Problem still not resolved 1 year 6 months later

SoundRSA

SoundRSA

Dealer
Joined
Oct 13, 2010
Messages
148
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Location
Brackenfell, Cape Town
When I took my contract out, in the ad for the Galaxy S5 at Cell C it stated that the phone will have a "download booster". Basically is uses Wifi and HSPA/LTE together to get faster speeds. Now this option is only available on the LTE version (Galaxy S5 SM-G900F).

After taking out the contract, under the impression I was getting the LTE version (as Cell C advertised it) I realized within a day that I was sold the HSPA version (Galaxy S5 SM-G900H) which doesnt have the download booster option.

I then returned to the store and was told that Cell C doesn't support LTE, which is fine, its something I knew when I took out the contract. I however took out a contract for an LTE CAPABLE phone and was given a HSPA phone.

I have been fighting this for a year now, I was sold the HSPA version under the impression that its the LTE model because Cell C had advertised the phone with features thats only accessible on the LTE model.

I have complained on Hellopeter.com Months ago and have still not received a reply.

I have been trying to sort this matter out now for the past 1 year and 6 months.

I have been to multiple branches and have been treated as an idiot. Because the people working there dont understand the difference between an LTE capable phone and an LTE capable network. I have been told by many consultants that the LTE capable phone wont work at all on the Cell C network. According to them because its LTE capable, GSM and HSPA wont work even thought the SM-G900F (LTE capable) is GSM / HSPA / LTE capable.

Honestly I feel cheated. If I knew it wasn't the HSPA version, I would of never taken the contract out at Cell C (knowing that cell c doesnt offer an LTE network).

My next step after this is contacting the Consumer Protector because the item I received is not what was advertised.
 
Yoh...! Waiting 18 months to post here for advice. I doubt ANY operator is going to help you. Unless you have something in writing when you returned to the store in the first instance... My guess is you're out of luck with this one. Only 6 more months to wait till your upgrade... #SilverLining
 
Download Booster? That whole idea sounds moronic anyways...utterly no point to it. Cell data is too expensive VS ADSL so stick to torrenting (or whatever other silly notion made you think a download booster was a good idea) on your landline connection.
 
skeptic_SA said:
Yoh...! Waiting 18 months to post here for advice. I doubt ANY operator is going to help you. Unless you have something in writing when you returned to the store in the first instance... My guess is you're out of luck with this one. Only 6 more months to wait till your upgrade... #SilverLining
Click to expand...

Actually I posted here the same week as I received the phone. I then also complained at multiple branches as well as hellopeter. They all feed the exact same bull**** that they only supply HSPA phones EVEN though they advertised the LTE model and I was assured it would be the LTE model. I even questioned the person who signed me up to the contract. I asked if it was the LTE model even though Cell C only supports HSPA and they assured me that it was.

My initial pm to the Cell C rep was also on the 28th of April 2014.

I was never contacted by Cell C after my complaint on Hellopeter.

18 months of arguing with Cell C on mybroadband and in the shop and they still can not grasp that what they did was false advertising, I did not receive the product that was advertised and that I was promised when signing the Contract and that this entire saga is illegal and Cell C WILL be held accountable because I WILL take this further and contact the Consumer Protecter as well as ICASA if I do not hear back by them by the end of this week.

I have given them ample time to find a solution to this problem but now enough is enough.
 
blade19941 said:
Actually I posted here the same week as I received the phone. I then also complained at multiple branches as well as hellopeter. They all feed the exact same bull**** that they only supply HSPA phones EVEN though they advertised the LTE model and I was assured it would be the LTE model. I even questioned the person who signed me up to the contract. I asked if it was the LTE model even though Cell C only supports HSPA and they assured me that it was.

My initial pm to the Cell C rep was also on the 28th of April 2014.

I was never contacted by Cell C after my complaint on Hellopeter.

18 months of arguing with Cell C on mybroadband and in the shop and they still can not grasp that what they did was false advertising, I did not receive the product that was advertised and that I was promised when signing the Contract and that this entire saga is illegal and Cell C WILL be held accountable because I WILL take this further and contact the Consumer Protecter as well as ICASA if I do not hear back by them by the end of this week.

I have given them ample time to find a solution to this problem but now enough is enough.
Click to expand...

Apologies. Wasn't aware of the back story. I'd say you have a case then. A slim one because of the timeline.. But a case non-the-less...

CELL C Rep??
 
SCHUMI-4-EVA said:
Download Booster? That whole idea sounds moronic anyways...utterly no point to it. Cell data is too expensive VS ADSL so stick to torrenting (or whatever other silly notion made you think a download booster was a good idea) on your landline connection.
Click to expand...

Im basically stating that it was the LTE model advertised because only the LTE version has this download booster, and the download booster was under the phones highlights on all the ads.

I could not care for the download booster, I actually wanted the LTE model so that at the end of my contract I could leave this useless service and change over to Vodacom, considering you can actually get signal with vodacom and have a fast reliable LTE connection.

Plus the LTE version is worth more.

I paid for an LTE version and received the HSPA version.

When you pay over R10000 for a phone, dont you expect to receive the one as advertised and promised?
 
skeptic_SA said:
Apologies. Wasn't aware of the back story. I'd say you have a case then. A slim one because of the timeline.. But a case non-the-less...

