Disastrous service.

After seeing all the other negative reviews of VFS on this website I doubt anything will be done, however I will add my experience to the pile.

I'll start off with the VFS website: 1) The companies website needs to be fixed, it intermittently shows no application slots available and then when you try again the next day there are many slots open. 2) The website does not show all the required documents that one needs for their application, which leads to frustration and wasted time for the customer and the company. 3) Even the link to "provide feedback" on the Contact Us section of the website does not work. It just leads to a "Link not valid" page.

Application Attempt 1: 1) I first went to VFS in Cape Town to apply for a Long-Stay visa for Portugal, I was told the application form that I had was incorrect (despite downloading it from the Long-Stay visa application section of their website). 2) After filling in the 'correct' form, I was told that my police clearance certificate (PCC) was not apostille and would therefore not be accepted. (Of course no mention of this requirement on their website). 3) Despite this I was told all other documents I had were correct and sufficient (this is important for later)

Application Attempt 2: 1) On my second try I went to VFS in Johannesburg (I had to fly up as I had moved to Durban, and Durban VFS does not accept Long Stay Visa applications). 2) Again I was told my application form was incorrect, even though this time I had taken the form VFS Cape Town had given me. 3) I had not gotten an Apostille PCC, however this did not seem to be a problem for Johannesburg VFS as they accepted the PCC as is. 4) However, they had a problem with my passport photos (which VFS Cape Town had no issue with). So i had to spend some more money using their passport photo service. 5) I also paid for their SMS service because I needed to know the status of my application to notify the university in Portugal whether I would be able to make the first block of classes or not.

Waiting: 1) I submitted my application on Tuesday the 16th March. 2) I received an sms and email a WEEK later letting me know my application had been received. 3) After 2 weeks I emailed to find out whether the SMS service I had paid for was working, as I had only received one sms in 2 weeks (notifying me of the receipt of my application). - The response to my email was a generic email notifying me that I'd get an sms when my visa has been approved. (If i had known I was paying for 2 sms's - an sms on submission and an sms on completion - I wouldnt have bothered)

Below I've pasted the description of the SMS service from VFS website:

"Stay up to date on the progress of your application, with regular SMS updates. The SMS service keeps you in the loop at all times - sending an automated message to your mobile phone at key stages of the application process. Which means no needless worry, no long periods of uncer*****y, and no wondering about the status of your application."

4) After 3 weeks of waiting I tried calling the number on the website multiple times with the intention of speaking to an operator or someone that could give me some guidance or assistance. Every time I called VFS, the automated response said I was calling outside of the operation hours between 8am-5pm Monday to Friday, despite me calling during those supposed 'working hours'. (I have yet been able to reach an operator).

Unfortunately there is no happy ending to this story and I am still waiting blindly with no idea when I will get ANY response on my visa application. I have spent R20k+ pushing out my flights, with no end in sight.