What does TMobileSA do?

[Dave A]

I've got a line item on my cellphone bill that I'm pretty sure I didn't order. It falls under the content services section and reads:

Total data: 0
Access point description: Cointel
Service description: 00500@TMobileSA
Data charge: R4.38

Now I'm a relic when it comes to using my cellphone. I make the occassional phonecall and I send the occassional SMS. I also receive the occassional SMS, phonecall and (very rarely) an MMS.

I don't download ringtones. I don't send MMS's. I don't browse the internet (I've got a 3g contract for that, thanks). I haven't subscribed to any WASP service (that I know of - I've heard rumours of some sharp practice in that department).

Cointel, I see, was bought by Vodacom in 2007.

The TMobileSA website is less than informative.

So what the heck does TMobileSA do?
And any ideas as to what they might be doing on my cellphone bill?

[AndyD]

TMobile is a guerrilla marketing type company who sell specialised cell phone products. You might have incurred the charge by someone downloading a ringtone or maybe you hit the navigator button on your phone by accident one day. There's also a good chance that they randomly generated your number one sunny day and just decided to slap you with a charge as a marketing exercise to make sure you don't forget their name.....and believe me, by the time you've spent two or three days in their customer service system you won't.

Bon voyage, bon chance, bon appetite...take your pick you're gonna need it if you decide to pursue this.

[tec0]

If it is on your phone bill then your contract holder must be able to give you a proper explanation as to why you are paying for their services. Secondly you can demand to see the paperwork on their services. Then if the service in question is a subscription then force your contract holder for a cancelation on the service in question.

Demand for contact information! When you have the requested information go the consumer council and register a complaint. I would also open a case of fraud against the service provider in question and allow for criminal charges to be placed against them “once again if they are doggy that is�

[Dave A]

An update:

I called Vodacom before I even made the first post here. Basically they couldn't tell me why I had been billed, but assured me that TMobileSA would be calling me.

They didn't.

So I've just called Vodacom again. The operator, bless her, called TMobileSA while I waited on the line. Again, I'm assured TMobileSA will call me, but fortunately this time the Vodacom operator gave me TMobileSA's telephone number and who to ask for.

Within seconds I get an SMS with this message:

You have been successfully removed from our database

and I got it again a couple of minutes later for good measure.

However, no phonecall. Still none the wiser as to why this charge has been levied.

So I called (012 644 0838 ask for Lusanda - just in case that proves useful ).

Lusanda goes "Oops - I was supposed to phone you, wasn't I"
I thank her for the SMS, but point out that what I wanted to know was what I was charged for in the first place.

"Oh - it's either a subscription service or for receiving a promotional message."

I double check on that last possibility. Yes, I've got it right - you can get billed for receiving a promotional message! Even for one you haven't asked for.

OK. I'm pretty sure this is fraud now and point this out.

Well, at the mention of fraud (which of course requires intent) apparently there is one other possibility according to Lusanda. They've been migrating across databases or something and it's possible that the files got corrupted and the bill was raised in error.

Is anyone buying this?

Certainly not me.

I'll be sending a formal written request for detailed information on Monday and I'll keep everyone here updated.

But in the meantime, it might be an idea to scan your cellphone bill. I strongly suspect I'm not the only one who's been taken for a ride here.

[Dave A]

Oh - one more thing. According to the Vodacom operator, one of the tricks apparently is you get an MMS and when you open to read/view it, you get subscribed to a service.

Now surely that's fraud too!

[AndyD]

I take back my first post and also take my hat off to you. Your results on this were far beyond my expectations. I'll be even more in awe if you actually get a credible explanation out of these scum suckers.

[desA]

I'll be even more in awe if you get your money back from the scamsters.

[Pap_sak]

What would happen if this happened to a pre-paid user? As you not get an invoice at the end of the month - how would you check?

