Vodacom entices subscriber to run up massive SMS bill
Pensioner Hendrikus Wessels from Cape Town South Africa managed to run up bill of R48 000 (over $6,600) in just two weeks in the hope that he could win in Vodacom's "100 BMW's in 100 Days" competition.
The smses (text messages) cost R10 a shot and the promotion has a bonus draw each week for the subscriber that sends the most amount of entries. With a subscriber base of around 22 million, this promotion must be a massive money spinner for Vodacom.
As hard as I try to fell sorry for Mr Wessels, who has subsequently had his account suspended, I just can't.
There are many of premium priced competitions which charge from R5-00 to R30-00 an sms. In my opinion these 'competitions' merely are a very obvious form of gambling, making the companies that run them a hell of a lot of cash.
Eish!! readers, stay away from them.
The smses (text messages) cost R10 a shot and the promotion has a bonus draw each week for the subscriber that sends the most amount of entries. With a subscriber base of around 22 million, this promotion must be a massive money spinner for Vodacom.
As hard as I try to fell sorry for Mr Wessels, who has subsequently had his account suspended, I just can't.
There are many of premium priced competitions which charge from R5-00 to R30-00 an sms. In my opinion these 'competitions' merely are a very obvious form of gambling, making the companies that run them a hell of a lot of cash.
Eish!! readers, stay away from them.
Labels: competition, eish, sms, vodacom
Hmmmm - I recently came across a similar one. "SMS us to receive a free watch. Max of 3 SMS's required, and R30 per SMS".
IE: Pay R90 for a cheap imported watch that will break in a few weeks!
hmmmmm
Posted by Anonymous | January 25, 2008 at 4:03 PM
All makes perfect sense ... yet people fall for it hook, line & sinker!!
Thanks for taking the time to give your 2c worth
Posted by eishman | January 25, 2008 at 9:25 PM