PL
Paul L
Active since May 2022
13
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Reviews
13 reviews2 months ago
Poor Game Selection, Unacceptable Payment Processing. ***** at Best
I've been a registered player for several years and worked in senior management at Sun International for nearly a decade—I know what industry standards look like. Lottostar fails on every critical metric. Game Selection: Severely limited compared to competitors. Missing major Pragmatic Play titles like Fire Strike 1 & 2. Only 43 of Red Tiger's 160+ slots available. Habanero selection equally poor. In a competitive market, this is unacceptable. Withdrawals - THE BIGGEST ISSUE: Payments processed ONCE per day at 7am, Monday to Friday ONLY. No weekend payments whatsoever. Win on Friday? Wait until Monday. This is not industry standard—every major competitor (Sunbet, Hollywoodbets, Betway) offers instant or same-day withdrawals 24/7. This outdated system either forces withdrawal reversals or shows complete disregard for player convenience. For a platform operating in a R1.3 trillion industry, these are inexcusable failures. Until Lottostar modernizes their payment processing, expands their game portfolio, and implements proper customer support, I cannot recommend them. Players deserve better. Choose platforms that respect your time and money. Fun fact- all ***** operators like this register with the Mpumalanga Economic Regulator which has the absolute minimum standards. they also protect the shady operators..want to know something Mpumalanga was by far the largest online gambling platform in South Africa with 367 000 000 000... hello?? that's Billions not Millions!!! and guess what else? these platforms account for 37% of the whole Provinces Revenue Stream!!! So its low standards, questionable business practises and ********* rules and terms which technically is approved by their banana regulator who essentially protects them and their inflated salaries and bonuses. remember don't complain to them they will just say " it's in our T&C's "..no guys I'm escalating this and going full Beast mode with all available National legal channels and I'm burning this bridge.
0 replies
4 months ago
deceptive & Misleading add ** Voucher Advance**
I am writing this review to formally voice my disgust at the deceptive marketing practices surrounding the VodaPay "Voucher Advance" product. As a loyal Vodacom customer who spends a significant amount on your services monthly, I was offered an "advance" facility. In any standard financial or credit context, an "advance" implies liquidity—funds available to the consumer to meet their pressing needs. Instead, Vodacom has issued a restricted "Vendor Voucher" that is ring-fenced for specific lifestyle partners (like fast food outlets) and cannot be used for essential services like prepaid electricity or general connectivity. My Grievance: Misleading Marketing: You market this as "Buy Now, Pay Later" financial freedom, but you fail to clearly disclose upfront that this credit is virtually useless for real-world necessities. It is not a loan; it is a conditional coupon. Restrictive Terms: You have assessed my creditworthiness based on my total spend, yet you dictate that I can only spend this credit on what you decide—often high-margin partners that I do not need. Refusal to Convert: There is no option to convert this "advance" into a standard wallet balance or airtime/utility credit, leaving me with debt for a product I cannot effectively use. My Demand: I do not want a Nando's voucher. I want the liquidity I was led to believe I was accessing. I demand that Vodacom either: Immediately convert my current Voucher Advance balance into Unrestricted Wallet Funds that can be used for electricity or data; OR Cancel this facility immediately without any service fees or penalties, acknowledging that the product was sold under ambiguous pretenses. Stop treating loyal, high-spend customers like children with tuck-shop money. utterly Disgusting is my next stop is complaints regarding *** and 41 and 48.. I'm going to enjoy burning this bridge.
