MD
Michiel P
Active since Feb 2019
11
Reviews
0
Industries
Reviews
11 reviews6 months ago
WARNING: Misleading Listings, No Accountability – Touch Down Africa, Booking.com & Dunkeld Country Estate
I am writing this complaint to warn other South African families and travelers about the dishonest and ********* practices I experienced when booking a weekend away through Booking.com, handled by Touch Down Africa, and hosted at Dunkeld Country Estate in Dullstroom. What was promised: A peaceful, family-friendly unit with a bath, putt-putt course, and cozy amenities Clear and honest photos of the actual unit being booked A smooth booking experience with trusted agents and reputable platforms What actually happened: The unit had no bath, despite booking based on photos that clearly showed one There was no upstairs toilet, despite travelling with a pregnant wife and 18-month-old baby The bedrooms had no heaters, and the unit was ice cold (no safety screen on the fireplace, either) The listing used 72 generic photos, pulling from various units and amenities — highly misleading We were subjected to delay tactics, emotional pressure, and no meaningful support from: Touch Down Africa, the so-called “agent” — refused to take responsibility Dunkeld reception, who were polite but simply passed the buck Booking.com, whose platform continues to host confusing, bundled listings with no unit-specific clarity Instead of support, we got: Endless back-and-forth phone calls Empty promises of "looking into it" Pressure to make a rushed decision (“we’re filling up, you must act now”) A cold shoulder when asking for a reasonable refund or cancellation We had no choice but to leave the premises and scramble for new accommodation — food, medication, a heater, and calm for our child. Our wedding anniversary weekend was completely derailed. My warning to others: Do NOT trust the photos on Touch Down Africa's listings — they combine images from various units to make everything look better Do NOT expect Booking.com to protect you — their system favors the agent and host Do NOT assume Dunkeld Country Estate will assist — they’ll refer you back to the agent, leaving you stranded There’s a pattern here: mislead the customer, deflect accountability, then pressure them into paying more or settling. What I want: I am pursuing a full refund and I’m sharing this story to protect others from being exploited by this trio of companies. Until this is resolved, I will continue escalating across consumer platforms, social media, and review sites.
0 replies
6 months ago
WARNING: Misleading Listings, No Accountability – Touch Down Africa, Booking.com & Dunkeld Country Estate
I am writing this complaint to warn other South African families and travelers about the dishonest and ********* practices I experienced when booking a weekend away through Booking.com, handled by Touch Down Africa, and hosted at Dunkeld Country Estate in Dullstroom. What was promised: A peaceful, family-friendly unit with a bath, putt-putt course, and cozy amenities Clear and honest photos of the actual unit being booked A smooth booking experience with trusted agents and reputable platforms What actually happened: The unit had no bath, despite booking based on photos that clearly showed one There was no upstairs toilet, despite travelling with a pregnant wife and 18-month-old baby The bedrooms had no heaters, and the unit was ice cold (no safety screen on the fireplace, either) The listing used 72 generic photos, pulling from various units and amenities — highly misleading We were subjected to delay tactics, emotional pressure, and no meaningful support from: Touch Down Africa, the so-called “agent” — refused to take responsibility Dunkeld reception, who were polite but simply passed the buck Booking.com, whose platform continues to host confusing, bundled listings with no unit-specific clarity Instead of support, we got: Endless back-and-forth phone calls Empty promises of "looking into it" Pressure to make a rushed decision (“we’re filling up, you must act now”) A cold shoulder when asking for a reasonable refund or cancellation We had no choice but to leave the premises and scramble for new accommodation — food, medication, a heater, and calm for our child. Our wedding anniversary weekend was completely derailed. My warning to others: Do NOT trust the photos on Touch Down Africa's listings — they combine images from various units to make everything look better Do NOT expect Booking.com to protect you — their system favors the agent and host Do NOT assume Dunkeld Country Estate will assist — they’ll refer you back to the agent, leaving you stranded There’s a pattern here: mislead the customer, deflect accountability, then pressure them into paying more or settling. What I want: I am pursuing a full refund and I’m sharing this story to protect others from being exploited by this trio of companies. Until this is resolved, I will continue escalating across consumer platforms, social media, and review sites.
