Competitions

ICASA PR Code:
(4) During any calendar month, if the total cost of any premium rated service exceeds R200 and just before it reaches the amount of R220, for that month: Premium rated service providers shall send a notification to the end-user informing them that they have reached this amount and a response is required from the end-user, confirming their acceptance of any additional costs over this amount, prior to any additional costs being billed.

Clause 6 of the WASPA Code of Conduct covers the billing threshold notifications that all members need to adhere to:
6. Billing threshold notifications

Definition of billing threshold
6.1. The “billing threshold” for any service is a total cost of R200 for that service for any calendar month.

Requirement to confirm billing over the threshold
6.2. The requirement to send notifications and to confirm billing over the threshold only applies to services where the customer is not already confirming the billing of the service. Specifically, subscription services (where the customer is already confirming the service via a confirmation step) and ad hoc billing (where the customer is required to confirm each individual transaction) do not require billing threshold notices.
6.3. Once a customer reaches the billing threshold for a service, the member must send that customer a notification that they have reached that limit. The member must keep a record of this notification, and provide that information to the customer, on request.
6.4. Where a member is in control of the billing for a service, in addition to the notification, a communication must be obtained from the customer confirming acceptance of any costs over the billing threshold before any additional charges can be billed. The member must keep a record of this communication, and provide that information to the customer, on request.
6.5. Once a customer reaches any multiple of the billing threshold for a service, the member must send that customer a further notification of the total cost incurred for that service so far. The member must keep a record of this notification, and provide that information to the customer, on request.

Ability of a customer to opt-out of billing threshold notifications
6.6. A customer may enter into a contract with a WASPA member to opt-out of the required billing threshold reminders or amend the thresholds provided that:
(a) Any such contract between the service provider and the customer is clear and easily understood.
(b) The provisions in the contract which deal with opting out from reminders must be obvious to the customer and not hidden in the general terms and conditions or otherwise.
(c) The contract contains a description of the service provided, the duration for which the service will be provided, the frequency and amount of any billing, and information on the mechanism the customer can use to terminate the service.
(d) A copy of the contract is retained by the service provider.
(e) A copy of the contract is made available to WASPA in the case of any dispute.
(f) The contract must provide the customer with the ability to request the resumption of the billing threshold reminders.