warning about cell c's latest little scam

I for one think it's time the government pass some serious legislation to insist that direct marketers, call centres and the likes obey a do not call list, and automatically anyone over the age of 70 must be on the list.

We get daily people calling us asking how they contact these call centres as they've been duped into stupid contracts. example stuff we sell for R50 per month the call centres are doing for R145 per month, this is just wrong, espcially when the customer is told "its the latest and greatest phone" when in actual fact its the complete opposite.

I will never allow any of my staff to cold call customers, we only call customers that want us to call them ie people that have responded to our advertising, this rule is in place because I don't like being cold called therefore I will not allow it to happen in my business.

These people saying you have won a phone, but.... They need to be flogged publicly this makes my blood boil hearing this as they just do the brand a disservice, and more than likely they are not even from Cell C but a marketing call centre selling Cell C products.

Thinking about this a little, if the agent said you have won something then its yours if he puts a condition on the win well then you didn't win it and hence you can and should report it to the ASA. Can this not even be regarded as an illegal loto/competition ?
 
warwickw said:
I for one think it's time the government pass some serious legislation to insist that direct marketers, call centres and the likes obey a do not call list, and automatically anyone over the age of 70 must be on the list.

We get daily people calling us asking how they contact these call centres as they've been duped into stupid contracts. example stuff we sell for R50 per month the call centres are doing for R145 per month, this is just wrong, espcially when the customer is told "its the latest and greatest phone" when in actual fact its the complete opposite.

I will never allow any of my staff to cold call customers, we only call customers that want us to call them ie people that have responded to our advertising, this rule is in place because I don't like being cold called therefore I will not allow it to happen in my business.

These people saying you have won a phone, but.... They need to be flogged publicly this makes my blood boil hearing this as they just do the brand a disservice, and more than likely they are not even from Cell C but a marketing call centre selling Cell C products.

Thinking about this a little, if the agent said you have won something then its yours if he puts a condition on the win well then you didn't win it and hence you can and should report it to the ASA. Can this not even be regarded as an illegal loto/competition ?
Click to expand...

Good to hear that there still is honest businessmen and businesses with ethics out there- they deserve the business and not the unethical types.

But it's sad to see that common sense goes out of the window as soon as "free prize" is mentioned. IMHO that can also constitute as fraud as you are trying to obtain a customer's money by fraudulent means.

Am wondering how such a telemarketer can be taken for a very, very expensive ride at the benefit of the victim... (and at the loss of said marketer) :D
 
The_Librarian said:
Am wondering how such a telemarketer can be taken for a very, very expensive ride at the benefit of the victim... (and at the loss of said marketer) :D
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The only thing I can think of is to insist on getting the telemarketers name and contact number, before arguing that is otherwise they just put the phone down on you. Then insist on getting the products you have won, when they start with their scam insist on speaking to their supervisor and likewise insist on your prize you have won.

My blood is still boiling, I would love to know who did this so I can take it up as well.

May the fleas of a thousand camels infest their armpits, and may their arms be in plaster casts.. ;)
 
This is the reply I got from Cell C now:

Good Day

Thank you for your email.

Kindly provide Cell C with your mobile number or Cell C account number in order to assist with your request.

Kind Regards

Cell C Team
[email protected]
Click to expand...

And this after me clearly saying IN THE E-MAIL:

Read the thread for more information, do not contact me directly.
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*sigh* EISH!
 
sounds like a bad business practice to me, also that email story is rubbish - not too sure who could take up this complaint, off hand, try a call to your local chamber of commerce - consumer watchdogs - hellopeter
 
I also received calls from these @#$%# telling me that I have won a phone. This pathetic agent even has the odesity to ask for me banking details and ID!!!
How low can someone(some companies) be?

I did find it strange that he knew my name. I aske how he knew, he responsed, " Mr ... we have access to a consumer database"

Whatever contract I sign with any party, I always ensure i never mark the check box that grants the pary permission to freely make my contact details available for advertising purposes. But guess what?....these @#$% alway get to call my number selling and lying about prizes!!!!!
 
dam said:
They called me the other day offering me a free phone. The scary thing is that the sales rep called me by my first and last name, now who gave them that information? I told them to f off.
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+1
 
Please guys/gals if you get a call like this ask nicely for the consultant's name, then come up with an excuse and ask them for a contact number so you can call them right back. Then please PM the name and number.