0 replies
6 months ago
WARNING: Misleading Listings, No Accountability – Touch Down Africa, Booking.com & Dunkeld Country Estate
I am writing this complaint to warn other South African families and travelers about the dishonest and ********* practices I experienced when booking a weekend away through Booking.com, handled by Touch Down Africa, and hosted at Dunkeld Country Estate in Dullstroom. What was promised: A peaceful, family-friendly unit with a bath, putt-putt course, and cozy amenities Clear and honest photos of the actual unit being booked A smooth booking experience with trusted agents and reputable platforms What actually happened: The unit had no bath, despite booking based on photos that clearly showed one There was no upstairs toilet, despite travelling with a pregnant wife and 18-month-old baby The bedrooms had no heaters, and the unit was ice cold (no safety screen on the fireplace, either) The listing used 72 generic photos, pulling from various units and amenities — highly misleading We were subjected to delay tactics, emotional pressure, and no meaningful support from: Touch Down Africa, the so-called “agent” — refused to take responsibility Dunkeld reception, who were polite but simply passed the buck Booking.com, whose platform continues to host confusing, bundled listings with no unit-specific clarity Instead of support, we got: Endless back-and-forth phone calls Empty promises of "looking into it" Pressure to make a rushed decision (“we’re filling up, you must act now”) A cold shoulder when asking for a reasonable refund or cancellation We had no choice but to leave the premises and scramble for new accommodation — food, medication, a heater, and calm for our child. Our wedding anniversary weekend was completely derailed. My warning to others: Do NOT trust the photos on Touch Down Africa's listings — they combine images from various units to make everything look better Do NOT expect Booking.com to protect you — their system favors the agent and host Do NOT assume Dunkeld Country Estate will assist — they’ll refer you back to the agent, leaving you stranded There’s a pattern here: mislead the customer, deflect accountability, then pressure them into paying more or settling. What I want: I am pursuing a full refund and I’m sharing this story to protect others from being exploited by this trio of companies. Until this is resolved, I will continue escalating across consumer platforms, social media, and review sites.
0 replies
27 months ago
Standard Bank Insurance: A Saga of Unjust Premium Hikes, Valuation Pressures, and Denied Claims – Seeking Ombud Intervention!
I was on the point of concluding my insurance quote with Hollard when I was contacted by Standard Bank Insurance. They convinced me that I should take the insurance with Standard Bank at an instalment of R590.50 at a discounted rate. This obviously caught my attention and I opted for the quote, but not before I made sure that the Victron 8kwv system was note with all the 20 solar panels and 3 solar geysers. This to me was of utmost importance as I knew that the Victron system is the Rolls Royce of Solar systems and it was one of the main reasons I purchased the property. I repeatedly asked the Standard Bank Insurance agent to please confirm that they will note it on the insurance and that this would be a condition of me opting for the Standard Bank Insurance. Nishalen, the insurance agent, assured me that it would be done and sent to me. I accepted the Standard Bank quote on email on the 14th of March 2023 with the condition of the Victron system as discussed telephonically (I also confirmed on every call that the calls were recorded for record purposes). I was then prompted to take a call to do the telephonic acceptance of the insurance on the 15th of March by Nishalen from Standard Bank Insurance. On this “contract call” I once again requested and informed that I am accepting this insurance subject to the Victron system, battery, solar panels and solar geysers be noted on the insurance and it be sent to me, which I have since not received. With the above information I would like to rase three key issues and the reasons for my complaint to the Ombud. 1. The instalment of the insurance has increased from the agreed R590,50 to R754.44 after only 3 instalments, August, September, October 2023. Without any prior knowledge or consultation with me and in breach of the rate that was accepted. Please take note: I have on numerous occasions informed both my private bank, Hayley Glenn, and the insurance department of Standard Bank of their error in the instalment. 2. This seems to have prompted Standard Bank Insurance to contact me on multiple occasions in 2024 January to arrange for a valuation of the property, and if I do not grant them access that this will be noted, and I will forfeit the insurance on the solar system. a. I app**** for finance with Standard Bank in February 2023. The property was valuated as a condition of finance. b. I have already accepted the insurance with Standard Bank Insurance in March of 2023 and they confirmed that the Victron solar system will be noted. Now it seems that they are trying to look for any way to avoid and change the policy and justify the increase in instalment. I made it very clear that the Victron solar system is a condition of my acceptance of the Standard Bank Insurance as supposed to Hollard to which Standard Bank Insurance agreed. The instalment increase was not warranted nor are the harassing calls and threats of exclusions on the condition of their offer. 3. After heavy rain on the 12th November 2023 that caused a massive 72 hour power outage, we experienced damage to the property. I loaded a claim with Standard Bank Insurance for the damages. They sent out their own listed suppliers to assess the damage and did not give me the opportunity to use suppliers that I trust. All claims were initially rejected. I was only informed later that Standard Bank Insurance would only cover the electric fence, this after it was initially rejected. a. One of their suppliers damaged the wall at our gate when entering the property. I sent the message through and informed Standard Bank insurance telephonically. The damage has still not been restored. In conclusion, it appears that Standard Bank Insurance employed manipulative tactics to induce me into rejecting Hollard’s offer and accepting theirs. The unilateral increase of 25% in premiums, and lack of acknowledgement of the Victron solar system, and questionable claim assessment practices are unacceptable. Additionally, the unwarranted pressure for a property reassessment within a year of the previous valuation raises concerns about the integrity of their policies. Once again, the valuation was done on the application for finance and was accepted when I discussed the insurance conditions of me accepting the Standard Bank insurance.
