ONLINE SALES & SUPPORT PATHETIC

I have three existing contracts with Cell C, and app**** for all of them inside a branch, never had an issue. I actually app**** for a new fourth contract via the sales call centre, exactly two weeks a go. I very specifically and very clearly told the sales consultant that my registered pre paid cell c number which they have on record, was not working due to losing my phone, and gave an alternative number for them to contact me on to confirm the contract and to arrange delivery of the new phone. After a week of not being able to get hold of me (on the number I very specifically told them NOT to contact me on), they eventually phoned my husband on one of the other contracts, who gave them the number I told them to phone me on. The new phone and was delivered after more than a week. Then started the ********** battle of trying to get the new sim on the contract activated. First consultant said it will take 24 hours. Phoned back after 24 hours, and they told me it is actually 24 - 48 hours. It was still not activated after 48 hours and after spending about 2 hours being transferred from one consultant to another consultant, in order to get through to some or other team leader or manager, I lost it with one of the consultants. I literally had to do that damned security check about 30 times, just so the consultant can tell me they can't help me. When I got the phone, I specifically also asked the consultant that I want to do a number change as well, in order for my old prepaid number to be on my contract, and not the new number. They told me I first had to wait for the contract to be active before I can do a number change. They also said I would need to get an unrica'd sim in order to do the number change. WRONG! You cannot buy an unrica'd sim card anywhere. After a huge struggle I eventually managed to get a new sim card for the number change under the guise of calling it a replacement sim. When they eventually activated the contract, I then phone the call centre in order to get the number changed to my old prepaid number. *** and they again said 24 - 48 hours. Well guess what, again 48 hours have lapsed, and the number change was not done. Had to log another query, ***. My first query was logged early in the morning, but according to the team leader, the time does not start when you log the query. It starts the next day. How absolutely absurd. So it has been two weeks, I have a contract that I cant use (I need my old number back), it is conveniently Friday, they don't work on weekends. And by Monday it will be two and a half weeks of struggling. \ MORAL OF THE STORY: NEVER EVER USE THE ONLINE SALES. ALWAYS GO IN-STORE AND HAVE THEM SORT IT OUT. AT LEAST YOU CAN SPEAK TO A MANAGER AND ESCALATE AND SORT THINGS OUT A LOT QUICKER THAN WITH CONSULTANTS WHO HIDE BEHIND A PHONE AND "PROTOCOL".