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Review summary

Created with AI, based on recent reviews

Considering 67 reviews, most reviewers were unhappy with their experience overall. Many people expressed dissatisfaction with the customer service, citing unhelpful and rude support staff, and difficulties in reaching a real person or getting clear explanations for issues. Customers frequently reported problems with their service, including SIM cards not being activated, phones returned unrepaired, and prolonged service outages, leading to lost business opportunities and income. Payment issues were also a significant concern, with people being overcharged, billed for services they did not agree to, or experiencing unauthorized deductions, and difficulties in resolving these financial discrepancies. However, some customers also noted positive experiences, praising responsive and friendly customer service, excellent assistance from specific employees, and good network reception in most places. A few other people also felt that the network was fast, reliable, and consistently kept them online without stress.

What people talk about most

Service

Users describe ambiguous interactions with service, with many expressing significant disappointment and... See more

Customer service

Reviewers mention negative feedback about customer service, with many expressing frustration over... See more

Staff

Customers consistently note ambiguous experiences with staff, with many praising specific agents for their... See more

Customer communications

Reviewers highlight negative aspects of contact, with many expressing frustration over persistent and... See more

Payment

Clients share negative opinions on payment, with many reporting unauthorized deductions and charges for... See more

Reviews shaping this summary

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

BAD SERVICE FROM CELL C....I WILL NOT RECOMMEND THIS TO ANY OF MY FRIENDS OF FAMILY, I HAVE BEEN CALLING, EMAILING AND NO ONE CAN EVEN GIVE MY A POSITIVE OUTCOME TO WHY MY SIM CARD IS STILL NO ACTIVAT... See more

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Cell C sold me a refurbished iPhone 12 after persuading me away from an iPhone 13. I was assured it was “as good as new.” It failed completely within months. Apple confirmed a hardware failure. D... See more

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Poor customer service ie support staff are arrogant and rude.If you lost sim unable to do sim swap the only option is to switch to other mobile service providers.Overcharging on advance also.poor netw... See more

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

I strongly advise against using CellC due to their questionable business practices. Despite following their exact instructions to convert an overdue contract to prepaid, I have received no ack... See more


2.2

Poor

TrustScore 2 out of 5

248 reviews

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Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Cell C the worst. Avoid by all means.

Cell C, the worst cell network provider
There should be a no star or zero rating. That is the rating Cell C deserves. It is not surprising that Cell C has such a low rating (1.3) , it should be 0. I was a Cell C customer for over 20 years, contracts each time. My last contract concluded October 2023. Debit order payments all these years. The last payment was taken October 2023 after which I called to cancel the contract. I was informed that all was in order and I enquired as to whether I should cancel the debit order with my bank and they said yes. Debit order cancelled. (Cell C does not like it if you cancel them. They have the most stupid call center agents.) Nobody knows how to help you and they are rude. In Feb 2024 wanted to initiate a new contract and they told me I still owe R1109. This was most annoying but I paid the amount as I needed a new cell phone and contract. Cell C blacklisted me! Told me I can only get R1000 contract value. I went to Vodacom where my contract was declined as Cell C blacklisted me. I am now in the throws of being passed from one MBD to Munnik Basson Dagama attorneysf and nobody is helpful. I was told I still owe R179. How on this good earth is this utter nonsense, bad service and inconvenience caused by Cell C not ********. The worst cell provider known to man. Cell is is utter @#$%^&. Wish them nothing good. Cell C is trash. All the Cell C employees at the Tygervalley store can say is "so sorry, we don't know what is going on" Cell C!

2 February 2024
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

issue

unable to make a local call even after loading over 100 rand airtime, network on full bars but call still not going through and only rings but ends automatically and still they eat my airtime even when it dont go through

5 February 2024
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Sadly there is no option for negative…

Sadly there is no option for negative star ratings, I moved out of SA a year ago. Cancelled the cell c contract paid up in full as cell c requested but keep getting debited. Sent dozens of emails to help line customer service.. not a rely. Pathetic company, can c why they on the brink of disaster

1 February 2024
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Cell C.... Not for anyone!

Worst company is the world to deal with. Don't give a damn about their customer. Incompetent call centre staff and sales people. Would give no stars if I could. To many untrained and unqualified people.

Was a customer for over 10 year having a 100mbs fibre line. Made the mistake of upgrading it to 200mbs. And the admin nightmare started. Nothing done properly and I had to pay for the consequences of their issues. They acknowledged the problem was on their side. But sorry for you! Stay well clear of this company.

25 January 2024
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Useless Cell C

I give one star because there is NO option for -10 stars!!!
This useless bankrupt sinking ship non-service provider keep on calling me from the useless call center playing that terrible cheap music in my ears!! They call me almost every day to tell me I'm selected for another useless contract......I keep on asking politely to remove me from the call list as I am in month 9 of a 36 month contract and don't want any more of their useless products........but they keeeeeep on calling.
Next time I don't want to be rude but don't think I will be able to contain myself!!!!
Just jump ship and admit you are useless and close down.

25 January 2024
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Cell c avoid them like covid

Cell c avoid them like covid
Pathetic service from Cell c, Billing department is ran by grade R. Have a month to month fiber with cell c pay my bill every month send them the proof of payment. Finally on the 17th they cancelled my line. I logged a call sent all proof of payments and all my invoices including the last invoice which sows a cancelation fee ect. but no months that out standing. they now refuse to release my line as they say i owe them 4month and all proof of payments have been sent including all invoices that never show any outstanding amounts. NEVER USE CELL C the worst

17 January 2024
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Zero stars for Cell C, customer for over 16 years but they are terrible

I am only giving Cell C a 1 star because there is no option to select zero.

I have been a customer for over 16 years but cancelling. I have struggled for over a week to get international roaming activated.

