AB
Aleya B
Active since Jan 2020
8
Reviews
0
Industries
Reviews
8 reviews3 months ago
Go with another estate agent
I am profoundly disappointed by the level of unprofessional conduct displayed by Firzt Realty, particularly by Kaveer and Pamella. What should have been a straightforward rental mandate devolved into an exhausting and entirely avoidable ordeal. From the outset, I was clear and consistent about the terms of the listing. Kaveer explicitly advised that if the apartment were to be rented semi-furnished, items such as crockery, cutlery, and linen should be removed, which I did. Despite this being discussed and agreed upfront, I was repeatedly asked every few weeks over the two-month listing period whether these items were in the apartment, as though no prior conversations had taken place. This was particularly concerning given that Kaveer and Pamella visited the apartment far more frequently than I did and therefore should have been fully aware of its contents. To make matters worse, I later received a last-minute request to move crockery, cutlery, and linen back into the apartment, despite my position having been made explicitly clear from the beginning and reiterated multiple times. This ongoing confusion reflected a lack of attention to detail and basic client management. I was equally clear that the rental needed to remain financially viable and that I could not rent the apartment at a loss. Nevertheless, after more than two months on the market without securing a tenant, I agreed to three price reductions. Throughout this period, communication was poor, reactive rather than proactive, and required constant follow-ups on my part. Due to the prolonged vacancy and my declining confidence in the service being provided, I formally informed Firzt that I would hand the listing over to another agency if no tenant was confirmed within a defined timeframe of one week. In response, Kaveer requested a fourth price reduction, citing a neighbouring apartment that had been rented for over R4,000 less than my asking rental. This comparison was fundamentally flawed, as the neighbouring unit was unfurnished, lacked a parking bay, and did not include appliances such as a TV, fridge, oven, stove, air conditioner, or Wi-Fi extender. I subsequently terminated the mandate with Firzt, at which point the situation deteriorated significantly. On the day my keys were meant to be returned, I was ignored. Pamella contacted me after 19h00, proposing to drop the keys at the apartment, despite both agents being fully aware that the apartment was vacant and that I no longer reside there. I explicitly instructed that the keys be delivered to my parents’ home, shared the address, and informed my mother to expect her. Pamella agreed, and then simply did not arrive. The withholding of my keys was unacceptable. Kaveer was fully aware of my parents’ address and, given that he lives less than five minutes away, the continued delay was entirely unreasonable. This issue was communicated repeatedly, yet no urgency or accountability was demonstrated. Each additional day that my keys were withheld caused unnecessary stress and financial impact. The keys were only returned after I threatened formal escalation. When they were finally handed back, they were in a visibly neglected and damaged condition, covered in grease and showing signs of rust, despite having been in Firzt’s possession for only two months. In the attached images, the keys on the left are the ones returned to me, while the silver set is my original set. This level of deterioration is unacceptable and clearly indicative of poor care and negligence. What is perhaps most concerning is the complete lack of accountability throughout this process. No meaningful apology was offered. Even after I formally terminated the mandate, Pamella continued to contact me to arrange viewings. Most recently, I was contacted on a Sunday afternoon requesting a viewing with less than two hours’ notice, despite Firzt no longer having the listing. This experience demonstrated a serious lack of professionalism, urgency, and respect for clients. I would not trust Firzt Realty to secure a tenant, let alone manage a rental property. I would not recommend this agency or these agents to any landlord or anyone looking to rent or buy property.
0 replies
14 months ago
GO WITH ANY OTHER ISP
If I could give Cybersmart zero stars, I absolutely would. This has been the most exasperating ISP experience of my life. I initiated a straightforward account transfer from my ex-partner to me in early January, and they claimed to have it processed by late January. Yet they still charged my ex for February, then abruptly cut off my internet in the middle of a critical work meeting—with no warning whatsoever. Their billing department, especially a representative named Reshmee, reassured me multiple times that my account profile would be set up and debited starting in March. None of that happened. I had to chase them via phone, email, and WhatsApp, but got radio silence most of the time. The so-called “WhatsApp support line” is a joke, and the only reason I got any response at all was by insisting on speaking to the billing manager—something no paying customer should ever have to do just to keep their internet running. I work from home and rely on stable connectivity, but Cybersmart’s incompetence and unresponsiveness turned this into a nightmare. Unfortunately, they’re the only ISP serving my complex, and they clearly exploit that monopoly by delivering terrible service without any regard for customer satisfaction. If you have the option to use any other ISP, do it. Don’t waste your time or your money here.
