Consumers NOT protected in eyes of Vodacom

<p>I went to the Vodashop in ****arney mall on a Tuesday to get a sim swop. The salesperson ended up showing me some phones and I agreed to acquiring a Samsung on a TopUp contract. He assured me that my number would be up and running in 3hourz max. I returned the next day with the phone that hadn't worked at all because of the sim swop not having been activated to begin with. My overall experience with Vodacom in less than 24hours showed me how my 24months of the agreement would be and I decided to null it. I told the store manager that I no longer wish to enter the Agreement, he refused.</p> <p>Now, the way I understand the Consumer Protection Act and the National Credit Act, as a Consumer I have a 5day cooling period after an agreement is concluded, "without reason or penalty" to rescind a transaction. One would think that Vodacom would at least educate their employees on such. </p> <p> </p> <p>After much frustration and no joy at the store, I drove to Vodaworld in Midrand to try cancel this deal. What I a told there was even more disheartening. A senior customer care personnel told me there was nothing they could do because the store is actually a franchise and I would be better off going to the ombudsman. After explaining that the name on the contract was "Vodacom" and the name outside and inside the ****arney store was "Vodacom", they still said their hands were tied if the store decided not to cancel the agreement. So basically they cannot hold their franchises accountable for complying with National regulations. </p> <p>Im essentially being held under duress and my rights as a Consumer are being blatantly infringed on. Why must we fight like this for basic things like this? Vodacom just turns a blind eye to its "franchises" infringing on customers rights. I'm appalled and quite furious about this, but I will not be forced into a 2 year marriage to a clearly has no respect for me as a customer.</p> <p> </p>