CELL C Rep??
Click to expand...

Cell C rep sent a pm to me yesterday asking for my contact details AGAIN, to which I responded within 20min and then radio silence. Cell C hasnt contacted me, the rep hasnt confirmed when they are going to contact me or anything.
 
blade19941 said:
Im basically stating that it was the LTE model advertised because only the LTE version has this download booster, and the download booster was under the phones highlights on all the ads.

I could not care for the download booster, I actually wanted the LTE model so that at the end of my contract I could leave this useless service and change over to Vodacom, considering you can actually get signal with vodacom and have a fast reliable LTE connection.

Plus the LTE version is worth more.

I paid for an LTE version and received the HSPA version.

When you pay over R10000 for a phone, dont you expect to receive the one as advertised and promised?
Click to expand...

Yes I know you got cheated (welcome to South Africa were our tech people know less about what they're selling than prospective customers). But you were up to nonsense to begin with. You got swayed by a feature that should have been white noise to you. Which is something I find far more interesting than the typical SA misrepresentation of tech stuff due to a combination of incompetence and idiocy.
 
blade19941 said:
When I took my contract out, in the ad for the Galaxy S5 at Cell C it stated that the phone will have a "download booster". Basically is uses Wifi and HSPA/LTE together to get faster speeds. Now this option is only available on the LTE version (Galaxy S5 SM-G900F).

After taking out the contract, under the impression I was getting the LTE version (as Cell C advertised it) I realized within a day that I was sold the HSPA version (Galaxy S5 SM-G900H) which doesnt have the download booster option.

I then returned to the store and was told that Cell C doesn't support LTE, which is fine, its something I knew when I took out the contract. I however took out a contract for an LTE CAPABLE phone and was given a HSPA phone.

I have been fighting this for a year now, I was sold the HSPA version under the impression that its the LTE model because Cell C had advertised the phone with features thats only accessible on the LTE model.

I have complained on Hellopeter.com Months ago and have still not received a reply.

I have been trying to sort this matter out now for the past 1 year and 6 months.

I have been to multiple branches and have been treated as an idiot. Because the people working there dont understand the difference between an LTE capable phone and an LTE capable network. I have been told by many consultants that the LTE capable phone wont work at all on the Cell C network. According to them because its LTE capable, GSM and HSPA wont work even thought the SM-G900F (LTE capable) is GSM / HSPA / LTE capable.

Honestly I feel cheated. If I knew it wasn't the HSPA version, I would of never taken the contract out at Cell C (knowing that cell c doesnt offer an LTE network).

My next step after this is contacting the Consumer Protector because the item I received is not what was advertised.
Click to expand...

The download booster on an S5 uses Wifi and your 3g/4g connection
 
blade19941 said:
Yeah thats exactly what I said in paragraph 1, line 2.
"Basically is uses Wifi and HSPA/LTE together to get faster speeds"
Click to expand...

I think what he's saying is WiFi + 3G constitutes the download booster feature already and it was your misconception that you'd be getting the LTE model to make it WiFi + 3G/4G.

Basically its all still nonsense either way though. White noise / Marketing FUD that should have never had an impact on your decision.
 
Last edited:
SCHUMI-4-EVA said:
I think what he's saying is WiFi + 3G constitutes the download booster feature already and it was your misconception that you'd be getting the LTE model to make it WiFi + 3G/4G.

Basically its all still nonsense either way though. White noise / Marketing FUD that should have never had an impact on your decision.
Click to expand...

I am mentioning the download booster because it is only available on the LTE model, not the HSPA model.

The ad specifically said download booster under the phones highlights, which led me to believe it was the LTE model.
I then confirmed with Cell C that I will be receiving the LTE model and they confirmed this.

I received the HSPA model which does not have the download booster therefore is not LTE capable.

The model I received is the SM-G900H. I was supposed to received the SM-G900F
 
blade19941 said:
I am mentioning the download booster because it is only available on the LTE model, not the HSPA model.

The ad specifically said download booster under the phones highlights, which led me to believe it was the LTE model.
I then confirmed with Cell C that I will be receiving the LTE model and they confirmed this.

I received the HSPA model which does not have the download booster therefore is not LTE capable.

The model I received is the SM-G900H. I was supposed to received the SM-G900F
Click to expand...

So you got the octacore instead of the quadcore.

Should have taken it back and handed it in within 7 days.
 
blade19941 said:
I have been to multiple branches and have been treated as an idiot. Because the people working there dont understand the difference between an LTE capable phone and an LTE capable network. I have been told by many consultants that the LTE capable phone wont work at all on the Cell C network. According to them because its LTE capable, GSM and HSPA wont work even thought the SM-G900F (LTE capable) is GSM / HSPA / LTE capable.
Click to expand...

You should have realised days/weeks into this experience that you're not getting anywhere and lodged a complaint. Hopefully they'll still listen a year and a half later.
 
blade19941 said:
Honestly, I thought you meant with the service provider. No I haven't lodged a complaint with the Consumer Protector
Click to expand...

Then I doubt you will get anywhere with this. Honestly you should have just returned the phone within the 7 day grace period. Else lodged it with the consumer protector within the first month or so.
 
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