[tec0]

I have a real problem with our service providers being so laid back and not caring when it comes to this kind of problem aka rip-off. The thing is how do they bill you? Surely the service provider must provide a system for these people to work trough otherwise they will not get paid in the first place.

So the service providers cannot claim that they don’t know. The truth is they do know they are providing the “pay system� still there is no result other then frustration. With the information in hand as is it will be difficult for them to prove that they haven’t taken your money. There is no consent on your behalf and that is the key factor.

Take them to the cleaners!

[murdock]

just think when you are on pay as u go you dont get an itemised bill and cannot be on a per minute rate only per second rate which costs more in the long run...so how do you monitor this type of thing

[tec0]

As I understand it. It has become clear that you CAN get a statement with billing information at your local Service Providers Office or Shop. This IS actually law now for them to keep records and you can access those records on request but it will COST YOU!!! A lot of money so know the dates and times it will help. “so I was told by MTN� << they suck

[victorliebenberg]

no ways!

I so strongly disagree with what you people are saying..I've dealt with TMobileSA before and they are a great company.I think someone out there is just trying to make them look bad because they are the new kid on the block and seem to be doing well for themselves. I mean even big companies like meet similar problems but what i liked about TMobileSA when i called in for assistance is that i actually got helped, no automated machines that put you on hold for hours before taking your call and the people there are so friendly and polite, they even apologised for the inconvinience and offered me my airtime which was mistakenly billed from my account back, although it wasn't the full amount because i discovered i was actually bieng billed elswere but i was told it was tmobile. I think the problem is they got too popular too quick that everyone thinks he's bieng billed by them. They even helped me trace were i was really bieng billed, which i must say i'm greatful for. I've been downloading content from them ever since and i have to say they sure have nice products. it's rare to find companies who involve themselves in community services nowerdays..KEEP IT UP TMOBILE..and for the rest of you, try the services,they are quite cool

[IanF]

I so strongly disagree with what you people are saying..I've dealt with TMobileSA before and they are a great company..... what i liked about TMobileSA when i called in for assistance is that i actually got helped, no automated machines that put you on hold for hours before taking your call and the people there are so friendly and polite, they even apologised for the inconvinience and offered me my airtime which was mistakenly billed from my account back, although it wasn't the full amount

Hi Victor
Welcome can you share the name and contact numbers. Or even better point them to this thread so they can explain why they don't deserve this publicity.

[Dave A]

I so strongly disagree with what you people are saying..I've dealt with TMobileSA before and they are a great company.I think someone out there is just trying to make them look bad because they are the new kid on the block and seem to be doing well for themselves. I mean even big companies like meet similar problems but what i liked about TMobileSA when i called in for assistance is that i actually got helped, no automated machines that put you on hold for hours before taking your call and the people there are so friendly and polite, they even apologised for the inconvinience and offered me my airtime which was mistakenly billed from my account back,

Well, I'm really happy for you, although it is a little troubling that you were mistakenly billed too. How often does this have to happen before it is considered a serious problem?

Anyway, it seems I'm not going to be as blessed. I've got my new Vodacom account, and no refund

So let's go over this one more time:

• I got a bill for a service I certainly didn't request and based on information to hand, certainly did not receive either.
• TMobile SA did not call me when they were informed of the query by Vodacom the first time.
• TMobile SA did not call me when they were informed of my query by Vodacom the second time, despite a clear undertaking by them to Vodacom that they would do so.
• TMobile SA has not, or alternatively cannot tell me why they charged me and under what authority despite my requests for them to do so.
• TMobile SA has not refunded the bill, or even offered to do so. (I was told I would get a refund by the Vodacom operator).

Now this is not an opinion with scope for agreement or disagreement - this is what happened.

You may draw your own conclusions.

[tec0]

Take them to the Cleaners

Just imagine I have a company like this and I have 400000 accidental subscriptions at R5 that is about R2000000 per month. It is a very clever way of stealing money but it IS still stealing.