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Johannesburg - Mobile network Cell C’s plan to give customers up to R10 000 to help them buy themselves out of their contracts with other networks has caught Fin24 users’ attention.
Cell C wants to win over more contract subscribers and it is offering ‘TopUp’ and contract customers between R1 000 and R10 000 to cancel their old contract. Cell C is also promising these customers “a new handset” if they sign up for the provider's new 'Epic' plans.
READ MORE: Cell C wants to buy your old contract
Cell C says it is undertaking the move because the biggest barrier to customers switching contracts are cancellation fees for early termination. Cell C is also spending R8bn on a new LTE network in a bid to attract more customers.
Cell C chief executive officer Jose Dos Santos told Fin24 that the offer could be extended from a period of four months if it proves successful.
Dos Santos further denied that the offer is a ‘promotion’, as he told Fin24 that promotions are only legally allowed to last three months.
Rival network Vodacom is not willing to provide comment on Cell C's offer. However, MTN has provided the following below statement on the Cell C deal:
“MTN welcomes competition as it fosters innovation for the benefit of customers. MTN offers flexibility and choice to its customers by allowing them to choose competitive contracts ranging from six, eight, twelve, eighteen and twenty-four months. Customers have the option to cancel a contract at any time on 20 business days. To this end, MTN will continue to develop and provide competitive value propositions to the market to meet their diverse needs in the fast-changing digital era,” said Larry Annetts, chief marketing officer for MTN SA.
Fin24 users, though, have reacted with scepticism as well as interest to Cell C's offer.
Fin24 user Mary Martin expressed her critique of the deal.
“I already have a Cell C contract and we have shocking signal – have to move around to get signal before we can use our cell phones. Cell C should consider upgrading their services first. I am certainly not renewing my contracts with them,” said Martin.
Fin24 user Kevin Deason has also complained about signal problems with Cell C.
“I have not upgraded my Cell C contract and never will, no matter what they offer, even if I were to get R10 000 cash back... .”
“I have four out of five bars reception at home and a 3G connection but the internet speed is appalling (on Cell C). As soon as my contract has run its course of 24 months (June 2) I am cancelling the Cell C contract and going back to MTN,” wrote Deason in an email to Fin24.
Fin24 user Len also said he wouldn’t take up the offer.
“No. Do have three contracts with Cell C and one with Vodacom. Wish I never transferred to Cell C and rather stayed with Vodacom,” he said.
Fin24 user Avhatakali is unhappy with Cell C’s rural coverage in light of the R10 000 offer.
“Their network is not meant for people like me living in rural areas like Thohoyandou and Mafikeng. They are failing on 3G so highly impossible that they will improve network related problem to LTE specifically on rural area. What's the point of buying a smartphone that I can't use all applications on?”
Another Fin24 user Johan Victor said he’s not keen on the offer either.
“Will not be interested. Dropped calls, no signal and poor coverage are not yet addressed. Currently I have MTN, Cell C and Telkom Mobile in my household. Cell C is worst of all. Vodacom totally overpriced, especially on data,” wrote Victor.
Fin24 user Moegseen said he’s struggled with Cell C’s services over the years.
“I am currently on Cell C for the last 3 years and it's been a horrible experience with poor signal reception and extremely slow and irritating internet speeds. I don't know if these problems are specific to Cape Town and its southern suburbs area but for these reasons alone I will definitely move from Cell C back to Vodacom when my current contract expires,” said Moegseen.
Other readers are keen to jump on board Cell C’s offer.
Fin24 user Lara said, “I will definitely go for this option as I want to move away from Autopage/MTN but contract still has a year to go and the monthly rates are now too high for me as I was unemployed for four months and my new job does not cover for such high subscription fees”.
Fin24 user Burt wrote: “Absolutely! I'm tired of Vodacom. Only have about four months left in any case on my current contract".
Fin24 user Angelique also wrote, “Definitely! Where do I sign up?”
Fin24 user Blessing Mhango said he would need to think about the offer before taking it up.
“I would like to look at the options available. Am under Vodacom and unhappy about a whole lot of things. Amongst others the expense towards data. I believe Cell C is cheaper but had concerns over their network. But if their offers are good then am willing to get on board,” wrote Mhango.
Meanwhile, Fin24 user Themba said that the answer for him is a yes.
“The answer is a resounding yes! This initiative will definitely put the power back into customers by ensuring flexibility, convenience and power to choose how one spends their money,” wrote Themba.
Fin24 user Lew Howell is also considering the offer after previously changing from Cell C to Vodacom.
“I was previously a Cell C customer and left them in January this year after waiting since October 2014 for a 64GB iPhone 6. By mid Jan, I could still not get info that Cell C was going to get the 64GB iPhone 6 so I gave notice and went to Vodacom. I would have stayed with Cell C as I had good service over the prior two years. So would I go back to Cell C? Yes definitely if they would buy my current Vodacom contract and give me a 64GB iPhone 6 and similar contract,” wrote Howell to Fin24.
Fin24 user Fred said the deal could even out competition in the market.
“I would definitely consider. Not for perks, but pure economics. It will also balance mega corporate power by competitive bargaining,” he said.
