Cellular ******* at it's best !

For many years I was on a Cell C contract - recently I had to spent a couple of months each year overseas and therefore changed to prepaid. Last month I got back from a 5 months business assignment and when I switched on my phone it said 'NO SERVICE'. When I enquired with Cell C they told me my prepaid service had been cancelled - the credit of 100 ZAR gone - and my number given to someone else in the meantime. Strange though that my Whatsapp was still working when I was in a Wifi zone. I find it unacceptable that the client is not informed about the apparent cancellation policy after 3 months - the credit is simly forfeited - and the customer care refuses to reinstate the number although it is obvious that it is still assigned to my Whatsapp account - unbelievable - cellular ******* at it's best !