ITWeb reports “a consumer protection body created by the CPA is ready to force mobile operators to allow SA's 10 million subscribers to carry over minutes and data bundles for three years, getting rid of the current “use-it-or-lose it” policy.
The National Consumer Commission (NCC) says the Act's provision that vouchers can only expire once fully used, or after three years, applies to data bundles and the so-called free minutes that are sold with contract packages.
However, despite the three-year rule, call centre staff are telling subscribers that bundled free minutes can be carried over for a maximum of six months, while data can only be rolled over for two.
SA's largest mobile operators will not officially clarify when bundled minutes and data expire, or whether they will comply with the commission's standpoint.
Instead, the operators argue, clarity will be provided after the Independent Communication Authority of SA's (ICASA's) exemption application – to have some parts of the Act fall under its jurisdiction – is finalised.
The CPA, which came into effect on 1 April, states a “prepaid certificate, card, credit, voucher or similar device” does not expire unless it has been redeemed, or until three years after the date of issue.
Arthur Goldstuck, MD of World Wide Worx, says
It took the networks years before they allowed data to be carried over for just a month,
“They've turned deaf ears to the criticism that they are in effect creaming a huge proportion off the top of customer payments for bundled services.”
I like most of you, am a “data bundle” user.
I can never determine what portion of my “bundle” I will use.
In fact, when the time comes to “lose” my remaining data bundle, do I do a “bundle dump”?
Here’s the thing, I pay for the data bundle, and it’s mine. Why if I don’t use it within a predetermined time should I lose it?
Apart from the pure muggery of it, I am equally concerned with the attitude of the mobile operators.
It seems to me they are displaying the same complete disregard for the rules as those that have come to make ignoring norms and values a national sport.
From the Board through management and stakeholders such as employees and shareholders, these operators are populated by citizens who have families.
In fact the beneficiaries of these operators largess must run into the tens, if not hundreds of thousands of people, people who will be quick to bleat about this abuse or that abuse of State, or this or that level of crime or disregard for the law on the part of Government.
They are the first to shout about an injustice against them, loudly.
“Someone must act to stop the corruption”, “someone must stop the crime”, “someone must do something about healthcare” etc.
Always “someone”... someone else yes!
I’ve asked the question before, how is it we shout so loudly about corruption and crime, when we are happy as a society to live with the perpetrators in our families and in our communities.
It seems we only moan about the buggery of our society when we aren’t the beneficiaries of the proceeds?
The underlying greed that underpins the pursuit of profit supersedes all logic or sense of fair and equitable.
Protecting the bottom line at all costs and then making an entire organisation complicit in your attempts to deny the rights of tens of millions is nefarious to say the least and is as odious as any Politician or government employee taking a bribe or violating procurement processes.
Look, I generally just grin and bear it. I have many fires to put out and battles to wage. I can afford to write off R50 or R60 or R100 worth of data bundle.
The thing is, I was not born with a silver spoon in my mouth, in fact, I got the wooden spoon.
I feel deeply connected with anyone fighting for their piece of sunshine, so when I think about how important data communication is today and value inherent in the access to information this affords I naturally think about the millions for whom R50, or R60 or R100 worth of data means the difference between empowerment, or disenfranchisement, success or failure.
The mobile operator’s stance as set out in the ITWeb article is repugnant, reprehensible and morally corrupt.
I have a word of advice for the mobile operators and all the beneficiaries of their profits, the next time you find yourself on the receiving end of an injustice, of a violation of your rights, do me a favour, put up or shut up.
Don’t use my Fraud Report Hotline and stop expecting “someone else” to defend you or protect you when you’re shafted.
Bleating about your rights as a “tax payer” does not absolve you of your duty to be human beings?
There are hundreds of thousand of subscribers in essential services that rely on your service, that pay to stay in communication out their own pockets, if not for me, for them, show some class man and demonstrate at the minimum good corporate citizenship by complying with the reasonable request to let people own what you sell them and use it when they want.
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