What is Multichoice
Company overview
Multichoice is a South African entertainment company that operates DStv (satellite TV) and Showmax (streaming) subscription services across Africa.
It offers a range of monthly packages, add-ons and streaming plans for homes and mobile devices.
Services covered
This guide covers how to cancel DStv and Showmax subscriptions, what to expect after cancellation, pricing and consumer-rights context in South Africa.
It includes practical steps, documentation to prepare and reliable references to verified sources.
How to cancel Multichoice
Primary online and phone options
- Cancel via MyDSTV on the web or the MyDSTV mobile app.
- Use USSD: dial *120*68584# to manage and cancel subscriptions.
- Contact Multichoice by phone: call 011 289 2222 for assistance.
In-person and postal options
- Visit a Multichoice service centre in person (e.g., the Randburg centre) to request cancellation.
- Send written cancellation requests by post to the company postal address (see the Address section below).
- Keep records of in-person receipts or postal tracking as proof of your request.
What happens when you cancel
Service access and timing
When you cancel, service continues until the end of your current billing period and access remains active until that date.
MultiChoice does not apply mid-month pro-rata cancellations; changes typically take effect at month-end.
Account and billing effects
After cancellation your account will not renew on the next billing date and debit orders should stop; monitor your payment method to confirm.
If you have bolt-ons or Showmax bundles, these are usually deactivated together with the main subscription at the period end.
Will I get a refund?
Standard refund policy
MultiChoice does not generally provide pro-rata refunds for mid-period cancellations; access remains until the billing period ends without refund.
Official summaries of cancellation practice and timing are reported at reliable sources covering MultiChoice policy changes.
Legal exceptions and reported cases
- South African law (Electronic Communications and Transactions Act) provides a 7-day cooling-off right for services in some circumstances; see the government summary for details: ECTA cooling-off guidance.
- There are reported cases where customers faced delays or difficulty obtaining refunds for erroneous overpayments; media accounts document long resolution times in some disputes.
Multichoice plans and pricing
Current monthly plans (effective 1 April 2025)
| Plan | Price (ZAR) | Period | Features |
| DStv Premium (satellite) | R979 | Monthly | Full channel range; Showmax included; extra concurrent stream added |
| DStv Compact Plus (satellite) | R659 | Monthly | Movies, series, sports; Showmax at 40% discount; extra concurrent stream added |
| DStv Compact (satellite) | R479 | Monthly | Entertainment, sport, news; Showmax at 40% discount; extra concurrent stream; 5 new channels added |
| DStv Family (satellite) | R339 | Monthly | Everyday essential channels; 3 new channels added |
| DStv Access (satellite) | R150 | Monthly | Basic bouquet; 2 new channels added |
| DStv EasyView (satellite) | R30 | Monthly | Entry-level access; minimal channels |
| Add Movies (bolt-on) | R49 | Monthly | Premium movie bolt-on; significant price reduction |
| Showmax (standard streaming) | R99 | Monthly | All-devices streaming; no price change |
| Showmax Premier League | R99 | Monthly | Streaming Premier League; major price increase |
| Showmax Entertainment Mobile | R50 | Monthly | Mobile-only streaming plan |
| Showmax Entertainment Mobile + PL | R120 | Monthly | Mobile streaming + Premier League bundle |
| Showmax Entertainment + PL | R150 | Monthly | Full streaming + Premier League bundle |
Pricing notes
Prices above are effective from 1 April 2025 and reflect published plan rates as reported in verified sources.
A VAT change to 15.5% from 1 May 2025 may result in further price adjustments; price-lock deals were available until 31 March 2025.
Your consumer rights in South Africa
Cooling-off and refunds
The Electronic Communications and Transactions Act provides a 7-day cooling-off period for certain services from the conclusion of the agreement.
Consumers may be entitled to a full refund within 30 days if the cooling-off conditions apply; consult the ECTA summary: ECTA cooling-off guidance.
Fixed-term and payment disputes
- The Consumer Protection Act allows cancellation of fixed-term agreements with reasonable penalties, but DStv generally operates month-to-month with no cancellation fees.
- For disputes over refunds or overpayments, escalation to consumer bodies or media has been used successfully in some cases; keep documentation.
- See general consumer-rights guidance at the CGSO: CGSO consumer rights.
Customer experiences
Positive signals
Some third-party validators rate Multichoice as generally secure and reliable, noting valid security indicators and low fraud flags.
Independent validators and review aggregators can show pockets of positive feedback for service quality and platform security.
Common complaints
- Trustpilot and other review sites report issues such as service instability, unexpected charges, billing after cancellation and poor call-centre experiences.
- There are documented customer frustrations when attempting refunds or reversing erroneous payments; media reports give examples of lengthy resolution times.
Documentation checklist
Required account information
- Account number (DStv/Showmax reference) and the primary account holder’s full name.
- Registered phone number and email address used on the account.
Proof and correspondence
- Copies of ID or company documents if required for verification.
- Receipts, bank statements or screenshots showing recent payments and any disputed transactions.
- Written cancellation confirmation, tracking numbers for posted letters or reference numbers from in-person visits.
Common mistakes
Assuming immediate termination
Many customers expect instant service cut-off after requesting cancellation; in reality access continues until the end of the billing period.
Do not assume a refund will be issued automatically for mid-period cancellations - plan finances accordingly.
Poor record keeping
Failing to save confirmation numbers, emails or postal tracking can make disputes harder to resolve.
Always capture screenshots, keep call reference numbers and get written confirmation where possible.
Comparative recap
At-a-glance comparison
| Feature | Multichoice (DStv/Showmax) | What to expect |
| Cancellation methods | MyDSTV, USSD, phone, in-person, post | Multiple channels; keep proof of request |
| Effective date | End of current billing period | No mid-month pro-rata termination |
| Refunds | Generally no pro-rata refunds | Possible legal cooling-off exceptions; may require escalation |
| Customer support | Phone and service centres | Mixed reviews; document interactions |
After cancelling
What to monitor
- Check your bank or card statements to confirm debit orders have stopped after the billing date.
- Watch for an email or SMS confirmation of cancellation and save it for your records.
Where to get help and escalate
Address
Postal address
P.O. Box 1502, Randburg, 2125, South Africa
Head office / service centre
Physical head office listed at 144 Bram Fischer Drive; local Multichoice service centres (e.g., Randburg) can assist with in-person cancellations.
Keep proof of any in-person visit or posted correspondence for your records.