When in doubt remain silent!

On the 29 March 2016, I purchased a Cell airtime voucher at a Pick n Pay Supermarket. At the till point there was a long delay in issuing the voucher and after a few minutes it was processed. When I attempted to load the voucher for mobile broadband. I received an 'invalid' voucher on various attempts. I then contact customer service and spoke to a consultant who mentioned that I should try to recharge the voucher using a specific way and was told to call back if it still remains an issue. I called two more times thereafter and was given alternative actions to perform in order to recharge and non of them worked. The consultants that I had spoken to had asked for the card serial number and when it was read to them, it was stated to be incorrect. I then returned to the store and spoke to a customer service consultant in regard to the recharge voucher issue that I was having and was told that I have to take it up with Cell C as they were merely vendors for airtime and cannot do any refunds or exchanges. I then requested that they call customer service and lodge the complaint, which was done by a consultant by the name of Johanna, with reference number ***. I was told by the Pick n Pay employee that called Cell C that I was going to be called by Cell C for details in regard to the complaint which never happened. On the 01/04/16 I called the Cell C customer service department and spoke to Mogamudi, during our conversation the call was dropped. I called back and this time spoke to Zanele and explained to her what the issue was and she stated that she would transfer me to another department that will deal with my complaint. I then spoke to Mbuli at the 'Reporting Department' who was surprised that I had been transfered to her department as it was a customer service query, I was then transfered back to customer service and spoke to Portia. Portia was the first consultant on that day that asked me for the complaint reference number and stated that that it complaint was lodged but there was no feedback on the system. She then stated that she work mark the complaint as urgent and that I should expect some feedback as soon as possible. After experiencing a problem with Data disappearing, I called the customer service department to complain and spoke to Kabelo who suggested that I check my computer system settings and network roaming as there may be an application that could have used up the data without my knowledge, this did not make sense as I have been using mobile broadband on my laptop for a long time and am aware of applications etc. that may utilise data when online and have not had any problems with such in any period before. I listened to what he was saying and decided not to discuss any further with it as we were getting nowhere , I was asked if there was anything else that he could assist with, in irritation and hesitantly I quoted the reference number for the invalid voucher issue. Kabelo looked it up and was surprised when he asked if I was not contacted in regard to this complaint and I had said 'No'. According to him, the system stated that I was to return the voucher to the point of sale and that I should have been notified. I explained to Kabelo that I had purchased the voucher during travel and cannot go specifically to that point of sale to return an aitrtime voucher, I explained furthermore that I had been to the point of sale and was told that they do not accept any reponsibilty or liability in regard to airtime as they are merely venders to the cellular network companies. Once more I was in a dilemma whereby I, the consumer made a purchase of something invalid and both parties are pointed to the other to rectify. Kabelo advised me to scan the voucher and e-mail the customer service department regarding.On the 18/04/2016 I sent an e-mail with the voucher attached and received a response that I would be contacted by a consultant within 24-48 hours. It is now the 5 May 2016 and I am yet to receive correspondence in regard to this complaint. With all of the inequalities and high unemployment in South Africa actions like these are adding to the burdens that many of our people are experiencing. We are struggling for economic growth and will never get there if our service levels are not conducive.