0 replies
16 months ago
Avoid like the plague
If I could give DSV Cape Town zero stars, I would. This branch is a complete disgrace to the concept of customer service. After my package, guaranteed for delivery by 23 December 2024, failed to arrive, I was forced to call repeatedly for updates. On 27 December, I was told the package might not even be on a delivery truck and that I’d have to fetch it myself from their Matroosfontein office. What followed was a horrifying display of incompetence and disrespect. Upon arrival, the staff were rude, dismissive, and utterly clueless. Faheem at the parcel collection desk couldn’t locate my package, and after waiting over 30 minutes, I had to deal with supervisor Kashifa Carr, who only showed up after I called for her multiple times. No apologies, no urgency—just blatant incompetence and attitude. To make matters worse, their tracking system had falsely marked my package as “delivered.” Had I not gone to their office myself, I likely never would have received it. This branch operates like a chaotic circus, with zero accountability or basic professionalism. DSV Cape Town is the worst courier experience I have ever endured. Save yourself the frustration and avoid this disaster of a company at all costs.
0 replies
16 months ago
Avoid DSV at all costs
DSV deserves ZERO stars for their appalling service. I placed an order with Burble on 6 December 2024, well within the timeline for Christmas delivery, as per their holiday communication. Despite assurances, multiple follow-ups, and false tracking updates claiming delivery by 23 December, my package was delayed without explanation. On 27 December, after being transferred through three departments, I was informed my package might not even be on a delivery truck. I was forced to collect it myself from the Cape Town office in Matroosfontein, where the staff were rude, dismissive, and utterly unprofessional. I waited over 45 minutes for a parcel they had misplaced, with no apology or accountability from employees like Faheem or their supervisor, Kashifa Carr. To add insult to injury, DSV’s system falsely marked my package as “delivered,” and their call center staff were useless in providing accurate information. The entire process was infuriating and a complete waste of time, money, and energy. If you value your sanity, avoid using DSV at all costs. Their incompetence, lack of communication, and abysmal customer service make them the worst courier service I have ever dealt with.
56 replies
17 months ago
Appalling Special Assistance Service - Dehumanizing Experience
I am absolutely disgusted by the appalling treatment my elderly grandmother and I received from Emirates and their so-called "Special Assistance" service at Dubai Airport on both 21 and 29 October 2024. My grandmother, who requires a wheelchair due to limited mobility, was forced to walk long distances to the aircraft, causing her severe physical pain and distress that lasted for days. Despite pre-booking wheelchair assistance and repeatedly asking for help, we were ignored and dismissed by the staff. One employee, "Grupan," was particularly rude, unprofessional, and dismissive. He even argued with me, muttered complaints in Hindi, and made ***ist remarks to female passengers and colleagues. The lack of courtesy and care was shocking. To make matters worse, Emirates expects passengers with mobility issues to walk hundreds of meters to the aircraft entrance—defeating the entire purpose of booking assistance. It’s as if they don’t care about the dignity and well-being of their passengers. Their response to my complaint was equally insulting. Offering 10,000 Skywards Miles as “compensation” after such a traumatic experience is a slap in the face. There was no transparency about how they intend to fix these systemic issues, leaving me with no confidence that they have taken this seriously. If I ever have to fly with Emirates again—which is highly unlikely—I will bring my own wheelchair because their service cannot be trusted. For an airline of Emirates' stature, this is unacceptable. Avoid them if you or your loved ones need any kind of assistance. Their actions were not just negligent—they were dehumanizing. One star is too generous.
