Dismal Vodacom performance over an extended period

As per my previous complaints about lack of signal, the experience with Vodacom - where they are the sole supplier of cell phone signal in the area, has been dismal over the past year - so it is not a one time experience that could happen to anyone!

DISMAL CUSTOMER SERVICE! I was even bluntly told that I should seek another supplier in the area despite telling them they are the only tower in that area! The challenge is that having moved into the area over 10 years ago and having bad signal, their planning department assured me that all was well and that a new tower would be erected within months and that all they were waiting for was municipal authorisation. A few months back I was informed that they would extend the capacity of the existing tower however it is obvious, the Planner was lying!

LIES INSTEAD OF COMPETENCE AND FEEDBACK Recently I was informed by our local management group that a tower was to be erected and that all necessary negotiations took less than 3 months! Ten years later! Effectively the planning department is *********** and **** to cover their ****s for far too many years!

FINANCIAL LOSS The next issue is related as due to lack of signal I had to retry on many occasions daily to get emails and other important information thru. Resetting your router more than 30 times a day some times was very aggravating!

Significant amounts of missing prepaid data, no matter how trivial to some, have a vast impact on pensioners and the poor of all types. Seeing gigabyes disappearing daily is no fun!

CUSTOMER CARE LIES TO PROTECT INCOMPETENCE Over the past year I have watched how the new prepaid billing system has *****ed up, providing false balances and then being reconciled later. As a programmer myself, it is obvious that the system was not fully tested to meet new requirements and you could see it from the messages. Totally unacceptable and yet another level of incompetence! This is a pity because Vodacom has some darn fine engineers who are truly dedicated and professional, yet get let down by these high paid plebs!

I asked for a refund and was bluntly told that Vodacom would not entertain a refund!

What is more annoying is that Customer Care kept closing the Call without finding out if the problem had been resolved, which, of course, it wasn't!

SPECIAL REQUEST I decided to approach ICASA on this matter as the proof is compelling. As part of this one has to approach a senior customer care officer at the supplier first.

Well this was done but the Call Center blocks any such request and 3 months later no one has approached me despite many further requests.

Since this is a matter of record, I will now approach ICASA and any relevant ombudsman available

This has been a dismally unprofessional performance by Vodacom!