Vodacom did not sell subscriber info

jannievanzyl said:
Would love to see proof of this myself. Suspect it's BS but will give elvis the benefit of the doubt to come up with the proof that anyone can just buy Vodacom sub data outright.
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I didn't say anything that even vaguely implied anyone could buy Vodacom sub data, please don't put words in my mouth.

I said that the MSISDN passthrough service is something that's available for purchase, and that you have to go through a strict audit procedure to get it. The whole issue is a storm in a teacup. People are worrying about random websites getting your worthless cell# in isolation when your bank, supermarket, insurance company are probably selling your actual VALUABLE details.
 
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lol, the only case we get the MSISDN is when you supply it or you complete the double opt in process to which the number is made available to us.

Otherwise nothing sneaky to steal your number or trick you.

We can't help that most people are idiots and do not read
 
Kinda sad that some random oke on the internet (elvis) provides more straight answers than the service provider I pay with cash...
 
HavocXphere said:
Kinda sad that some random oke on the internet (elvis) provides more straight answers than the service provider I pay with cash...
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What confuses me is how evasive they are... they really aren't dong anything bad or evil. In this case there was a screw-up, and some rather benign details leaked. But the actual services they sell? They're fine and very tightly controlled and many of the "magic" stuff you see on the internet is powered by these APIs behind the scenes.
 
koeksGHT said:
We can't help that most people are idiots and do not read
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I think that's a bit harsh, but certainly close to the truth - people don't like the SP's, and want a reason to dislike them; so when something like this happens they jump to the worst possible conclusion without understanding why they've jumped to the wrong conclusion.
 
elvis_presley said:
I think that's a bit harsh, but certainly close to the truth - people don't like the SP's, and want a reason to dislike them; so when something like this happens they jump to the worst possible conclusion without understanding why they've jumped to the wrong conclusion.
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It's just extremely frustrating. I swear the average IQ of SA is 20...

Had to build a template system to pull every bit of user info to compile a complete report, I guess dates/times/pages/gps coordinates are not enough....
 
MagicDude4Eva said:
Everyone knows that the only reason why you get marketing messages on a new SIM is because it is a recycled number. Doh, how can you not know this :P
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Funny how the previous owners of these "recycled" numbers have the same name and surname than me, it's really a big coincidence.
 
MagicDude4Eva said:
Jannie would also say that - remember those MSISDNs are all "washed" before recycled. (me thinks "washed with lies" - lol)
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They do wash numbers! I have seen their technology. Here is an inside picture I took:

images.jpg
 
beans100 said:
Funny how the previous owners of these "recycled" numbers have the same name and surname than me, it's really a big coincidence.
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Did you complain to WASPA about it? That message would come through a 3rd party, I highly doubt that Vodacom would sanction that kind of information sharing, and if anything there's a leak in the system; getting in an early complaint would help them identify that it and they'd be MORE than happy to crap on them from on high.

By law, a spammer has to divulge where they got the number from, they can't just say "go away".
 
elvis_presley said:
What confuses me is how evasive they are... they really aren't dong anything bad or evil. In this case there was a screw-up, and some rather benign details leaked. But the actual services they sell? They're fine and very tightly controlled and many of the "magic" stuff you see on the internet is powered by these APIs behind the scenes.
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Yep, not to mention the old spin of "systems are being put in place", which really should join the list of biggest lies in history right after "The cheque is in the mail" and "I won't c*m in your mouth". :D
 
elvis_presley said:
Did you complain to WASPA about it? That message would come through a 3rd party, I highly doubt that Vodacom would sanction that kind of information sharing, and if anything there's a leak in the system; getting in an early complaint would help them identify that it and they'd be MORE than happy to crap on them from on high.

By law, a spammer has to divulge where they got the number from, they can't just say "go away".
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See, the way it happens is thus:
There's a guy on a keyboard in front of a PC that captures your details while you wait. He then issues your new number and accompanying sim card after all that. Unless we're back before 1994, that PC is on a live network.

That's it man, maybe you can explain how a 3rd party gets that info between the time I hand over my detailed documents to the VC rep, and the time it takes for me to get home and insert the sim into a cell / 3G dongle.
To be honest, I'm stumped.

To answer the 1st part:
Through my many years of taking a very passionate and keen interest in the SA telecomms industry, I've experienced 1st-hand just how much complaining helps. As for the law on disclosure; you deal with a headset jockey who is clueless of that law, tells you that your details were bought as part of a database, but no idea from whom.
No, the manager is busy at the moment. You can phone back later.

Now apply the definition of insanity to the above, or GIVE your number freely to them so the manager can call you back. We all know how much of a chance there is of that.
 
Elvis, if I misread your post, apologies.

You are right that this ability has been available for a long time and is under strict control. Neither Richard nor myself said anything differently.

As to numbers being cleared before re-issued, the systems are in place but clearly not everyone use them or even have access to them. Take those 'competitions' everyone likes to enter where you put your business card in a bowl. Do you really think the owner of that list will bother to subscribe to a Vodacom service telling him a number's been recycled? Will he even care?
 
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