Privacy question for Vodacom3g...

[DJ...]

What is Vodacom's stance regarding the selling of contract subscribers' contact information? Does Vodacom sell (or give) subscriber contact information at all to third parties, other business units within Vodacom or partners (or even competitors) of Vodacom? Has Vodacom ever done so in the past?

I'm very curious having received numerous calls from CellC in the past who are aware of my full name, number (obviously) and my Vodacom contract package details. The only company to possibly have these details is Vodacom as I have never had the need to disclose this to any other company in any way. So either someone internally is leaking this information en mass and something needs to be done about it, or it is standard practice in which case it must be stipulated in my contract somewhere.

I understand that this issue is not specific to data contracts but to any contract signed with Vodacom, however I'm sure that you're in a position to know the ins and outs of this matter and provide some clarity for Vodacom customers...

 

[Antonf]

+1

 

[vodacom3g]

What is Vodacom's stance regarding the selling of contract subscribers' contact information? Does Vodacom sell (or give) subscriber contact information at all to third parties, other business units within Vodacom or partners (or even competitors) of Vodacom?

I'm very curious having received numerous calls from CellC in the past who are aware of my full name, number (obviously) and my Vodacom contract package details. The only company to possibly have these details is Vodacom as I have never had the need to disclose this to any other company in any way. So either someone internally is leaking this information en mass and something needs to be done about it, or it is standard practice in which case it must be stipulated in my contract somewhere.

I understand that this issue is not specific to data contracts but to any contract signed with Vodacom, however I'm sure that you're in a position to know the ins and outs of this matter and provide some clarity for Vodacom customers...

The first bit is easy. Vodacom do not and will not disclose your information.

However, shops that are Vodacom SP's will have your details.

I wonder if there is an SP out there who resells both VC and Cell-C????

Won't you PM me the number in question and who your SP is?

 

[DJ...]

I should have clarified, sorry. My SP is Vodacom, direct which is why I didn't consider any of them at all. I'm sure they do though (just a hunch). PM on its way, thanks.

So you can then clarify that Vodacom have never and will never sell or give its subscriber's details to any party?

 

[vodacom3g]

I should have clarified, sorry. My SP is Vodacom, direct which is why I didn't consider any of them at all. I'm sure they do though (just a hunch). PM on its way, thanks.

So you can then clarify that Vodacom have never and will never sell or give its subscriber's details to any party?

Yes, official policy is a very distinct NO.

 

[DJ...]

Great, thanks for the prompt response. In that case, what measures are put in place to prevent the illegal selling of subscriber contact information by Vodacom employees? I ask because as a direct VC customer and having never disclosed my contract details to any third party, it strikes me as worrying that companies such as Cell C can gain access to information such as my full name, Vodacom package details and the like.

Have there been cases of "internal espionage" (for lack of a better phrase) at Vodacom in the past, within this context and if so, what has been done with the offenders or what can be done part from firing them?

 

[vodacom3g]

Great, thanks for the prompt response. In that case, what measures are put in place to prevent the illegal selling of subscriber contact information by Vodacom employees? I ask because as a direct VC customer and having never disclosed my contract details to any third party, it strikes me as worrying that companies such as Cell C can gain access to information such as my full name, Vodacom package details and the like.

Have there been cases of "internal espionage" (for lack of a better phrase) at Vodacom in the past, within this context and if so, what has been done with the offenders or what can be done part from firing them?

There has and we have a fraud department that investigates these kind of issues.

We've even seen on this forum how people offer Vodacom employees R50K for information in the Carl "my earwax melts" thread.

So unfortunately we have to put strong processes in place to prevent this.

But, of course, we can only (try to) control what happens inside Vodacom. It's near impossible what happens in one of the thousands of shops.

 

[DJ...]

Thanks. In that case, how would one go about forcing a company like Cell C to disclose the sources of its marketing "cheat sheets"? It can't be guesswork on their part and it seems to be a breach of security and/or fraud between Cell C and Vodacom. Would it require a police case to be opened or is there legislation forcing full disclosure on an unsolicited caller's part? Regarding the latter, I'm pretty sure there is but not aware of my rights in this respect, as a consumer. A boat I'm sure most forumites find themselves in as well.

It would be great to spread the word regarding this and attempt to put an end to it from a consumer's perspective...

 

[Steinie]

Until as recent as a couple of months ago, I regularly received calls from Cell C inviting me to jump ship and, yes, the seemed to know all about me.

About 6 weeks ago, I received a strange call from a company (the audio was so bad that I could not make out the name of the company) informing me that I had been selected to receive a FREE book of discount vouchers, to be used at various emporiums. I pretended to be interested until the caller informed me that my VC account would be billed for an amount of R199 (or such)! I immediately started to tell him that I was definitely not interested, but got cut off before I could finish my sentence. I have been checking my VC account ever since!

Interesting to note that none of these callers have CLI.

 

[GreGorGy]

Just a thought: the assumption that VC is the only company that knows these details is incorrect. When you signed your VC contract, you gave them a debit order. Lemme guess - FNB?
The wise guys at the bank know when debit orders were started and can quickly tell that they are for cellular contracts.

 

[R13...]

Until as recent as a couple of months ago, I regularly received calls from Cell C inviting me to jump ship and, yes, the seemed to know all about me.

About 6 weeks ago, I received a strange call from a company (the audio was so bad that I could not make out the name of the company) informing me that I had been selected to receive a FREE book of discount vouchers, to be used at various emporiums. I pretended to be interested until the caller informed me that my VC account would be billed for an amount of R199 (or such)! I immediately started to tell him that I was definitely not interested, but got cut off before I could finish my sentence. I have been checking my VC account ever since!

Interesting to note that none of these callers have CLI.

I received this call on my MTN number,
when I asked the guy where he'd got my number he lied & said it was randomnly generated. I called BS & he said they get them from retail/bank account holders. Apparently somewhere in the fine print, you agree for them to sell ur number on when you sign up for these accounts.

 

[dappled]

There has and we have a fraud department that investigates these kind of issues.

I seriously suggest then that an investigation into Vodacom's employees and Vodacom's SPs is launched, because from the evidence it is pretty obvious that confidential information given to Vodacom is being relayed to third parties.

We've even seen on this forum how people offer Vodacom employees R50K for information in the Carl "my earwax melts" thread.

Carl had some valid things to say

So unfortunately we have to put strong processes in place to prevent this.

But, of course, we can only (try to) control what happens inside Vodacom. It's near impossible what happens in one of the thousands of shops.

Trying is not good enough. Otherwise, include a disclaimer in your contract saying you can only "try to" protect the integrity of confidential information.

 

[dakeyras]

I also have to agree with the OP. Both my wife and I received phonecalls from Cell C right before our phones came up for upgrades. It cannot be random chance that made them call us right before the upgrade date...