SANRAL spam sms

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Patty

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So I got the outstanding toll fees sms from SANRAL. I have never given permission for SANRAL to sms me. I check the source of the number using http://www.smscode.co.za/index.asp and it indicates that the sms originates from the following company:

SMS Code: 27840001510
Name: Cellfind (Pty) Ltd
Telephone: 011 848 8200
Website: http://www.cellfind.co.za

I have phoned this company and asked where did they get my number from. Their response is that companies use their services to sms out and they will investigate.

...and so I eagerly await their response as to where they got my number from.
 
So CellFind were very efficient in handling the query and they indicated that the sms comes from SANRAL. (pretty obvious) SANRAL apparently get the number from government databases when one buys a car for example. I just dont find it very ethical that SANRAL obtains my personal details from other parties.
 
Patty said:
So I got the outstanding toll fees sms from SANRAL. I have never given permission for SANRAL to sms me. I check the source of the number using http://www.smscode.co.za/index.asp and it indicates that the sms originates from the following company:

SMS Code: 27840001510
Name: Cellfind (Pty) Ltd
Telephone: 011 848 8200
Website: http://www.cellfind.co.za

I have phoned this company and asked where did they get my number from. Their response is that companies use their services to sms out and they will investigate.

...and so I eagerly await their response as to where they got my number from.
Click to expand...

How much do you owe?
 
I also received my sms today. Owe them R53.10. I want my invoice thank you.
 
Guy at work got an sms that he owes 0.00 LOL, then later got one saying "Thank you for your payment"
 
Patty said:
So I got the outstanding toll fees sms from SANRAL. I have never given permission for SANRAL to sms me. I check the source of the number using http://www.smscode.co.za/index.asp and it indicates that the sms originates from the following company:

SMS Code: 27840001510
Name: Cellfind (Pty) Ltd
Telephone: 011 848 8200
Website: http://www.cellfind.co.za

I have phoned this company and asked where did they get my number from. Their response is that companies use their services to sms out and they will investigate.

...and so I eagerly await their response as to where they got my number from.
Click to expand...

SANRAL? Government company. eNatis? Government system/database. Both fall under the control of the Department of Transport. Problem?
 
I got an SMS that I owe them R399.89. Never been on a e-toll road. Fahrk them.
 
Ai! I'm sure House is going to say I don't know the law, etc. blah blah, but my understanding is that they have to send you an invoice before you are compelled to pay.

The SMS/MMS method is being used because companies have found that if you remind people via SMS/MMS before the invoice arrives, they tend to pay earlier - somehow in the case of eToile I don't think that's going to happen.
 
Got my SMS last night, saying I owe them R497. I sent them a registered letter 2 weeks ago, requesting an invoice. Something tells me January is going to be an 'interesting' month
 
Got my SMS last night too. R224.82. Don't know how cause my car is parked most of the time. Did maybe 5 or 6 trips to Bedfordview for kids stuff since tolls started.
Just deleted it.
 
Brother in law who lives in Montagu (he left Jhb in Jan 2013) also got an SMS telling him he owed them R350 odd. Car was re-registered in Montagu in March 2013, which means that SANRAL's records are truly out of date
 
is this that e-toll thing? what is this? are we all going to get this now?
 
Do you get a photo with your invoice? Both plates, front and back? If not how can they prove you used the roads? Without that photo sanral would be defeated before even stepping into court.
 
From a News24 article (here http://www.fin24.com/MyFin24/More-e-toll-surprises-20140106), it almost seems as if these SMS's are possibly fake.

"You have overdue e-toll fees in the amount of R497.00 which have been handed over for collection to VPC. Call 0800Sanral(726 725)."
Click to expand...

People have reported that they were unable to contact either Sanral or VPC to query this, request an invoice, or photographic proof. Have SANRAL confirmed that they are sending threatening SMS's without first providing the necessary red-tape?
 
flarkit said:
From a News24 article (here http://www.fin24.com/MyFin24/More-e-toll-surprises-20140106), it almost seems as if these SMS's are possibly fake.



People have reported that they were unable to contact either Sanral or VPC to query this, request an invoice, or photographic proof. Have SANRAL confirmed that they are sending threatening SMS's without first providing the necessary red-tape?
Click to expand...

Logic: They have the real SANRAL call centre number in the SMS, thus not fake.

Still a scam though :p
 
supersunbird said:
Logic: They have the real SANRAL call centre number in the SMS, thus not fake.

Still a scam though :p
Click to expand...

More logic: the validity of the amounts in some cases, is apparently far off the mark. This indicates either that there are system flaws (*cough*) or a worrying number of fake plates. The only way to verify would be via photographic proof (haha).
 
flarkit said:
More logic: the validity of the amounts in some cases, is apparently far off the mark. This indicates either that there are system flaws (*cough*) or a worrying number of fake plates. The only way to verify would be via photographic proof (haha).
Click to expand...

You didn't address the amounts in the SMSs, just asked if it was fake SMSs and I used logic to show it wasn't, because a normal scammer will have some other telephone number in there.

Anyway, the amounts will be high because its double of what the non e-tag pay-within-7-days fee is, so a R497.00 amount would have been around R250 initially (around R125 is the person had an e-tag). That's indicates about 2 gantries passed under a day.

I wonder how they will sort this fake plate issue out, cant have roadblocks on the N1...
 
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