Telkom problem with debt collecting

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phunk67

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I`m one of those people that advocates the principles "don`t just accept - query or question" and "things only happen to you if you allow it".

It started yesterday at 11:14 when i received a sms.The sms states and i quote "Telkom has handed your account to Marais Muller Yekiso for legal action.Please call 021-943 5700 to make arrangements.Ref:xxxxxx.First order of business was to call Telkom from a Telkom Direct franchise to find out to what this relates to.First person that answers tell me it`s related to an account i had in 1999 with Telkom.Now here`s where it starts to get interesting.My knowledge re: statute of limitations isn`t up to scratch so i googled it and what did i find http://www.justanswer.comsouth-afric...ion-south.html .But that`s not the issue.The facts are that i did owe them money in 1999 which i duly paid in 1999.That`s strike one.Obviously i don`t have the paperwork anymore as i moved house two times since then and throw in a divorce for good measure.

Here comes strike two - I applied for Telkom`s uncapped 3 months special(free installation,modem,etc) in November 2011.Iwas told there was a problem because their system picked up the 1999 debt. I explained the 1999 situation and asked the lady who helped me instore(Telkom Direct-Zevenwacht mall-Kuilsrivier)if she could do a bit more thorough check,she complied and told me she found the discprepancy logged on a different system with account being fully paid up.Application went through for a 1mb uncapped ,3 month ,no obligation deal.Service only started in March 2012 due to no ports being available at my exchange when i applied .I duly cancelled the contract after three months instore over the phone and writing down all the details(date,time,ref:no.etc).Since my divorce i keep any and all paperwork.

The next step would obviously be to contact the firm handling the debt collection which is the one mentioned in the sms.Search engine time again and this is what i found http://www.hellopeter.commarais-mlle...dgement-824278 and their contact details www.maraismuller.co.za/index-6.html#kl .Alarm bells started going off in my head when i saw the photos of their offices and read the complaint lodged on hellopeter.It`s a good thing i haven`t contacted them yet because it seems like i will be given the runaround with time passing and me getting entangled in the spiders web that is called debt collecting.(And R0.00 becoming thoousands of rands)

I`m gonna fight tooth and nail to retain my credibility and credit worthiness which i`ve built up over 25 years and which they are trying to tarnish because of their billing & payment systems not talking to each other or their debt collecting agencies.If anyone can guide me in the direction infowise with what route to take it would be much appreciated.

Will update as soon as i get more info.
 
Below are few email address of some higher authorities at telkom. Please send them a detailed e-mail explaining all the issues you have with necessary evidence and some one should help you out to resolve the problem. Some of the email addresses might bounce, but not to worry. God bless you to get out of this situation.

[email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected],[email protected], [email protected], [email protected],
 
Thanks for the email addresses chinu267.I will be sending a detailed breakdown to each of them including reference numbers,dates,times,people spoken to and their attitude,copies of documentation and anything else that might be relevant.I notice there`s also a mweb address.Is that one relevant?
 
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Ive never heard of Telkom handing over someone like this (not saying its not true, but just never seen it). One of my employee`s owes R1500 to Telkom. For around 15 years! They never sold his debt to a debt collector. Every time he tries to apply for a Telkom line they just ask him to pay the money.
 
phunk67 said:
Thanks for the email addresses chinu267.I will be sending a detailed breakdown to each of them including reference numbers,dates,times,people spoken to and their attitude,copies of documentation and anything else that might be relevant.I notice there`s also a mweb address.Is that one relevant?
Click to expand...

That appears to be Pinky's email (shes CEO of Telkom)!

Anyway, the term of prescription of debts is 3 years, so debt from 1999 has lapsed and even if you did owe it it would be written off!
http://www.markraminc.co.za/knowledge/prescription-of-debts-in-south-african-law

Im not a lawyer, so this isnt formal advice, but something you might consider.
 
chinu267 said:
Below are few email address of some higher authorities at telkom. Please send them a detailed e-mail explaining all the issues you have with necessary evidence and some one should help you out to resolve the problem. Some of the email addresses might bounce, but not to worry. God bless you to get out of this situation.

[email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected],[email protected], [email protected], [email protected],
Click to expand...

Please don't spam.

The correct address to use for escalations is [email protected] (Escalation Centre)

The telkomsa.net addreses are only support and current TI account issues.

Sending your mail to *every* single address you find, including 5 different teams who PHYSICALLY CAN'T HELP you is just going to waste everyone's time, and cost all the other customers more.

