Cellular runabout

<p>Hi.. My experience with Vodacom over the past 5weeks has been nothing short of shocking. I called the customer care line on the first Monday of November 2016 to inform them that I wanted to cancel my WIFI contract, which was ending its 24month duration at the end of November, with effect on the 30th of November.</p> <p>I awoke on the 30th of November to find, to my surprise, that my cellular phone was as good as a landline. I was unable to send SMS or make a call. I could only accept calls and SMS, and was only able to use the internet on the device when I was connected to WIFI.</p> <p>I called customer care several times again, and was informed that my number was now prepaid and that I could buy airtime and data bundles while Vodacom sorted out the problem, which could take up to 72hours to rectify. I bought airtime and data, but was unable to load it.</p> <p>Nonetheless I stuck it out with difficulty, but when by 11 December it was still not sorted out, I decided to go to Vodacom in Kolonnade, where I was assisted kindly by one of the salesmen. He and I then concluded that the easiest way for me to get my number back on contract was to open a new contract and port my now prepaid number to the new contract. We then proceeded to do so, I walked out of the store with a brand new handset, a brand new Smart S+ contract and later received communication from Vodacom informing me that I was now on the Smart M contract, not Smart S+ as I had requested, and that my contract was loaded with a sim only option, meaning that I had not received a device with it.</p> <p>As this was not true, and I was trying to be honest, I went back to the store to report the error, and dealt with the same, very helpful salesman, who informed me that we would have to cancel the contract, then await communication from Vodacom that it was successfully cancelled, and then apply for a new contract again. I agreed, as this seemed logical at the time.</p> <p>The contract was cancelled, I waited, and then when I heard nothing from Vodacom I went back to the store, met the same salesman, and he then showed me the email notifying him of the successful cancellation, and then did the re-application for my cellular number, and assured me that my number would be up and running within hours. He then went to the admin department in the back of the store to hand my new application in. By the next day I still was not able to use my line, and decided to upscale my complaint to the store manager as I felt bad for bothering the poor salesman each time with my problem, as it clearly was not his fault. He had signed me up to the contract of my choice, of which I have a copy as proof, and the error was made by either the admin people in the store who signed me up to the incorrect contract, or at the head office.</p> <p>I spoke to the manager, who went to the admin people at the back of the store, and returned a few minutes later with my contract. We were both surprised to find that the people in the back had app**** for a contract on the WIFI number, WHICH I HAD CANCELLED IN NOVEMBER AND DIDN'T WANT ANYMORE! </p> <p>I then waited in the store while the manager cancelled this request, and did a new application. Duly, I received an sms from Vodacom stating that my new quotation was being processed while I was waiting. The manager then came back, informed me that my application was approved, that they had done everything necessary from their side, that my line should be up and running within hours, and thanked me for coming to him with my complaint.</p> <p>That was on 05/01/2016. Today is 08/01/2016 and I am still unable to use my cellular line. I have called customer care, who have been unable to assist me. My gripe at this point is not with the salesman or manager, who have both assisted me to the best of their abilities as far as I can tell, but with the administrative staff, either in the store or head office, who seem unable to do their work efficiently.</p> <p>In summary, for cancelling my WIFI, I now have no cellular line (not what I requested) and have app**** 3times for a contract. As a medical doctor at a very busy public hospital, I have very little time to spend going to Vodacom to sort out problems which are quite honestly not of my making, and I have very embarrasingly, been arranging my theatre lists and communicating with my colleagues via... wait for it...... "Please call me". I am now at my wits end and frustrated.</p> <p>Someone, anyone, please advise.</p> <p> </p> <p> </p>