Bad service Cell C banner defaced
FAIRLAND – As Cell C and banner owner battle it out in court, someone has decided to vandalise the banner that previously degraded the service provider to one that promotes it.
The Cell C banner that has been put up outside World Wear Shopping Centre in Fairland has been vandalised.
The Cell banner, which set social media abuzz, initially read, The most useless service provider in SA …Cell C Sandton City. and now reads, The most useful service provider in SA as experienced via Cell C Sandton City.
The franchise manager Riaan van Rooyen’s cellphone number – which had been written in Cell C branding colours – was replaced with We love Cell C.
The vandalism happened as Cell C and the person responsible for hanging the banner battled it out at the Johannesburg High Court on 12 November.
In a statement issued by Beverly Cameron on behalf of her boss, assumed to be the owner of World Wear Shopping Centre, World Wear appears ready for battle.
“I paid to erect the banner because of my absolute frustration at Cell C just blatantly ignoring the fact that I had an issue that I wanted to discuss on a level somewhat more senior than a dysfunctional call-centre. I wanted Cell C to sit up and take notice of me, the customer, and the very unhappy customer,” the statement read.
“Instead, Cell C responded with big bully tactics by taking the matter to court and it is my intention to oppose their application to remove the banner… All the emails up and down (sic) to Cell C, all the Cell C blunders – everything will be laid out nicely [in court] and properly and very legally and then the media and the public will know all and may judge accordingly,” the statement said.
Cameron said, “In fairness to Ismail Ravat of Y Cell, owner of the Sandton City Cell C Store, Ismail phoned this office last week Friday after the banner appeared and asked whether there was a chance of settling and having the banner removed immediately. My boss-man was amenable to a settlement. Ismail advised later that Cell C was not interested in a settlement.”
Cell C spokesperson Karin Fourie said on 10 November that the service provider was forced to take such action because the billboard contains the personal contact details of a valued employee.
According to Fourie, the service provider also argues that the billboard is defamatory, makes unauthorised use of their trademark and appears to have been put up in contravention of municipal bylaws.
Fourie added that Cell C resorted to court action after attempts of having it removed out of court failed.
