

To this day I have not had any progress with my case and I have not had any contact from CellC on my case not from CellC national, regional or the franchiser itself, equal non delivery of services to your customer from each department, pathetic, it is no wonder your CEO is a joke.

An ex-employee of CellC that was there at the time of my enquiry has told we that nothing is being done about my case. CellC employees have been told to refer all complaints about the internet to Chantellele.

Now I can’t get my refund because CellC wants the box. The fact of the matter is CellC is not providing the service we have paid for, whether they have the box or not is irrelevant, I want my money back or they must provide me with the service that I paid for immediately.

Having Contacted the Cell C regional, Mr Ace Sello, I still haven't received any answer regarding the matter, can someone out there please help me.

Good day kevrodr

Please PM contact details will contact you.
Will assist in the refund for you.

Regards
~AM~
 

Steinie

Senior Member
Joined
Mar 30, 2006
Messages
570
IMHO, Cell C has the worst call centre and customer service of all the network providers.

It took them 4 months to reply to my e-mails!! "Tell Trevor" is an absolute waste of time and effort!!

On the other hand, my WHOOOOOSH has been working beautifully for the past 8 months! :)

There is an Afrikaans saying, which is very apt: "Het jy die pap, dan het jy nie die lepel nie!" ... or something like that.
 

MightyMuffinMan

Expert Member
Joined
Dec 31, 2008
Messages
2,211

No signed waiver or piece of paper signed by you is in force or effect, because the Act supersedes these dodgy agreements.


Urr.... No If you agreed to a percentage fee if returned and signed, than that will be enforced as long as you had full understanding at the time of signing.
 

kingdong

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jan 7, 2010
Messages
195
@ MightyMuffinMan
READ THE ACT!
In terms of the Act, suppliers are not permitted to require consumers to waive any rights, assume any obligations, waive any liability of the suppliers on terms that are unfair, unreasonable or unjust.
 
Last edited:

MightyMuffinMan

Expert Member
Joined
Dec 31, 2008
Messages
2,211
@ MightyMuffinMan
READ THE ACT!
In terms of the Act, suppliers are not permitted to require consumers to waive any rights, assume any obligations, waive any liability of the suppliers on terms that are unfair, unreasonable or unjust.
True but the Act does not stipulate what "unfair, unreasonable and unjust " is defined as and according to common law (stand to be corrected) requiring a cancellation fee and making it explicit when signing contract is not illegal.

At the same time : this has not been tested in court or by the NCC as yet however I would assume that a cancellation fee would be reasonable considering the loss of business due to opening the packaging etc. (eg with Cellphone contracts a 10% max cancellation fee is allowed and it should be "reasonable" which is what the act discribes cancellation fees.)

What I'm saying is that cancellation fees are not clearly outlined with regards to all business models and this will of course have to be tested by the NCC. "reasonable" is not a definition. Percentage of x amount would be a definition.

Edit: Also you have to have full packaging. Sorry dude but I think the NCC would rule in Cell C favour especially with him signing the no coverage thing. And oral agreements don't supersede written agreements period.
 
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kevrodr

New Member
Joined
Aug 15, 2011
Messages
6
Thank you

It seems the issue has been resolved, after so many months the franchisee at CellC Rustenburg has finally called me and asked for my bank details so that he can deposit my refund. Thank you very much to all that replied for all the help.

:):)
 

fahieme

Active Member
Joined
Feb 28, 2011
Messages
46
I hope your refund includes INTEREST from the date the refund was due till the actual date of refund.

@Kingdong - Is interest covered in the act?
 
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