Whom should we trust if a company like Telkom can do this?

I took upgraded cell phone contact online in July 2024. I received iPhone 15 just before monthend. I tried to set up the phone and it didn’t work. Tried to call the call centre with no success I took the phone to Telkom Vincent in East London. The manager at the shop assisted the phone worked only for few minutes. When got back to my workplace noticed that the phone had no network. I called Telkom Vincent and the manager had to come to my workplace since it’s not far from Vincent mall. He tried with no success and suggested that I bring back the phone.

I couldn’t take the phone back the same day since I had other commitments after work. I got home and my son fiddled with the phone then it worked for few days. I then noticed that the phone network goes off frequently. I took the phone back and it was sent for repairs. A month later I went to check and was told the phone was back from repairs. I asked what was wrong with the phone but never got an answer. I took the phone home tried to use the phone, the phone was not working. I took it back to Telkom and it was sent back for repairs. In the meantime I am paying for a phone that I don’t have. On Tuesday 24th I went back to check since I need to travel out of the country and old phone I have has problems. The phone is not back and I can’t travel without a reliable. I took another cheap contract.

The manager has been very helpful and was always in touch yesterday the 25th told me that the new phone I bought is black listed and he tried to find out the reason but couldn’t get help since he was not the owner. He gave a number to call, the whole day I have been transferred from one extension to the other. I need help guys. If anyone from Telkom who has the capacity to assist please help me.

My biggest concern is the negligence of a company to supply a phone that if it’s tracked can land me in trouble. How do I confidently take ownership of a phone that has been black listed? The price of the contract then and now is different and why should I continue with the same contract?