Don't get insurance from Vodacom Insure

Do not get Vodacom Insurance I am in the process of claiming from Vodacom Insurance. It has been a total nightmare. The excess is meant to be R750 but the small print says that you have to pay a betterment fee should a like for like (A31) replacement not be available. As my a like for like replacement was discontinued, I was told I was covered for up to R5000 and that I would need to pay the balance of the betterment fee.

I was quoted a betterment fee of almost R2800 which included the R750 excess. The A33 was available instore for R6499, so the replacement fee plus excess should have been R2249 (R1499 + R750), however I was quoted just under R2800 around R500 more than this. When the instore consultant and I queried it, we were told there was a mark up on the replacement fee. This seems very unfair given that there is already an excess fee and betterment fee. When I later sent a complaint to Vodacom Insure about this, they said they couldn't do anything about it and I needed to take it up with the store. The store were prepared to give it to me for the betterment fee of R6499, however the system would not allow them to charge me the instore price. All of this took around 6 weeks. I finally cracked and went in today to pay the almost R2800 balance and have now been told that the A33 is discontinued and I may have to pay for an A34 which is way more expensive. However, I may not even be able to get this phone due to some cap on the price of the phone that I am allowed to buy. The instore consultant is going to call Joburg HO on Monday to see if they have an A33 for me.

Honestly, this insurance is just a ****. When you try to claim for a legitimate reason, you get charged for an upgrade whether you want it or not. Whether I can even get the A33 for the approx. R2800 balance is still up for debate.

I am extremely unhappy about the service I have received from Vodacom Insure and would definitely not recommend them. Even the instore consultants say don't buy the insurance, rather insure your phone through your home insurance. I have learnt my lesson!