Unsolicted SMSs - does Vodacom sell its customer database?

[Andrew]

They all deny it, but it's pretty obvious that somewhere along the line all the big places sell your details. My only method of contact is my cellphone, so I have to keep it on all night in case someone needs to contact me urgently, and quite often I get spam coming in late at night/early morning. Some are even from overseas companies.

[Jaco]

I'm not going to get into a long debate here. As most of you know I work for Vodacom.

But, for a company that makes billions a year with other services, I cannot see why they will "sell" the database for a few thousand or even 10's of thousands. As if it going to make any difference to the bottom end in profits??

Being a corporate, explain in which fund the money goes and who decides to "sell" this data? The CEO, MD??
It is a preposterous to think that it can be decided by anyone, since we have shareholders and are audited yearly by KPMG; so then KPMG is "in on it" as well?

Your Bank has your cellphone number, Doctors, Hospitals, etc, etc.

Please.....

[dkronie]

As most of you know I work for Vodacom.

Hi Jaco

For interest do you know if there was any precautions was put in place to protect the Rica database from not being abused ?

[PearlJam]

I agree that a corporate company will not sell a database...the problem comes in with employees who have access to data...

[Byrd]

I agree that a corporate company will not sell a database...the problem comes in with employees who have access to data...

Outsurance had its database stolen. It is still the companies responsibility though

[Jaco]

Hi Jaco

For interest do you know if there was any precautions was put in place to protect the Rica database from not being abused ?

As with any information, we have to comply with the Minimum Information Security Standards, which is an Act passed by Government a few years ago.
Everything is being done to protect the data, but we have no control over agents that register individuals, i.e. you can register at PEP, MAKRO, the corner shop, etc, etc.
I think you can understand the magnitude of the operation in trying to vet all these agents all over the Country.

RICA was not something that the operators decided on; it was Government in "all their wisdom" and all three operators kicked against this.

[Mervin]

As with any information, we have to comply with the Minimum Information Security Standards, which is an Act passed by Government a few years ago.

Not an ACT but a document which is old/outdated and 'restricted' but can be Googled.

[Jaco]

I agree that a corporate company will not sell a database...the problem comes in with employees who have access to data...

True, but I work in the Department that "watches" over all our employees.
Believe me, we do and have dismissed quite a number of employees that gave out unsolicited information.

"Big Brother" is always watching Vodacom employees...

[Jaco]

Not an ACT but a document which is old/outdated and 'restricted' but can be Googled.

Agree and also disagree Mervin. 

It initially started in 1996, but was passed as either addendum's or incorporated into other Acts.
Some of them Act 25 of 2002, Act 70 of 2002 and so on...

[audiomuze]

With all due respect, I don't think it implausible that a company that's prepared to bill customers for a service it cannot provide (read thousands of dropped calls, flagfalls from redials, and no signal situations over a two year period) would think twice about selling its customer database if there was something to be made, even if it were a drop in its ill gotten gains.  I agree though, it's more plausible that Vodacom employees are doing the selling.

BTW, Deloitte are your auditors.  The financial statmement audit process has nothing to do with whether or not the customer database is sold, it's focused purely on the fair presentation of the financial statements.

I'm not going to get into a long debate here. As most of you know I work for Vodacom.

But, for a company that makes billions a year with other services, I cannot see why they will "sell" the database for a few thousand or even 10's of thousands. As if it going to make any difference to the bottom end in profits??

Being a corporate, explain in which fund the money goes and who decides to "sell" this data? The CEO, MD??
It is a preposterous to think that it can be decided by anyone, since we have shareholders and are audited yearly by KPMG; so then KPMG is "in on it" as well?

Your Bank has your cellphone number, Doctors, Hospitals, etc, etc.

Please.....