Warning: This is what could happen to you if you do business with Cell C

[Wyzak]

Don't talk to me about Cell C...

First: http://www.hellopeter.com/cell-c/complaints/cell-c-bayside-incompetent-activated-wrong-cntrct-864271

Followed by: http://www.hellopeter.com/cell-c/complaints/another-cell-c-disaster-902526

Most incompetent company I've had to deal with in years...

 

[Wyzak]

http://www.hellopeter.com/cell-c/complaints/cell-c-bayside-incompetent-activated-wrong-cntrct-864271
http://www.hellopeter.com/cell-c/complaints/another-cell-c-disaster-902526

To summarize:
1) Went to Cell C to open a R49pm contract.
2) They activated the wrong contract.
3) They were unable to correct this in store.
4) After 2 hours I was told to come back the next day by when the manager would have sorted things out.
5) Cancellations dept isn't open over weekends (busiest time of the week for them?)
6) The next day 1PM still no news, went to the shop, manager then only phoned Cell C.
7) Tells me that they are unable to help, have to come back the next day again...
8) Tell him to cancel everything, and walk out.
9) Get a call a few days later saying that everything was cancelled.
10) Almost two months later I receive a statement from Cell C saying that I owe them R159. Clearly it wasn't cancelled...
11) Day 3, after receiving the statement and making a complaint. I've only been phoned once for them to gather information...

 

[satanboy]

Bloody useless.

 

[diabolus]

These days when you cancel something like that, you have to write it down for them, and make them sign or give you "proof" that they accepted your cancellation request. That's the only way, because no one in this country seems to know how to do their jobs and follow procedures (or have any procedures).

 

[BeVonk!]

I've been through two very bad experiences with Cell C recently. I have two contracts with them (two teenagers) and Cell C seriously f-ed up both contracts. In the one case I was asked to bring proof that I signed an upgrade contract with them with data included as they lost my paperwork (Cell C in N1 City). I had to bring them the copies they gave me when I signed the contract where the data is clearly indicated and where I signed for it. They had no records. This happened after I got a huge out of bundle rate data account. I'm still waiting for my refund as they cannot find their own signed paperwork (got "misplaced" ).

On the other contract the girl who did the upgrade totally f-ed up the contract details on the system. It took hours at Cell C in Tygervalley to resolve the mess a week later. My whole Saturday morning spent in that branch to get the mess resolved. The person who then helped me (very competent youngster) told me that the staff is so poorly treated that they all leave, and that he's finishing end of Sept to take up a sales position in Pretoria. He stated that Cell C staff are extremely demotivated and therefore don't care. The girl who messed up my upgrade left days after she helped me. I was told that staff can go home after signing ip three customers so all the staff care about is new customers and don't want to spend time on their shift dealing with complaints/problems because then they won't make their quota.

The prices at Cell C might be lower but the service is shocking. You get what you pay for ... just like Vodacom is saying.

 

[Wyzak]

I've been through two very bad experiences with Cell C recently. I have two contracts with them (two teenagers) and Cell C seriously f-ed up both contracts. In the one case I was asked to bring proof that I signed an upgrade contract with them with data included as they lost my paperwork (Cell C in N1 City). I had to bring them the copies they gave me when I signed the contract where the data is clearly indicated and where I signed for it. They had no records. This happened after I got a huge out of bundle rate data account. I'm still waiting for my refund as they cannot find their own signed paperwork (got "misplaced" ).

The prices at Cell C might be lower but the service is shocking. You get what you pay for ... just like Vodacom is saying.

Yep, I had a feeling this would be the case. With all the issues I've had in just trying to open a R49pm contract I can just imagine how frustrated other people must also be. I spent 3 hours in their store patiently waiting for them to sort out their mess and they just went and created an even bigger one.

The only way to deal with companies like these are to hit them where it hurts, on their revenue. So let this serve as a warning to everybody who might be considering switching to Cell C.

 

[BeVonk!]

Lower prices must show the consequences somewhere. There is a line a business cannot cross to stay healthy. Vodacom has made it clear they are not willing to cross that line. Cell C is desperate enough to cross it ... and when you have many more clients but not earning enough from them to do things right all this sh_t starts to happen. Cell C in the early days was much better. The shops weren't as fancy with all the big screens etc but the staff were well trained.

 

[Wyzak]

This was suppose to be my first Cell C contract. I was very doubtful about them in the past, but with their new leadership and a lot of impressive looking products I was willing to give them a try... What a mistake that turned out to be! They won't be seeing me anytime soon. All of this trouble just to open a R49pm contract... So not worth my time!

 

[Wyzak]

I've received an official letterhead from Cell C confirming that the contract has now been cancelled and that there are no monies owing on it.

 

[Wyzak]

Nope, I was too early to give them credit. They deducted the R159 from my account today even though the contract is cancelled. Now I need two more things from them, a refund and a letter stating that they no longer hold my banking information. My word...

 

[alexjay]

I have contracts with VC, Mtn & cell c. When it comes to customer service, cell c ranks #1... At been useless

 

[whatwhat]

It sucks when a good company is let down by the monkeys they employ for peanuts at the shops.

 

[Wyzak]

It sucks when a good company is let down by the monkeys they employ for peanuts at the shops.

They can't be a very good company if they don't realize that first impressions last.

 

[ginggs]

It sucks when a good company is let down by the monkeys they employ for peanuts at the shops.

Some, if not all, of the stores are franchised, so technically Cell-C do not employ the people you see in the stores.
They should be made aware of what their franchisees are doing though.

 

[Wyzak]

Some, if not all, of the stores are franchised, so technically Cell-C do not employ the people you see in the stores.
They should be made aware of what their franchisees are doing though.

Actually they should have procedures in place to verify that their franchisees meet their customer service requirements. If they don't they only have themselves to blame.

 

[BeVonk!]

If Cell C doesn't have strong command and control over the franchises then all HQ's hard work can be undone in a flash where the tekkie hits the tar.

 

[Wyzak]

If Cell C doesn't have strong command and control over the franchises then all HQ's hard work can be undone in a flash where the tekkie hits the tar.

Yep, and clearly they don't have.

Still waiting for my refund and letter confirming that they have deleted by banking details.

 

[abandonallhope]

You two do realise that there are also many people with similar, if not worse, horror stories with every other cellular SP in SA, right ?

 

[Wyzak]

You two do realise that there are also many people with similar, if not worse, horror stories with every other cellular SP in SA, right ?

Does that make it acceptable then? Not in my opinion. I'm perfectly happy with my VC contract, and all of my other SP accounts. If I had the same issues with them I would have made the exact same stink I am making now.

 

[unskinnybob]

Does that make it acceptable then? Not in my opinion. I'm perfectly happy with my VC contract, and all of my other SP accounts. If I had the same issues with them I would have made the exact same stink I am making now.

The point he's alluding to is that problems are caused by stupid people, not necessarily poor process or a bad company.