Serious advice needed

S

Sparky_za

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Well as some of you will know I have a billing issue with MTN (but then who doesn't). I logged a call on the 13/12/2009, and to date not even so much as a phone call. I have followed up numerous times, and everytime the same answer, we will get someone to call me. I've actually just had it now with them, and I want to move my contracts. Has anyone done this? What are the penalties?

I currently have 3 contracts, 1 of which is a 3G (the one with the billing issue)

Or is there another line I should be looking at here? The bill in question is sitting around the R20k mark, when according to usage on the bills they have sent me should have been at most about R2500. I refuse to pay this as they admit it is their mistake, but now it seems to me they refuse to look at my query until I pay the bill.
 
Need more info:
Has your data bill suddenly been backdated by some months?
Does their data counter update within 48 hrs on the website?
Has this accrued over time? Or suddenly in 1 month?
 
Ok, well, I have noted one or two instances where there are still amounts for September last year coming through, I'm even willing to accept these charges as they are small.

The real issue is this, I upgraded my data package in December. January bill arrives and it was R4000+. I go through the bill and see I am charged out of bundle rates for everything, even through I have a 2GB bungle loaded which I am charged for. February bill arrives, I now have an outstanding amount of R8000+, yet the 2GB bundle has rolled over because they have again billed me out of bundle for everything. When I go through both accounts, the data listed does not even add up to 2GB on either month. My new bill is doing exactly the same thing now. As for the website, 9/10 times it doesn't even let me log in. I get a "system error has occured" event with a message to please try again later.
 
You must lodge a query and get the query ref. number. The query email is on your bill. Email them your exact problem. Print out your email. Keep this and all your bills in a file.
Go to your bank and try having the amounts in query reversed back to you and ask them to stop MTN's stop order. They will do this for 3 months.
Before the 3 months is up, MTN will suspend your sim and stop charging you. Work out what you think you owe them and deposit the money in their account.
You will not have received a reply to your query.

Now you have ammo. for the lawyers letter from VVM. Tell them to get stuffed as it is still in query. They will back off.
You will still not have received a reply to your query.

You purchased a service that does not work properly so you were within your rights to withhold payment.
Their data counter does not work nor MtnActive website to check your balance.
Now you will be with Prepaid or Sainet and happy as Sainet is much cheaper.

Their lawyers will now realize that they cannot take you to court because;
1. They cannot explain to the magistrate the bungle as they don't understand it themselves.
2. The magistrate will not be interested in the technicalities that you provide as he will not understand them.
3. You good now.
 
marco said:
You must lodge a query and get the query ref. number. The query email is on your bill. Email them your exact problem. Print out your email. Keep this and all your bills in a file.
Go to your bank and try having the amounts in query reversed back to you and ask them to stop MTN's stop order. They will do this for 3 months.
Before the 3 months is up, MTN will suspend your sim and stop charging you. Work out what you think you owe them and deposit the money in their account.
You will not have received a reply to your query.

Now you have ammo. for the lawyers letter from VVM. Tell them to get stuffed as it is still in query. They will back off.
You will still not have received a reply to your query.

You purchased a service that does not work properly so you were within your rights to withhold payment.
Their data counter does not work nor MtnActive website to check your balance.
Now you will be with Prepaid or Sainet and happy as Sainet is much cheaper.

Their lawyers will now realize that they cannot take you to court because;
1. They cannot explain to the magistrate the bungle as they don't understand it themselves.
2. The magistrate will not be interested in the technicalities that you provide as he will not understand them.
3. You good now.
Click to expand...

Have you gotten to the court stage?
 
Have not heard anything for 2 months now. Except from ICASA that has taken them to book on my case.
 
Well, just an update, been another 2 weeks, and the only call I have received has been a collections agent asking when I will pay the outstanding balance. My 3G line has been suspended, which I was told would not happen as there is a query against the bill. I called 3 times today asking when someone would call me, because evidently it's impossible to be transferred to the billing department, and still nothing. There has been one person attempting to assist me, and it seems they feed that person the same bull they do me. My apologies to you as it seems you are the only person at MTN that gives a toss anymore.

I will be cancelling my contracts with MTN, and will be fighting tooth and nail against paying them a single cent, penalties or otherwise.
 
Hi Sparky, it looks like they did feed me a bunch of horse manure, people i trust of all thingsssssss:wtf:-when i followed up they told me they had been in contact regarding your billing, they will not be so bold to make the same mistake twice:mad:, il check this out tomorrow:twisted:
Apologies on the delay, its hard to get things sorted that are not in my spectrum of assistance:cry:
 
I completely understand, so please, don't feel any of this is directed at you. I have been trying for months to even speak to someone who I can explain the problem to. It's quite simple, you bill me R389 for a 2GB bundle, yet you charge me out of bundle rates for every data transaction. It's plain and obvious on every invoice you send me, so it completely escapes me as to why it should take so much effort to be rectified.
 
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