128 replies
29 months ago
Complaint Regarding Poor Service and Inadequate Response Time
I am writing to express my deep dissatisfaction with the services provided by CSI Security in the Menlo Park / Ashlea Gardens / Waterkloof area of Pretoria. My ordeal with CSI began when I moved into my new property and decided to continue with their security services, as they were already servicing the previous owners. The initial assessment of the alarm and beams in and around the house resulted in an exorbitant quote to replace all the batteries on the beams, a cost I found unreasonable. Subsequently, I took it upon myself to replace the batteries, but unfortunately, this did not resolve the issue of sensors not detecting movement. Furthermore, I requested assistance with the electric fence, a matter that was never addressed by CSI despite assurances. Frustrated by their lack of follow-through, I engaged a third party to assess and repair the electric fence. The tipping point that led me to file this complaint on your platform was an incident over the weekend. Upon receiving an alarm signal, I promptly informed CSI that they could dispatch a vehicle to the address, as I was also en route and approximately 2KM away. Despite the proximity of the property to CSI's main routes and their office being a mere 500m away, the CSI response vehicle arrived a staggering 15-20 minutes after my call, making their response time more than 20 minutes. Had my family or I been at the property during a potential break-in or threat, the delayed response could have had severe consequences. The evident lack of urgency and commitment to ensuring the safety of their clients is deeply troubling. It appears that CSI is more interested in selling security equipment than actively safeguarding families. I urge potential clients to exercise caution when considering CSI Security for their services, especially when it comes to the safety and well-being of loved ones. Thank you for providing a platform to voice these concerns.
0 replies
34 months ago
Over charged and exploited
I am being charged for two lines after talking to Afrihost from the 22May 2023 via both whatsapp and telephone calls. It should be very easy to retrieve the conversations had as all calls are recorded and WhatsApp messages are saved. I specifically requested assistance to avoid paying for two lines, and the reason I started this conversation on the 22nd of May as we were moving 10th June. I did not want to pay for a line for 30 days at one address and an additional on a new address prorata for the remaining 20 days in June. To my surprise this morning, i see i was billed for two lines for the full month of June. And it seems I will be billed for two lines next month as well as the agent made it clear that both lines are still active and i will not be refunded!!! I informed Afrihost that I wanted to move my line from one address to another and followed there advice and did the migration on the Afrihost site. I struggled with a “B” number but managed to get it done. I followed advice to rather not cancel and open a new line as i would pay for the full month for the old line. Rather do a relocation. Which i did. I FOLLOWED Afrihost’s ADVICE!!!! This morning on Afrihost WhatsApp, the agent informed that both lines were still active and have been and will be billed come month end July. And that i was given bad advice by previous agents. It seems this is the modus operandi if Afrihost. Give bad advice, and then throw your hands in the air and leave the client to pay the bill. All the way Afrihost banks extra cash for services not rendered. If this is what they do with people that have been with the for years what will they do with new clients!? I HAVE REQUESTED ASSISTANCE TO AVOID PAYING EXTRA, I FOLLOWED AFRIHOST’s ADVICE ON WHAT TO DO AND DID A MIGRATION. AND YET I AM PAYING FOR TO LINES. Be warned citizens of South Africa! This company exploits!!
0 replies
34 months ago
Not interested in helping
I settled an account with ABSA vehicle and asset finance on 02/06/2023. I have requested for the Natis to be delivered to my address. As we are a ABSA non approved dealer we are requested to pay a courier fee of R99. I submitted and sent a mail with the settlement proof of payment as well as the consent to release the original natis, signed by the previous owner to ABSA. The client was CC'd in the mail as confirmation of the settlement and release of Natis. It is now the 27th June 2023 and the Natis has still not arrived. Today, CCD Courier, the courier company confirms they will send the original natis to the incorrect address, this after the dealership paid the courier fee, settled the account and sent through confirmation of settlement. The Courier company - CCD Couriers has no interest in receiving emails that serves as confirmation from ABSA to sent the documents to the dealership address. If a vehicle is not dealer stocked, we cannot sell the vehicle. This means that we have incurred interest on outstanding money for nearly a month. I find this absolutely unacceptable and can clearly see the incompetence grow in corporate companies in South Africa
53 replies
34 months ago
Not receiving documents
I settled an account with ABSA vehicle and asset finance on 02/06/2023. I have requested for the Natis to be delivered to my address. As we are a ABSA non approved dealer we are requested to pay a courier fee of R99. I submitted and sent a mail with the settlement proof of payment as well as the consent to release the original natis, signed by the previous owner to ABSA. The client was CC'd in the mail as confirmation of the settlement and release of Natis. It is now the 27th June 2023 and the Natis has still not arrived. Today the courier company confirms they will send the original natis to the incorrect address, this after the dealership paid the courier fee, settled the account and sent through confirmation of settlement. The Courier company - CCD Couriers has no interest in receiving emails that serves as confirmation from ABSA to sent the documents to the dealership address. If a vehicle is not dealer stocked, we cannot sell the vehicle. This means that we have incurred interest on outstanding money for nearly a month. I find this absolutely unacceptable and can clearly see the incompetence growing in corporate companies in South Africa.