53 replies
4 months ago
Deceptive and Misleading tactics ** Voucher Advance **"
I am writing this review to formally voice my disgust at the deceptive marketing practices surrounding the VodaPay "Voucher Advance" product. As a loyal Vodacom customer who spends a significant amount on your services monthly, I was offered an "advance" facility. In any standard financial or credit context, an "advance" implies liquidity—funds available to the consumer to meet their pressing needs. Instead, Vodacom has issued a restricted "Vendor Voucher" that is ring-fenced for specific lifestyle partners (like fast food outlets) and cannot be used for essential services like prepaid electricity or general connectivity. My Grievance: Misleading Marketing: You market this as "Buy Now, Pay Later" financial freedom, but you fail to clearly disclose upfront that this credit is virtually useless for real-world necessities. It is not a loan; it is a conditional coupon. Restrictive Terms: You have assessed my creditworthiness based on my total spend, yet you dictate that I can only spend this credit on what you decide—often high-margin partners that I do not need. Refusal to Convert: There is no option to convert this "advance" into a standard wallet balance or airtime/utility credit, leaving me with debt for a product I cannot effectively use. My Demand: I do not want a Nando's voucher. I want the liquidity I was led to believe I was accessing. I demand that Vodacom either: Immediately convert my current Voucher Advance balance into Unrestricted Wallet Funds that can be used for electricity or data; OR Cancel this facility immediately without any service fees or penalties, acknowledging that the product was sold under ambiguous pretenses. Stop treating loyal, high-spend customers like children with tuck-shop money. Utterly Disgusting and im lodging official complaints **"*Aggressive Customer Service Scripts Conversation with Gemini when they give me a airtime advance they don't say to me how I must spend it This is a common frustration. Mobile networks often market airtime advances (like Vodacom Airtime Advance or MTN XtraTime) as "instant cash," but the Terms and Conditions (T&Cs) usually hide specific restrictions that limit how that credit functions compared to prepaid airtime you bought with cash. Here is the technical breakdown of how these advances generally work: The General Rules In most cases, an airtime advance is treated as Unrestricted Airtime, but with three major exceptions: No Transfers: You almost never transfer advanced airtime to another number. No Third-Party Payments: You usually cannot use it to pay for subscription services (e.g., Netflix, Spotify, or premium content subscriptions). Bundle Restrictions: On some networks, you cannot use advanced airtime to purchase "special" discounted bundles (like "Just 4 You" offers); it is often restricted to standard price plans. Why they don't tell you From a business perspective, the network views the advance as a high-risk loan. They want to ensure the credit is burned on their own high-margin services (standard voice calls and ad-hoc data rates) rather than low-margin transfers or third-party payouts. Would you like me to look up the specific T&Cs for your network (MTN, Vodacom, Cell C, Telkom), or should I draft a bold, aggressive message to their support team demanding clarity? yes please Vodacom Vodapay Voucher advances This is specifically for the VodaPay Voucher Advance product, which is even more restrictive than standard Airtime Advance. They market this as "Buy Now, Pay Later" for anything, but that is misleading. It is not a cash loan; it is a restricted retail credit. The Hidden Restrictions When you take a VodaPay Voucher Advance, you are not getting money in your wallet. You are getting a digital coupon that is locked to specific conditions: Vendor Lock-in: You can usually only use these advances for specific "Lifestyle" partners (e.g., Nando's, Hirsch's, or specific retail partners listed in the app). You cannot take a "Nando's Advance" and decide to spend it on data or electricity. No Electricity or Betting: You typically cannot use the standard "Voucher Advance" to buy Prepaid Electricity or top up a betting account (Hollywoodbets/Betway). Note: Electricity usually requires a separate product called BluAdvance or a VodaLend Cash Advance (which is actual cash in your wallet, but harder to qualify for). No Cash Out: You cannot withdraw this advance as cash at an ATM or send it to a friend's bank account. It exists only as a voucher code. Rigid Repayment: If you miss the payment window (3, 7, or 14 days), the fees spike significantly. They are banking on you missing that short window. Why they do it It is about Merchant Fees. When you spend that voucher at Nando's, Vodacom likely takes a cut of that transaction from the retailer and charges you a potential service fee/interest if you pay late. If they let you buy electricity (low margin) or cash it out (no margin), they lose money. The "Edgy & Aggressive" Drafts Since you asked for aggressive variations to send to their support or post on social media (Twitter/HelloPeter), here are three distinct "out of the box" angles: Option 1: The "False Advertising" Angle (Formal but Threatening) Subject: Deceptive Practices regarding Voucher Advance Usability Stop marketing your VodaPay Advance as "financial freedom" when it’s just a glorified gift card I can't use. Nowhere in your aggressive "Buy Now Pay Later" spam did you state this credit is ring-fenced from essential services like electricity. You are issuing credit that looks like cash but acts like a restrictive coupon. Unlock this balance for universal spending (Utilities & Data) immediately, or I will be filing a formal complaint with the National Credit Regulator (NCR) for reckless lending marketing that omits material restrictions. Fix it. Option 2: The "Short & Punchy" (Social Media/WhatsApp) @Vodacom Your VodaPay "Advance" is a ****. 