0 replies
20 months ago
Vodacom's Incompetence and Exploitative Pricing
I am beyond frustrated and angry with Vodacom’s abysmal service regarding the porting of my number to Telkom. Despite dealing with both the Cavendish branch in Cape Town and the Customer Care Team, this issue remains unresolved. The process has been a complete nightmare. I attempted to port my number on 3 August 2024 after purchasing a Telkom SIM. I was assured that I’d receive an SMS from Vodacom with a PIN to complete the process, but it only arrived the next day—long after the PIN had expired. After contacting Telkom and repeating the process, I STILL haven’t received the required SMS from Vodacom. The reason I’m leaving Vodacom in the first place is because of their exorbitant data prices. I’m spending over R600 per month on airtime and data, and Vodacom’s exploitative pricing model ensures that any unused data is forfeited after 30 days. This is a blatant rip-off. I went back to Cavendish today to repeat the process. After sorting out everything on Telkom’s end today, I still have not received the SMS from Vodacom. When I visited the Vodacom store at Cavendish, I was told to either wait indefinitely or contact customer support, which has been a futile exercise. After a tedious call with the help centre, I was told no porting request had even been received from Telkom. How is this possible when I followed all the steps? I am waiting to hear back from Vodacom on Facebook. Their online consultants are not available to chat and their virtual chatbot, TObi seems to be glitching. Their email-autoresponse says all communication must go through TObi. To add insult to injury, I was told that my number is still incorrectly listed under a contract in my mother’s name, despite transferring it to prepaid and to my own account back in 2019. How could it possibly be on a contract when I have to prepay for airtime and data each month? This whole ordeal is unacceptable. Vodacom, you need to take immediate action, fix your system, and ensure my number is ported without any further inconvenience. I’m sick and tired of this runaround, and I expect this to be resolved immediately. Despite my best efforts, I am now stuck paying for both Vodacom and Telkom services while Vodacom fails to deliver on a basic porting request. This entire situation is absolutely unacceptable, and Vodacom needs to take responsibility and resolve this immediately. Avoid Vodacom at all costs if you value your time, money, and sanity!
106 replies
34 months ago
Avoid this place at all costs!
If there was a zero-star option, the Protea Fire and Ice Spa would have earned it. It is truly the worst customer experience I have had in a long time. Gifted a Hyperli voucher for a 70-minute massage, I initiated a booking via email along with a scanned copy of my voucher at the end of May 2023, a whole month before the expiration date. I received no response to my email and thus called on 2 June 2023 to make my booking. My booking was confirmed for the 10th. A minor injury led to a rescheduling, accepted without hesitation, to the 17th June. On arrival for my 14:00 appointment, my existence in their system had vanished. The staff drew a blank, my booking did not exist despite the confirmation via telephone. The spa staff said they would accommodate me if I waited for 15 - 20 minutes so I agreed to wait. Ellen,the assisting staff member, ushered me into the room at 14:21. I was left to prepare for the massage, in anticipation of what was yet to come. Instead of tranquillity, I was met with more drama. Ellen returned and announced that my voucher was expired. This did not make sense because it was valid when I booked. As futile as it was, I dialled the number on the voucher, only to find myself calling the spa's reception again. I presented my original email as evidence of my booking request, which Ellen proceeded to scrutinise for any inconsistencies. She then declared their email was dysfunctional. A baffling declaration considering she initially questioned whether I used their correct email address (which I did!). The absurdity of this conversation, conducted while I lay unclothed on the massage table, was embarrassing and utterly unprofessional. Ellen casually suggested I purchase a new voucher or pay upfront. My humiliation was reaching its peak. I wasn't the purchaser, I couldn't retrieve a new code. It was a gift. The lack of knowledge about their own communication channels, email, and phone, was a glaring red flag. To be told that the spa email was dysfunctional after providing the right address was ridiculous. If it's indeed unusable, it's their responsibility to rectify the issue and certainly not display it on their website and Hyperli. My partner had to come back to fetch me and also tried to explain the situation to Ellen who was completely unhelpful. I was seething at this point, feeling humiliated and distressed, especially due to the fact that I was made to have this conversation while I was still naked on a massage bed. Protea Fire and Ice Spa's dysfunction extends far beyond its email. Their inability to confirm a booking or scan a voucher, and their ignorance of standard procedures were baffling. Most places would confirm the validity of the voucher before confirming the appointment, but Protea Fire and Ice Spa seems unable to grasp this basic concept. I then requested the manager’s phone number. Ellen failed to provide a complete number for Noli Spar (the main manager) which I only realised after leaving the venue. Another manager, Bukiwe, failed to pick up my calls. When I did eventually get through, I was hung up on the moment I mentioned Bukiwe's name. Ellen’s attitude, far from accommodating, was more akin to blaming me for their shortcomings. Her insinuation that I had used an expired voucher was outrageous, considering it was valid at the time of booking. The issue was entirely due to their incompetence, not my actions. Her claim that she was 'trying to accommodate' me while busy was a pitiful excuse, another example of the spa’s unprofessionalism. I have never ever received such poor customer experience from a spa before and am actually horrified by the level of incompetence from the entire organisation. The staff are disorganised and rude while management are uncontactable. I advise anyone seeking a massage to avoid Protea Fire and Ice Spa. It's a place where you are likely to leave more upset, irritated, and stressed than when you walked in. The level of service is appalling, you will waste your money, and the level of frustration it inflicts is simply not worth it.