I can't make any calls, receive SMS's to get OTP's to do payments. Have sent over 20 emails, called from an international line spending over R2,000-00 to their call centre promising to help but not helping at all.

Avoid Cell C at all costs!

17 January 2024
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

I am wondering who Cell C management is…

I am wondering who Cell C management is because boy oh boy, I think a spaza shop service is even better cause you end up knowing and getting what you want. I didn't know what is happening there. What a pity because this s one of the companies that is going down right before our very eyes. Please wake up!!!! I am cancelling my account and whoever extended my contract must pay for it.

8 December 2023
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

I don't buy airtime anymore because…

I don't buy airtime anymore because there are always services that I've apparently joined unaware of charging R5/ day etc. What I've realized is that there are messages popping up on my screen and once you click to remove the message from your screen, you've joined something. I receive hundreds of these per day.
Cell c needs to remove our numbers from these subscription lists 😤

10 November 2023
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Cell C are a bunch of corrupt thieves…

Cell C are a bunch of corrupt thieves and liars and I will never do business with them again. I opened a month to month data contract with them 3 years ago. When I tried to cancel the contract earlier this year they informed me that I have to wait till September or buy myself out of the 2 year contract which I never applied for (it was month to month) The last 2 months I noticed my debit order being 3x the amount it usually is only to discover they switched me over to a different contract again without my concent. No refund and it is still not cancelled as I asked them to do months ago. They said its my fault because I had to call them on the exact date the contract ended or they automatically renew it. A lot of money lost that they stole from me. The customer care lady on the phone are also extremely rude! she does not allow me to finish my sentances and keeps talking over me saying its my fault and my problem. What more could I have done to avoid this from happening? Do not sign anything Cell C gives you as they will deceive, lie & steal from you and cause you lots of trouble and headache if you ever wish to cancel.

31 October 2023
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

I am very disappointed with cell c

I am very disappointed with cell c, I have paid up the account that was handed over to lawyers, it's been a month have not received the paid-up letter, they keep on sending a recon saying I am still owing, even if the lawyers confirms that I paid in full, they still persisting, please assist when can I launch a complain?

26 October 2023
Unprompted review
Rated 4 out of 5 stars

Cellc is not good when I recharge…

Cellc is not good when I recharge airtime..airtime disappear when you call customer service you can't get hold to a consultent

Sometimes can be good bcz when you you go to all my special when you recharge you can get free airtime

22 October 2023
Unprompted review
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Thank you Tyron, Cell C Galleria Amanzimtoti

It was a true pleasure to be assisted by Tyron at Cell C Galleria Amanzimtoti yesterday the 15th of October 2023. I needed assistance. Not only was he knowledgeable and professional, but he helped me and explained all the options to me. Thank you, Tyron, for being there for your clients.

15 October 2023
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

DONT TRUST CELLC

I made a payment on my contract by Cellc and they proceeded to take another payment which happened on the 28th. I have called them from the 28th 4 times each day and they kept saying they investigating. REF : 3100200699
Beginning of the new month they said the finance team has decided to use the credit for the following month and refuses to refund me. I have been requesting a refund for 2 weeks and they just decide to withhold my money when my account was not behind. DONT TRUST CELLC THEY ARE HEARTLESS NAIERS. TODAY 11/10/2023 HAS BEEN 18 DAYS WITH ZERO INTENTION TO REFUND ME

22 September 2023
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

😭😭😭 am so done with cell c

😭😭😭 am so done with cell c, see me upgrading with cell c kill me, I've been using cell c for long time and I've been happy but now they showed me that they don't care about customers but money only. 1 of cell c agents called me in July telling me that 1 of my line is due for an upgrade and I didn't want to update, I wanted to close the contract but he told me that cell c is giving me 75% off for 2phones I was not really interested then I told him I will go to cell c store and he told offer ends same day at 5 and it was around 4, ai then I just told my self let my just take it won't do any harm,😭😭😭 guess what. The agent told me the phones will arrive in 2days and sim card the following week it was Wednesday and indeed the phones came Friday, but same day I kept on receiving the messages from courier that I must get ready my I'd copy and proof of residence I was surprised why so early because the phones arrived around 11am and the called and around 3 he delivered SIM card oohhhh WOW am impressed it was quick in my mind I know that am done with cell c they don't owe me since it's an upgrade then they gave me 1 SIM card then in 1 phone I will continue with the old sim card, then I kept on receiving the same sms to prepare my documents since I received my products I thought it was technically error until Monday courier guy called me again that he has my parcel from cell c I was surprised but took that SIM, in my knowledge I know I have 2 lines with them and they supposed to debit R1000 each month that's what I owe them every month but now the story is not like that September they debited R2 700, there is minus R600 in my app this month they debited R2 200 and there still minus R600 in my app I don't understand. So now according to their system I have 5 lines in my name,how? I've been calling sending emails even today am still waiting, they said they will call me 2 working days but even now am still waiting and am still paying because I don't want a bad credit record if it was not for that they were going to taste their own medicine I wouldn't recommend cell c to anyone it's my money we talking about everytime when u call customer care, they tell u it's no longer in their hands and there is nothing they can do it's in fraud department they are still investigating until when they also don't know coz usually it takes 2days to investigate and there is nothing they can do, one they can only do is sorry but the money is going every month and done with cell

25 August 2023
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

I have tried to cancel a contract for 6…

I have tried to cancel a contract for 6 months with no success, they have continued to debit funds for the contract with them stating the contract has been cancelled. No one has responded to emails sent after initial response and confirmation of cancellation.
On Wed, 29 Mar 2023, 11:22 , customerservice@cellc. wrote:
Dear Valued Customer,

Thank you for contacting Cell C.

We have received your Email regarding Cancellation.

29 March 2023
Unprompted review

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