If waiting for my phone was a pregnancy, I would have given birth to a baby by now.

<p>MTN, Thabazimbi (apparently part of CellZone owned by a Gerhard vd Westhuizen) took receipt of my faulty M5 phone in August 2016. It was sent up the chanel for assessment and was approved for a replacement phone on 14/09/16. Since then the experience has been a nightmare. </p> <p>Repeated calls, and walk-ins from me only elicited responses of "we'll let you know when it arrives" to, later, tight lips and shoulder shrugging. In November last year I insisted on the contact details of someone up the line and was given the number of Gwen. She referred me to Jane at another store who took over the case. Eventually Jane stopped answering my calls and whatsapps. Back to Gwen who personally took charge until she resigned earlier this year. On to Jaco, who personally took charge until he resigned. It was during this time that I found out that Mr vd Westhuizen's account had been suspended with MTN. </p> <p>Back to Thabazimbi store, to a friendly and eager to help manager, Kefilwe who at least kept me up to date with a weekly call. I contacted the head office and asked to speak to the owner, only to be told that he is unavailable as he is in Italy on vacation. I again asked for the number of someone up the line and was given the number of, Ulirich Holl the new area manager. </p> <p>He didn't answer my phone calls, so I resorted to a very exsaperated sounding email, threatening with letters to Hello Peter, MTN and newspapers. Let me add that this is the first time I have ever handled this case in a less than civil manner. I followed up the email with a civil but firm phone call and asked that he answer the email. He stated that he's been trying to put out fires since his appointment in February, and that he would answer answer the email when he knows something. I insisted that he answer it today with a description of what the problem is and an outline of the way forward. His email response in return? "Good Day. We have filled in forms to have the upgrade cancelled." What??? I have been paying for a phone for 9 months without a phone in my possession! Now they want to cancel my upgrade? Is that what MTN would call a satisfactory solution? </p> <p> </p>