About 3 weeks ago I received a phone call from Vodacom it was a legit call since they gave me my ID number and knew which company I'm working for. The guy told me that since I have been a Vodacom customer for such a long time it's been 10 years , they are giving me: FREE HANDSET 120 off-peak minutes and R135 worth of airtime per month, for 24-months, absolutely FREE + Once off ~R800 and something I can't remember the exact amount Homemark voucher I asked him if there are any extra costs involved, anything, he assured me that it was because I'm such a loyal and long-time customer, and that it is free of charge. Well, 2 weeks later, my mother phoned me my account is registered on my home address since 10 years ago I was still living there and told me I got a package from Vodacom. I got the package, opened it, and I actually got the phone! The receipt with the package listed all the contents, with a total, INC VAT, of R0. I NEVER used it because I have a phone and want to sell this phone. It's a Nokia E5xxx not sure, it's at my flat. Two Days ago I found an odd debit order on my bank statement from Vodacom. I went to the Vodashop yesterday - I now have a weekender contract for 24months, that costs me R135 per month. They told me that I have to contact Homemark if I want resolve the problem. Seriously, this is FRAUD. I NEVER accepted the contract, I NEVER signed anything. I made sure that it was free with no strings attached. I don't even want the phone, it was a GIFT?! Yes, better get that recording. Seriously, have you ever dealt with Vodacom before?? They would never give you anything for free, even if you were a lifelong customer and spent R10 000 a month on them, and your life depended on it. Also, where are you living now then? Also also: That's why they're called telemarketers, not telesantaclauses Did nobody ever teach you NOT to buy something over the phone. Did you honestly think that someone is going to give you a phone and a voucher for free. Come on common sense will tell you that you were entering a contract. Just by the way its not a scam by Vodacom, homemark is a dealer who sells Vodacom contracts. Did nobody ever teach you NOT to buy something over the phone. Did you honestly think that someone is going to give you a phone and a voucher for free. Come on common sense will tell you that you were entering a contract. Just by the way its not a scam by Vodacom, homemark is a dealer who sells Vodacom contracts. Did nobody ever teach you NOT to buy something over the phone. Did you honestly think that someone is going to give you a phone and a voucher for free. Come on common sense will tell you that you were entering a contract. Just by the way its not a scam by Vodacom, homemark is a dealer who sells Vodacom contracts. I guess if VodaCom, um, subcontracts to HomeMark, then it would make sense for VodaCom to not be able to terminate it. I mean, imagine if you signed up with Nashua Mobile, then 6 months later decided you didnt like it and wanted to cancel it. VodaCom would not be able to do that without Nashua Mobile's permission, which makes sense. But HomeMark seems to have done a dirty here. I would demand a recording of the conversation and request that they immediately A cancel your contract and reimburse any fees charged or taken, B tell you where they obtained your details from they have to by law , C remove your details from any and all marketing databases they may have or at least mark you as someone they cannot call. While you are doing this, dont sign anything that will limit your rights to pursue this matter in court. Well, you can if you want to. It might make your life easier to just let them fix the mistake but not get investigated by the police, but perhaps it would benefit society for them to get investigated by this. It may end up that the case gets thrown out of court, but you know what companies hate more than anything else - bad publicity. Send it to a newspaper, along with the recording if you can get it, and watch them squirm. The only concerning this about this, from VodaCom's side, is that they allowed confidential details that you entrusted with VodaCom to be used by HomeMark to bill you. I mean, you gave your bank details to VodaCom, but personally I dont feel VodaCom was right in allowing HomeMark to use them. Ideally, HomeMark should bill you themselves I'm not sure if Nashua Mobile bills people directly? This oversight allowed HomeMark to get money out of you - if you didnt already have a VodaCom contract, the HomeMark rep would have needed to awkwardly ask you for your bank details. That would have set the alarm bells ringing. Also, hello peter this. Its another form of bad publicity which corporations hate. I dont think its important to contact them first before hello petering, but if you want to open a case with the police perhaps it might be a good idea to at least talk with HomeMark first. If they are unwilling to do anything, I'm sure the police will force the recording out of them. I guess if VodaCom, um, subcontracts to HomeMark, then it would make sense for VodaCom to not be able to terminate it. I mean, imagine if you signed up with Nashua Mobile, then 6 months later decided you didnt like it and wanted to cancel it. VodaCom would not be able to do that without Nashua Mobile's permission, which makes sense. But HomeMark seems to have done a dirty here. I would demand a recording of the conversation and request that they immediately A cancel your contract and reimburse any fees charged or taken, B tell you where they obtained your details from they have to by law , C remove your details from any and all marketing databases they may have or at least mark you as someone they cannot call. While you are doing this, dont sign anything that will limit your rights to pursue this matter in court. Well, you can if you want to. It might make your life easier to just let them fix the mistake but not get investigated by the police, but perhaps it would benefit society for them to get investigated by this. It may end up that the case gets thrown out of court, but you know what companies hate more than anything else - bad publicity. Send it to a newspaper, along with the recording if you can get it, and watch them squirm. The only concerning this about this, from VodaCom's side, is that they allowed confidential details that you entrusted with VodaCom to be used by HomeMark to bill you. I mean, you gave your bank details to VodaCom, but personally I dont feel VodaCom was right in allowing HomeMark to use them. Ideally, HomeMark should bill you themselves I'm not sure if Nashua Mobile bills people directly? This oversight allowed HomeMark to get money out of you - if you didnt already have a VodaCom contract, the HomeMark rep would have needed to awkwardly ask you for your bank details. That would have set the alarm bells ringing. Also, hello peter this. Its another form of bad publicity which corporations hate. I dont think its important to contact them first before hello petering, but if you want to open a case with the police perhaps it might be a good idea to at least talk with HomeMark first. If they are unwilling to do anything, I'm sure the police will force the recording out of them. They listened to the recording and agree that it is unclear, actually it's obvious that I didn't concent, but point is I'm getting my money back and the contract is cancelled. Should've billed them for my time as well. It's not Homemart, but AFRIZON Telecommunications. Still pretty pissed at Vodacom for giving them my details.
