Aug 2009 – Initiated proceedings to cancel my Virgin Mobile contract. I paid a settlement amount in order to cancel the contract (proof of payment available at request). I was informed telephonically that the contract would be cancelled effective September 2009. My understanding that a settlement payment means that the account is settled in full.

Aug 2010 – I was contacted telephonically by DCCM to be advised that I had been handed over by Virgin Mobile for non-payment of an amount of R 398. I had not once received any written notification of an outstanding amount from Virgin mobile prior to this. Although I had moved during this time the postal address on Virgin Mobile’s records is the same as my in-laws postal address and I collect post from them on a regular basis. My email address did not change during this time and I did not receive any email notifications.

Nov 2010 – Having had my first baby in early August I was on maternity leave and unable to attend to the query as quickly as I would have liked. I contacted Virgin Mobile to confirm the outstanding amount and they were unable to provide me with any invoice, statement or written proof of the outstanding amount. I paid the amount directly to Virgin Mobile regardless as I needed to stop the defaults against my credit record. Proof of payment is available on request.

Dec 2010 – I was contacted again by DCCM advising that I now owe a further amount of +-R 150 and the amount went up daily. Once again no invoice, statement or written proof could be provided. I paid this amount directly to DCCM for the same reasons as mentioned above. I then however made a complaint on a consumer website www.hellopeter.com. My complaint was attended to by Mpho Mohale of Virgin Mobile. I requested that they investigate the second amount that I paid to DCCM and also provide proof that they had tried to notify me of the outstanding amount before handing me over.

Jan 2011 – After a few follow ups via email my complaint still has not been resolved and they still have not been able to provide me with written proof.

Conclusion – Having recently had a baby I needed to purchase a bigger, more reliable vehicle and my spouse and I started to look for a home to buy. As a result of Virgin Mobile not notifying me of this outstanding amount, no financial institution will consider granting me a loan for either until October 2013. I am now forced to continue to rent and pay towards someone else’s asset instead of acquiring an asset of my own. I have been put in a highly unfavourable financial position because of Virgin Mobile and will now have to waste approximately R 166, 280 (yes, it is really that much and we don't live extravagantly) towards paying rent until October 2013 when I could in fact have been paying that towards my own property!
In light of the fact that I have not received any written notification of amounts owed by Virgin Mobile and I was not informed in writing of my credit record being affected I believe that Virgin Mobile have contravened the National Credit Act and should I have been informed of the outstanding amount timeously I would have paid it over immediately. I would like to have my credit record CLEARED based on this information. I would also like to receive a refund plus interest for the costs I paid to DCCM due to being handed over as well as a statement proving that I owed Virgin Mobile the amount of R 398.00