The contents of each SMS essentially demands an up-front fee collection – Photo: Unsplash
The contents of each SMS essentially demands an up-front fee collection – Photo: Unsplash
A number of South Africans have been left bemused and concerned by a blitz of ‘SMS threats’ co-ordinated by the SABC. The broadcaster is now sending text messages out, telling those who haven’t paid their TV licence that they need to fork-out immediately – or face consequences.
Have you received a threatening SMS from SABC?
Some of the SMS communications differ from others, but the general gist is that the network demands immediate payment of an outstanding balance, with a request for the settlement in FULL. Another version of these messages threatens to put a ‘trace alert’ on your account.
Although this can’t impact your credit score, it sure has done a number on some cash-strapped South Africans. Within the last few weeks or so, gatvol customers have taken to social media to express their confusion – and people still don’t really know where they stand…
@SABCPortal do u really think sending people a sms threatening them is the best way to go. Ur programming is useless nobody watches sabc just do the whole country a favor and close ur doors and call it a day.
— Wayne Green (@wgreen113) July 29, 2022
@OUTASA my domestic worker got a sms that she owes SABC over R1400 for TV licence fees. Due to SABC paynow that is currently off line we cannot verify this. Should we be worried and pay this ridiculous amount?
— chris2r (@chris2r1) August 1, 2022
Currently quite sick so not travelling anywhere. Got nagging sms from SABC to pay TV licence. Tried to pay but now their online payment is down. Now, SABC threatening with overdue because THEIR online portal is down. ???? https://t.co/WwOfnL2Pt0
— Tauriq Moosa (@tauriqmoosa) August 10, 2022
Am I in legal trouble if I don’t pay my TV Licence?
A senior official from the Organisation for Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA) spoke to MyBroadband about the issue on Thursday. They state that the threats are largely empty. For a start, a lot of the information used to ‘scare’ customers is often incorrect or invalid.
What’s more, the organisation is fairly confident that the language being used by SABC is bordering on the illegal. The broadcaster would have to go through the Sherriff of a court to legally force you to pay your TV licence. And, with so many not complying, this course of action is impractical.
“We are aware that many South Africans are receiving threatening SMSs with misleading information about what can (and will) be done to them if they don’t pay. Often these SMSs contain incorrect information and incorrect amounts.” | OUTA on SABC SMS messages
