Cell C fined R500k for overcharging woman on roaming

The National Consumer Tribunal has fined cellphone service provider Cell C R500,000 for unfair, unreasonable and unjust conditions in a contract with a consumer.

- Ina Opperman

Cell C also has to refund a customer and pay her legal costs in what the tribunal called a matter "between David and Goliath".

Customer Julie Williams contacted the Cell C call centre in May 2022 with a request to increase the monthly limit on her cellphone contract and activate an international roaming service before she travelled to France.

She asked that the limit on her contract be increased from R1 785 to R3 785 and the agent read Cell C's terms and conditions to her before activating the international roaming service. Williams then travelled to France and the day after she landed, Cell C notified her in a text message that she exceeded her limit and therefore she would no longer have access to international roaming, calling or other premium-rated services.