Bad service experienced from Vodacom since day one

<p>I purchased a cell phone on contract with Vodacom in April 2016. The name of the phone is Sony xperia M5, a "water resistant phone". in early December 2016 my phone accidently fell in water and it stopped working, it just did not want to switch on afterwards and i could not make use of the phone anymore and just put it away with the intention of booking it in at Vodacom as soon as i was able to.</p> <p>In January 2017 i went to Vodacom Carnival mall (where I purchased the phone) to book in the phone, at that time the phone could switch on but the screen was not functioning, I was told that the phone will have to be taken to the repair centre and I will take 7 - 14 working days for the phone to repaired and i will be given an update as soon as the repair centre has received the phoned, which actually happened.</p> <p>1st update was that, the phone has been received by Vodacom Repair Centre Eastgate</p> <p>2nd update was that, the phone has been sent for a higher level repair to the advanced repair centre</p> <p>3rd update was that, the phone has been received at the Advanced Repair Centre</p> <p>4th update was that, the phone is currently in the quality assessment process</p> <p>5th update was that, the phone has been despatched from the Advanced Repair Centre to Vodacom Repairs Eastgate</p> <p>6th update was that, the phone is currently in transit to the Vodacom Collection Point and was asked to bring my ID/Drivers licence for verification</p> <p>7th and last update was that, the phone is ready for collection at the Vodacom Collection Point at Carnival Mall.</p> <p>Two days later I went to Carnival Mall excited that I am finally getting my phone back, with the impression that my phone has been repaired, to my surprised I was told that the phone has not been repaired because it is BER (Beyond Economical Repair) and nowhere in all the updates was I advised of that, only when I got to the collection point.</p> <p>The consultants at the collection were also surprised as to why as I showed them the updates and they referred me back to the repair centre, and said I must call them the following morning as it was already late.</p> <p>I called the repair centre the following morning and asked them why I was never made aware and only made aware at the collection point, and also why they were not willing to repair or replace the phone since it is a water resistant phone.</p> <p>I was given attitude by the two agents I spoke to and I was told that I was the one who was careless with the phone and since the phone is liquid damaged, they are not going to repair nor replace it even though it is a water resistant phone.</p> <p>I have a friend who was in the same situation, but had a contract with Cell C and Cell C replaced the phone. I also have a friend who works at Cell C and I checked with him and he advised that Vodacom is supposed to replace the phone if it is BER, since it is a water resistant phone. Cause that is what they do on their side.</p>