This information will help to find out who is doing this and get a stop to it.
 
I was speaking to a friend living in ballito, im in jhb- got the exact same call, also wanted her Id, because she had won a prize- so im thinking its got to be cell c themselves- the bunch of @#$#%, she just hung up......but iv spread the work, as suggested above if anyone gets a call they need to get the guys name and number.

oh well the ASA got back to me, they said its out of their "jurisdiction" they dont deal with direct marketing complaints.
 
2 years ago I signed up for a 24-month contract that would have been R60.00 p/m + 2 phones..I asked the man at the table and he said "The R60.00 is all you pay..."

Guess What?
At my first bill it was R172.00 WITHOUT MY CALLS! (Gust the contract)
And so they call me everyday "Sir! We have a special limited offer of gust..."

Don't worry Cell C-heaters, you won't be stealing my money again.
(PS: I did not read the fine print, lol)
 
lol happened to me aswell...

I was okay, what type of phone Samsung E250, okay so how do I get it, no you have to sign a contract for 24months... I went like O so its a contract... Chick is all quiet... I just said, Im not with CellC anymore Im with MTN now (ported) I was also psed off... really getting my hopes up like that and then insulting me by thinking im stupid...

Some people probably fall for it
 
Hi ave

Only spotted this post now - few months late I know..... Thanks for letting us know about your experience. I'll have it looked into and will report back to the forum.

Cheers

C for yourself
 
Hi All

Some feedback. I've raised the above concerns with our retail manager and he has already addressed the problem with the Cell C dealer who was responsible. We have received an undertaking, from the dealer, that this "sales tactic" will not be used again.

Cheers

C for yourself
 
REMEMBER ALL CELLC PROMOTIONS ARE PUBLICALLY ADVERTISED IN THE PRESS, SO THIS WAS PROBABLY ONE OF THOSE COMPANIES RETAILING CELLC PRODUCTS, CHECK ON THE DELIVERY NOTE, WHAT DETAILS DO YOU SEE THERE?
 
C for yourself said:
Hi All

Some feedback. I've raised the above concerns with our retail manager and he has already addressed the problem with the Cell C dealer who was responsible. We have received an undertaking, from the dealer, that this "sales tactic" will not be used again.

Cheers

C for yourself
Click to expand...

Got a call a few days ago. They are still using this tactic.
 
ave said:
I just want to warn people that cell c has sunk to an all time low and is using an extremely underhanded approach to try and get people to sign contracts with them

This morning I had an official rep phone me from cell c, and congratulate me on winning 2 phones, that they would drop off on monday, that as part of the prize i would get 100 free minutes a month, all I had to do was produce my id and pay 149 for some airtime.

of course I was delighted, but knowing that you dont often just get stuff for nothing,I probed a little further, and discovered that this is an on-going R149 a month for 24 months- ie its just a normal contract

I find this questionable advertising because they are misleading you, by implying that you have won a prize, and wording it in such a way that you are led to believe that its a one off payment of R149- the next thing you know you are locked into a 24 month contract, and I do believe that if they do this to enough people, you will get a few individuals that will end up with contracts they don't need or want

im telling you I am fed up with this company, they are so sly and underhanded, 5 people I know including myself who had cell c contracts, all had 3 months of additional money taken out of our accounts after our contracts expired, and had to sit for hours on the phone and fight to get it back, my mom got hers reversed at the bank, and cell c then disconnected my phone as a result, (2 seporate contracts) we phoned them, they admitted it was their mistake, but still charged me R100 reconnection fee- now they try trick me into a new contract.
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My mom is having the same ***** with wanting to get her money out of them.
Also around R250. How the hell do you debit an account after the contract has been cancelled? IN STORE!? They're a bunch of useless quacks and would firmly recommend that all should stay away from them! If not for their poor billing and accounts department - then for the kuk signal and voice quality that I've always encountered throughout the greater Cape Town area.

Schmucks they are! MTN FTW!
 
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