Telecom dragged to court for overcharging

Written by Patience Nyangove
Thursday, 05 November 2009

TELECOMUNICATIONS service provider, Telecom has been taken to court by leading departmental store Woolworths Namibia for overcharging on telephone bills to the tune of just over N$1 million.



In its particulars of claim Woolworths says that the defendant (Telecom) included charges in the invoices rendered to the plaintiff for services not rendered, for services previously cancelled and for other amounts not due and payable to the defendant stretching from April 2000 to May 2009.

Woolworths says that during or about July 2006 it came to know that it was being overcharged by the defendant and that it had paid N$1,143,812.39 by mistake.

“The amount of N$1,143,812.39 was not due, owing and payable to the defendant but the defendant nevertheless appropriated the monies.”

Woolworths claims that in July 2006, Telecom admitted that it was overcharging and acknowledged its liability for the money overcharged and agreed to credit Woolworths’ account.

“During or about July 2006 and October 2007 the defendant in fact credited the plaintiff’s account with the amounts of N$128,367.76 and N$143,868.42 respectively.”

Woolworths also said that between July 2006 and May 2009 Telecom also overcharged it again for services not rendered, services previously cancelled and for other amounts not due and payable to the defendant.

“The plaintiff had unwillingly overpaid an amount of N$426,979.74 to the defendant which amount is owed by the defendant to the plaintiff. Despite demands the defendant has, however, failed to pay to the plaintiff the amount of N$426,979.74 overpaid by the plaintiff.”