159 replies
58 months ago
Exploitation and misleading line speed
I have been experiencing slow internet speed for most of this year. I have made multiple attempts to inform Afrihost through ClientZone whatsapp support. On every occasion I have to unplug and reset everything. I have to explain the issue over and over again to a new agent. I am paying close to a R1000 a month for a 50mb line, however, I am getting speeds on average of under 1mb. I feel like complaining and informing afrihost does not change anything to the poor service I have been provided. It seems that if you are a South African you should get used to pathetic services. Afrihost is not in anyway interested in help. Take money for services they are clearly not capable and able to provide. Hopefully startlink will be managed by people who know what they do and can provide you with the services you pay for. #Afrihostsucks
0 replies
87 months ago
Telkom cancellation: Exploitation of their clients
I will be lodging a formal complaint with the Ombudsman at the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (https://www.icasa.org.za/pages/consumer-complaints-procedure) regarding my account with Telkom Mobile. Please follow the link if you need assistance and direction. I have been trying to cancel my contract with Telkom Mobile for more than a year. It is an impossible task as you get absolutely no assistance from the call center staff. They promise to always send you the cancellation forms as you cannot download them online. I have, up to date, not received any documents pertaining to my cancellation request. I have requested, on many occasions, the email address' and contact details of a floor manager, but never supplied with information to escalate the matter. The result, my account handed over to NuDebt. They have since closed my account due to my ongoing dispute with Telkom, ON INSTRUCTION FROM TELKOM. Telkom has apparently also closed my account. On Sunday the 17th of February 2019 a debit order went through for the amount of R1070.88, I had to reverse this amount with Standard Bank. Today 20 February 2019 another amount for R803.15 was debited from my account, that I also had to reverse. Each time I have to reverse the Telkom debit order, this has a cost implication of between R40 - R150 in bank charges. I have requested Standard Bank SA to block the Telkom debit order. They were unable as you have to stipulate the date and exact amount that will be debited, any changes to any of these and the debit order goes through. I see this is a trend with Telkom, they change to random amounts and random dates to avoid being blocked by your bank. My initial amount being R299 per month. I initially wanted to cancel my contract with Telkom as they would not deduct the correct amounts, one month R299 will be debited the following R519 the next R720 and so on, every time I had to dispute. Further the reception kept getting worse. After many failed attempts to cancel my contract on 081180 I resorted to the online chat platform. I had a conversation with a person (Lindiwe Constan) where they mentioned that my contract is only ending later in May, when I brought to her attention that I signed for a two year contract and I have had the contract for more than three years she mentioned that it was her mistake and she could see that the contract ended on the 24th of May 2016. It seems that Telkom exploits people for money as you cannot cancel. I realized it this month when my girlfriend tried to cancel her contract with Telkom, to date she has not received any joys in her process to cancel. She was led to believe that there is fantastic reception for Telkom in her area. I have experienced the slow internet and the constant down time. To such an extent that we put our phones hotspots on. She now has to pay a massive cancellation fee and keep the service running for another month. To date her cancellation has not been processed and the monthly installments keeps going off. If you cannot cancel your services they will keep on debiting you to the point that you are threatened that you will get a bad credit rating. They exploit their so called clients in this way. If they only do this to a 1000 people they will have made massive revenue over a period of 12 months with people that wanted to stop a debit order and a service. I am not going to stand for this as I have now seen how many people have been affected by this business model. I feel that as a consumer of a product/service I should be able to opt out or cancel at any time without any inconveniences. As mentioned in the beginning of my letter, I will make sure that I lodge a formal complaint with the Ombudsman to stop Telkom's business model. They market with their tents and flag poles on every street corner in Pretoria, I am sure in other cities as well, to people that think they are getting incredible deals just to find themselves in the same position as my self or sometimes worse.
0 replies
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