🤡 You give me "credit" but tell me I can only spend it on chicken and shoes? I need electricity, not Nando's. Stop acting like you're a bank if you're going to treat my wallet like a tuck shop. Unlock the funds for real use or keep your trash app. #Voda**** #VodaPay Option 3: The "Chaotic/Sarcastic" (For a persistent support agent) Oh, I see. So the "Super App" is actually just a "Super Nanny"? You're deciding I'm allowed to eat lunch but I'm not allowed to keep the lights on? I don't need a parent, I need a service provider. The advance is sitting there useless because you've geofenced my own credit. Liquidate that voucher into my main wallet balance NOW so I can buy what I actually need, or are you waiting for me to default so you can charge me fees on money you won't let me spend? Would you like me to adjust any of these to mention a specific amount you are stuck with? I want you to give me a firm and responsible complaint from a consumer regarding this outrage I spend so much money on their services and now I'm told what kind of VN voucher I have to take This is a draft for a formal, responsible, yet legally firm complaint. It is written to be sent to Vodacom’s Complaints/Escalation Department or the Consumer Goods and Services Ombud (CGSO). It uses the Consumer Protection Act (CPA) to argue that restricting your credit to specific vendors (without clear prior warning) constitutes "misleading marketing" and "unfair terms." Subject: Formal Complaint: Misleading Restrictions on VodaPay Voucher Advance Facilities To: Vodacom Consumer Complaints / Executive Office Date: [Insert Date] Account/Number: [Insert Your Cellphone Number] To Whom It May Concern, I am writing to formally lodge a grievance regarding the VodaPay Voucher Advance product. As a long-standing customer who spends a significant amount on your network monthly, I find the current operational mechanics of this facility not only restrictive but fundamentally deceptive. The Issue I have been granted an "advance" facility based on my credit profile and spending history. However, upon attempting to utilize this facility, I am being dictated to regarding which specific vendors or "lifestyle partners" I am permitted to use these funds with. Marketing this product as an "Advance" or "Credit Facility" implies a level of liquidity and consumer choice. By ring-fencing this credit and forcing consumers to select specific, often irrelevant retail vouchers (e.g., specific food or retail outlets) rather than universal credit, you are materially altering the nature of the "loan" without adequate upfront disclosure. Consumer Protection Act Violations I believe this practice contravenes the Consumer Protection Act 68 of 2008 (CPA) on the following grounds: Section 41 (False, Misleading or Deceptive Representations): Marketing a product as a "monetary advance" when it is, in fact, a "restricted vendor coupon" is deceptive. It creates a false impression of the product's utility. Section 48 (Unfair, Unreasonable or Unjust Contract Terms): It is unreasonable to assess a customer’s affordability based on their total spend, but then restrict the disbur*****t of that credit to a narrow selection of third-party vendors that do not service the customer's primary needs (e.g., utilities or connectivity).
0 replies
5 months ago
CHECKERS: HUMILIATE FIRST, LIE SECOND, IGNORE THIRD
Shoprite Checkers Group - Checkers @ Whale Coast Mall - Herm****. On Monday, 10 November, my wife withdrew cash from Standard Bank ATM at Whale Coast Mall and immediately went shopping at Checkers. At the Checkers Liquor Shop, the cashier publicly held up her R100 note in front of other customers, embarrassing my wife (a teacher), then consulted the manager who refused to accept it. Standard Bank confirmed the next day that it is legal tender and Checkers had no right to refuse it. When I complained to Nicole at Checkers, she claimed she'd investigate and call back. She did, saying the manager told the cashier to accept the note, but the cashier was "off work." This was a lie - my wife found that same cashier working at the store half an hour later. I called Nicole back at 2:30 PM to inform her the cashier was indeed working. She promised to follow up and call me back. Over 24 hours later - still no call. I'm appalled by: ******* refusal of legal tender Public humiliation of my wife Staff lying or being *********** about their own schedules Zero follow-through or accountability Complete lack of professionalism This is the substandard service South Africans have become accustomed to, but I won't accept it. I don't pay premium prices for terrible service. I don't want anything free - I want accountability, an apology, and assurance this won't happen again. If no resolution, I'm escalating to social media, LinkedIn, and executive management.