0 replies
76 months ago
Kudos to staff for dealing with Adult Babies for Customers
After celebrating the first sunrise of the new year at Muizenberg, a group of friends and I went to Macdonalds in Tokai for some coffee. There was a big group of people outside the store as it was 6 am, and the store only opens at 6 am. After placing our orders, we noticed a woman at the counter being very aggressive with the staff. She demanded that her food be ready in 15 minutes and demanding items that were no longer on the menu such as hotcakes. The staff were extremely polite and tried to explain that they were prioritising customers in the drive-through first and that there was no hot cakes on the menu. They also explained to her that they were waiting for the morning staff to hand over to. This woman was insistent and then accused the staff of eating the food and hurled insults at the staff who had been working the night shift when her order did not arrive in 15 minutes. They gave her some of her order in order to appease her, but she just went back to the counter and began screaming at the staff saying they did not give her the full order. She demanded the rest of her order screaming that it was her child's birthday etc. I am sorry but if she wanted something special for her child's birthday at 6 am on New Year's Day (a public holiday mind you) then she should have made breakfast for her child herself. Another group sitting at a table who were also watching this encounter then joined the woman and all began shouting at the staff and threatened to take the food being given to customers in the drive-through and to injure the staff. The staff were quite intimidated by the horde of people behind the counter hurling abuses at them but said that their manager was coming soon, and would speak to them. While this was all happening, Chandre (a staff member) came to our table to confirm our orders and explained that it was coming soon. The manager came in not long after that and was also sworn at by all these customers. He offered refunds to those complaining but was just screamed at by one angry man. My table's order was called up, and I could see Chandre placing my coffee on the counter. The angry customer then picked up the coffee and threw it at the staff behind the counter. Another customer and I told the man that what he was doing was unacceptable. He was then escorted out. The staff behind the counter were actually shaking while being surrounded by coffee. The cherry on the cake was the woman who was initially screaming said what the man did was perfectly justifiable. I explained to her that he basically committed assault and she wouldn't like it if she had hot coffee thrown at her or her children. Her response was "oh so they can treat us badly but we can't do anything about it?". I explained to her that this staff worked all night and is paid next to nothing so she needs to cut them some slack, and she carried on her tangent that they need to do their jobs and must she be expected to make the food herself. The angry man then stormed back inside threatening to set "these people straight" charging behind the counter. He was taken out by his friends, and we saw them speeding away in their car. I am not sure where people like this get off but I am baffled by such behaviour, all which happened before 8 am. All of these people had young children with them. What kind of example are they setting for their children by treating other people with such violence and aggression? The angry woman's group left not long after this, and left a complete mess where they were sitting. The area was covered in tomato sauce, chips, packets etc. It was actually revolting that they couldn't even clean up after themselves. This behaviour was honestly unacceptable because everyone in the store was waiting for their food. Yes, it is perfectly acceptable to be upset that we had to wait for so long to receive our food but that does not justify throwing boiling coffee at the staff or swearing at them. If they were unhappy, they could have simply asked for a refund as another woman did. My heart breaks for those who work in the service industry who have to endure dealing with people who throw such tantrums. People like the man who threw the coffee need to be arrested. If they hadn't spent so much time arguing and threatening to attack the staff, perhaps the staff could have been working on actually preparing the food instead of standing together out of fear that one of them might be attacked by a clearly not stable customer.
0 replies
Review Distribution
5 Star
1 (12.5%)
4 Star
0 (0%)
3 Star
0 (0%)
2 Star
0 (0%)
1 Star
7 (87.5%)