Exploitation by Vodacom The Grove - Sales Only!!

I am writing to formally lodge a complaint regarding the treatment my father received at your Vodacom branch in The Grove Mall, Pretoria. He was assisted by consultant Kate Phiri, and the transaction was signed off by Secondary Management Sako.

My father is 81 years old and a victim of a traumatic *******. In the aftermath of this deeply distressing event, he was simply seeking a phone to reconnect with my mother and regain some sense of stability. Instead of being treated with empathy and fairness, his vulnerable state was exploited.

He was sold the latest high-end phone valued at R26,000, along with unnecessary accessories such as multiple adapters, chargers, power banks, and a leather cover worth more than R2,000. He was told his existing charger would not work, which is untrue—the previous charger works perfectly. His previous phone, worth just over R7,000, was more than sufficient for his needs and met all of his requirements. Now he is burdened with a 36-month payment plan for a device and accessories he neither wanted nor needed. He cannot afford these costs, and it is clear that no consideration was given to his financial situation.

This conduct is unacceptable. It is ********* to take advantage of an elderly, traumatized customer for the sake of sales figures and commission. My father’s age and situation should have been respected, not exploited. The lack of empathy and integrity shown by your staff is deeply disappointing and raises serious concerns about Vodacom’s values.