MTN Total dissatisfaction

<p>I have been a loyal supporter of MTN for 20 years. I have kept my same cellphone number and have always been a contract subscriber with one of the higher valued contracts. I have never missed a payment. I have had my frustrations with MTN and their lack of service on a few occasions but have always overlooked the issues.</p> <p>Last week Thursday, I went into the MTN store in Blue Route Cape Town to take out a contract for my daughter as a 13th birthday present (Her first Cell Phone).</p> <p>I indicated to the consultant which contact I would like to take out and to please add it to my existing account with MTN. We did the usual paperwork and I signed the application forms. I was informed to please come back in 24 hours once the application had been approved. I was hoping to get things sorted out there and then as I was going away the next day for a few days. I understand that there is an approval process so I left and indicated I would be back today (Tuesday). My daughter’s birthday is tomorrow. I did receive an SMS last week that the application had been approved. I went to MTN today to pick-up the phone and finalise the contract. No such luck.</p> <p>I then get told that I cannot get the phone I had requested as my credit limit needed to be increased and that a request would be sent to MTN for approval which could take 24 to 72 hours. So I need to leave and come back in a couple of days’ time. Bearing in mind that I had indicated exactly which contract and phone I was applying for when I did the contract application a week ago. I will not have my daughters gift on her birthday tomorrow morning. Bearing in mind also, other than one SMS from MTN, there has been absolutely no communication from MTN to indicate that I would need to change my credit limit or to ensure that the phone I had request was in stock. The staff at the store are completely inept and don’t have a clue about customer service. Does MTN think everyone has loads of time to drive to the MTN store and stand in their understaffed shops? The call centre is useless and you end up getting put on hold indefinitely. The store manager was unavailable and the staff would not give me her cell number so I could call her. The whole process is inefficient and unsatisfactory.</p> <p>I will now look to buy a phone instead of going on contract then then opt for pay as you go. I have less than 6 months on my existing contract, if any of the other network operators monitor this forum and are prepared to buy out the remainder of my contract, I will be happy to switch, failing which, I will not be renewing the contract at the end of its term but will rather opt for pay as you go on which ever network suits me at that particular time. </p>