If the original incorrect debt was Telkom Internet issue (unlikely/impossible if it is from 1999), creditcontrol@ would be the correct address, but creating more than 1 ticket isn't going to help anyone, you could rather PM me the ticket number if it is not resolved after 2 business days, or resolved but not to your satisfaction (although replying too the resolved notification will re-open it).
 
@ranger
I agree with you 100%.I did some further research and from what i`ve garnered the best way forward is the legal way through prescription.Immediate plan of attack would seem to be taking the Escalation Centre route which would hopefully buy me some time to better understand prescription.

From what i`ve read so far re: prescription i think will be most welcome to all members and will come as a surprise.I have downloaded quite a couple of example documents with instructions and guides and will post them as soon as i have everything in chronological order and gone through the process to verify it.And yes it is current SA law.

One of the apparent reasons for giving you the runaround by the debt collection agencies is to accumulate more interest on your "debt".As it stands today with people being taken to the slaughterhouse by a lot of institutions i can only see doom and gloom for most businesses that rely on credit as their business model in the future with consumers opting for cash transactions.

@ghoti
The evidence is on my cellphone and i`ve got dates,times,names,numbers,ref:no,etc.

@Carnajo
Thanks for pointing me in the direction re: prescription.From that redirection i`ve come across documentation (legal) with example documents and guides that `s gonna blow a lot of members and consumers minds.

ps.You know the more i start to understand about prescription ,the more i think of credit default swaps that happened in the States with peoples houses.
 
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US law differs to SA law though and even in SA prescription on a home loan is different, 30 years I believe for a morgage bonds.

CDSs are something else entirely, the issue had more to do with CDOs (collateralised debt obligations) and in that case, very very loosely, an investor took on the returns and the risks linked to a bunch of debt, if that debt wasn't paid then the investor lost the investment. That's an entirely different debate but prescription wasn't part of it. If you ask me if an investor (which could be a fund manager, an investment house, pension fund etc.) couldn't measure the risk of their investment then they shouldn't have that job or shouldn't invest in products they don't understand. I've worked with CDSs and they can be useful mechanisms to transfer and diversify risk and no, they aren't on home loans, they are usually based on a company or on a sovereign debt.
 
Carnajo said:
US law differs to SA law though and even in SA prescription on a home loan is different, 30 years I believe for a morgage bonds.

CDSs are something else entirely, the issue had more to do with CDOs (collateralised debt obligations) and in that case, very very loosely, an investor took on the returns and the risks linked to a bunch of debt, if that debt wasn't paid then the investor lost the investment. That's an entirely different debate but prescription wasn't part of it. If you ask me if an investor (which could be a fund manager, an investment house, pension fund etc.) couldn't measure the risk of their investment then they shouldn't have that job or shouldn't invest in products they don't understand. I've worked with CDSs and they can be useful mechanisms to transfer and diversify risk and no, they aren't on home loans, they are usually based on a company or on a sovereign debt.
Click to expand...

@Carnajo
You`re right.I did`nt phrase my ps observation correctly. I only mentioned it because of the convoluted way the law is being misused by those without scruples.
 
I wonder if money owed to Telkom before they were listed on the stock exchange qualifies as money owed to the state?
 
I have had a similar run-around with Telkom who said I applied and used a phone in a house I have never lived in, back in 1999. Sure enough there was an application in my name, but never signed by anyone and it lasted 10 months. I went round to the house to find it has been rented to various different people over the years. The amount outstanding was about R1600. I declined to pay it and Telkom declined to provide service, so left it like that. This bad debt still appears on my credit record and Telkom will not take it off.

I told the Telkom person that it was blackmail and they should try harder to recover the debt from the person who actually used the service, but they are not interested as this is too much work.
 
@chrisc4290...if you check out the link i provided in the previous post and read through that links entire thread you`ll find info on how to counter bad debt blacklisting.

Our credit system is so screwed up eg. we as consumers have to fix the mess that incompetent people create at certain institutions.Only the consumers who are willing to walk that extra mile and take the time and effort to go through the proper channels(which is a spiders web at best) can resolve their issues.

Now this is my bugbear:-I believe in the adage that time is the most precious commodty of all.No amount of money will get it back.So effectively what they are doing with these type of practices is stealing precious time from me leaving me with less quality time to spend with my family,friends and interests.

That`s just my 2c`s worth....
 
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