1. In order to provide electronic communications services to its subscribers, LCOM CC (“LCOM”) holds licences issued by the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (“ICASA”).
2. 2. ICASA requires that all licence-holders develop and publish its procedures for handling Complaints and Billing Disputes, in order to comply with the requirements in:
3. 3. LCOM has developed this document in line with these Regulations, and will follow the procedures set out below in dealing with Complaints and Billing Disputes (as defined herein) with its Consumers.
4. “Billing Dispute” means an instance where a Customer states in good faith that their bill contains incorrect charges, payments or adjustments. Billing Disputes are a specific form of Complaint dealt with only in terms of the Billing Disputes Procedure set out herein.
5. “Billing Dispute Notice” means a formal, written notice submitted to LCOM by the Customer in terms of this Procedure.
6. “Billing Disputes Procedure” mean the Billing Disputes Procedure set out herein for the initiation and resolution of Billing Disputes.
7. “Billing Enquiry” means the situation where the Customer seeks information or clarification relating to an invoice issued by LCOM including without limitation seeking clarification of charges or sources of usage. For the avoidance of doubt, a Billing Enquiry is not a Billing Dispute.
8. “Business Day” means any day other than a Saturday or Sunday or a public holiday observed as such in the Republic of South Africa.
9. “Complaint” means a formal, written expression of dissatisfaction or grievance made by a Customer in terms of the General Complaints Procedure, but does not include a support ticket, a request for information or a Billing Dispute. Complaints are dealt with only in terms of the General Complaints Procedure set out herein.
10. “Customer” means a LCOM subscriber or potential subscriber.
11. This Procedure applies to all Complaints other than Billing Disputes, which are dealt with in terms of the Billing Dispute Procedure set out below.
12. The Customer is required to direct a formal Complaint to sales@lcom.co.za
13. The Complaint is required to be accompanied by the following:
13.1. The Customer’s full particulars and contact details;
13.2. The Customer’s relationship with LCOM, together with any customer reference numbers or details which may be applicable;
13.3. A statement of the reasons for the Complaint, with enough detail to allow LCOM to assess these; and
13.4. Any relevant evidence or documentation the Customer wishes to submit in support of the Complaint.
14. LCOM will acknowledge receipt of the Complaint within 3 Business Days and allocate a reference number.
15. LCOM will provide a written response with its decision on the outcome of the Complaint within 14 Business Days following receipt of the Complaint.
16. Billing Enquiries should be directed to billing@lcom.co.za, and Complaints not related to Billing Disputes are dealt with under the General Complaints Procedure set out above.
17. The Customer expressly acknowledges and agrees that:
18. Please note that LCOM will not entertain any Billing Dispute based on unauthorised use of the services or on unauthorised use of the services by a third party, as it is the Customer’s responsibility to safeguard access to the services received by the Customer and to use such services in the manner set out in the terms and conditions applicable thereto.
20. Not all Billing Disputes may be settled to the Customer’s satisfaction. Once this Billing Disputes Procedure has been exhausted, a Customer may use any third party, credit card company or bank in an attempt to settle the dispute. However, LCOM still retains the right to collect on any rendered services or fees that are due. Should LCOM be unable to reverse any disputed amounts with a third party, credit card company or bank, LCOM will submit the full delinquent amount for collection.
21. The Customer may only withhold payment of a Disputed Amount where LCOM receives a valid Billing Dispute Notice relating to such Disputed Amount at least 5 Business Days prior to the due date recorded on the relevant invoice.
22. A Billing Dispute Notice may be lodged in the manner set out herein until the passing of 30 calendar days from the date of the relevant invoice.
23. The Customer is required to direct a formal Billing Dispute Notice to billing@lcom.co.za.
24. The Billing Dispute Notice is required to be accompanied by the following:
25. LCOM will acknowledge receipt of the Billing Dispute Notice within 3 Business Days and allocate a reference number.
26. LCOM may request additional information or documentation from the Customer lodging the Billing Dispute Notice, which information or documentation is reasonably required to assist LCOM in making a decision on the matter. The Customer shall provide such information or documentation as soon as possible, and the running of the 14 Business Day period will be suspended until such time as the requested information or documentation has been received by LCOM.
27. LCOM will provide a written response with its decision on the outcome of the Billing Dispute Notice within 14 Business Days following receipt of the Billing Dispute Notice.
28. LCOM’s decision (and reasons for such decision), will take one of the following forms:
29. If stipulated in LCOM’s response in terms of clause 28 that the Customer must make payment of the Disputed Amount or a portion thereof, the Customer must pay the Disputed Amount or such indicated portion within 5 Business Days of the date of LCOM’s response.
30. If stipulated under LCOM’s response in terms of clause 28 that LCOM must withdraw the Disputed Amount or refund a fee already paid, LCOM must as soon as practicable:
30.1. Provide the Customer with a statement reflecting the adjustment to their account. It is intended that this adjustment will be contained on the next invoice issued to the Customer, but the parties acknowledge that this may be delayed due to timing issues with the response and LCOM’s standard billing terms; or
30.2. Credit any Disputed Amount already paid by the Customer.
31. LCOM will not disconnect a service provided to the Customer which is the subject of a Billing Dispute Notice, or take adverse collection procedures or impose late payment penalties or charges, while attempting to resolve a Billing Dispute lodged in terms of this Billing Disputes Procedure and until such time as LCOM has reached a decision and communicated this to the Customer, provided that Undisputed Amounts are paid timeously.
32. LCOM reserves the right, however, to take such measures mentioned in clause 31 immediately:
33. Subject only to the above, the rights and obligations of each party under the Billing Disputes Procedure continue pending resolution of a Billing Dispute invoked under this Billing Disputes Procedure. For the avoidance of doubt, this includes that LCOM shall continue to have the right to terminate or suspend the service in accordance with LCOM’s rights under the agreement that the Customer has with LCOM.
34. Neither party shall use any information obtained from the other party during the course of any process invoked under the Billing Disputes Procedure for any purpose other than the resolution of the particular Billing Dispute.
35. If the Customer is not happy about the outcome of a Complaint or a Billing Dispute, the Customer has the right to escalate it to ICASA. If ICASA are not able to resolve the matter it may be referred to the ICASA Complaints and Compliance Committee for adjudication.
36. Please note that in terms of the ICASA Code of Conduct Regulations 2007, the Customer must give LCOM an opportunity to resolve the matter within the period specified in this Complaints Procedure before the Customer may escalate the Complaint or Billing Dispute to ICASA.
37. ICASA can be contacted in the following ways:
Last Updated: September 2017