0 replies
8 months ago
*** extremely unprofessional & potential ******* practices***
This collection agency has demonstrated completely unacceptable business practices. Despite being properly notified that I am working with a debt counselor and providing documented proof of this arrangement, they have continued their harassment campaign. Their violations include: - Excessive contact through multiple channels (phone calls, texts, emails) after being told to cease - Continuing collection activities after receiving notification of debt counseling representation - Sending contradictory communications, including thanking me for payments that were never made - Complete disregard for proper debt collection procedures. This behavior appears to violate the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), which prohibits harassment and requires collectors to respect third-party representation. Their unprofessional conduct, including the bizarre "thank you for payment" message for non-existent payments, shows a concerning lack of basic competency. I strongly advise others to document all interactions with this agency and know your rights under the FDCPA. No one should have to endure this level of unprofessional harassment. **Recommendation: Avoid at all costs. Seek legitimate debt resolution services elsewhere.**
53 replies
12 months ago
utter lack of transparency
Subject: Unclear Charges for Digital Certificate After Completing "8-Week Consumer Forum" Course Dear Vodacom Customer Support, I am writing to express my dissatisfaction with the recent experience I had with the 8-week consumer upskillsit course I won through your V-Up Vodacom rewards on the Vodapay app. I received a text message informing me that I had won this course with Upskillit. The message provided a link to register for the course, which I did. After successfully completing the course and achieving good marks, I was unexpectedly asked to pay an additional fee for a digital certificate. Nowhere in the course registration process, or in any communications from Vodacom, was it stated that I would need to pay extra for this certificate. There were also no clear terms and conditions provided regarding any potential additional costs. As a loyal Vodacom customer for both my fiber and cell phone services, I find this lack of transparency unacceptable. I expect a clear explanation of these charges and a resolution to this matter. I look forward to your prompt response and hope that this issue will be addressed as soon as posibble
116 replies
13 months ago
Zero worry with Zero debt# Willem
i was hesitant to take this step of debt review, feeling unsure and trapped with debt. one Man and one company took all of that negativity, doom and gloom away. Willem from Zero Debt. Hi took me through the process in steps, highlighted the game plan to me and went for it. Professional, friendly and efficient. I never felt like a number. personal service and super quick too.. at a breathable price for 2 years. I can breathe now and neither be constantly concerned about paying my creditors, being harrassed or intimidated. Very Happy customer Thanks Willem & Thanks Zero Debt!
53 replies
13 months ago
industry leader for sure # absolute pleasure
Efficient, professional and the whole borrowing process is available day and night, always a pleasure Fasta. Thankyou for my 3am instant approval and payout of my loan. Laters
0 replies
14 months ago
Candice - Thnx for a great customer experience!
I'm a new Vodacom customer that's just signed with them and I have to say this: I am amazed. Candice Kuun is an absolute gem. Professional, friendly and efficient. I would hire her in a second without a doubt. If this is the level of service I can expect from Vodacom then sign me up. No rambling sentences and utterings from me, just a short but loud shout out to Ms Kuun and Vodacom. Thankyou!
53 replies
15 months ago
Finchoice new name: MINCHOICE
Dissatisfied and alarmed. Frustrating & I'm Soo gatvol. I have the Mobi money Revolving loan, the 6 month Loan facility as well as Paystretch. twice iv paid my revolving loan off completely in one month..I get new access to my Mobi money facility right..then I draw less than half of my limit out and the next day I'm locked out from making another withdrawal. ***? then the cherry on the cake is my Paystretch available balance of R2100 also magically vanishes.. @#$& even the option to get airtime or data goes **** and evaporates. How is this possible? Iv called their number several times and spoke to a Marco who informed me that he can only tell me what the system says. Really now? no supervisor to speak to and nobody to give me answers... But finchoice every 3 days you call me to add another R10 000 to my existing funeral plan and take out accidental insurance cover but I must give an answer to you immediately right? Everyone seems to pass the buck, be completely ******** and negligent that it's frightening. I'm sick of the small print and T's/c. You came to me with personalized offers, I never went to you. iv called. iv emailed you. I'm now reviewing you. next il be officially complaining about you with the relevant ombudsman and NCR Us South Africans are to used to sub standard service, lack of transparency and a fear of challenging what is put in front of us. I would rather lose all access and be persona non grata to this joke of a credit provider then be forced to see the " has your income been affected by Covid 19"? everytime I log in. fyi finchoice..covid is over. like by 3 years.pffft
53 replies
Review Distribution
5 Star
5 (38.46153846153846%)
4 Star
0 (0%)
3 Star
0 (0%)
2 Star
0 (0%)
1 Star
8 (61.53846153846154%)