False Advertising; Charged to Resolve Further

TL;DR: False advertising, blocks your number due to '*****' and charges you R2 per minute to call Vodacom numbers.

I took out an offer on November 7th 2025, which was displayed on the Vodacom website, featuring a Samsung Galaxy A36 5G device and a free watch (presumably a Samsung Galaxy Fit3). Vodacom informed me that the deal watch wouldn't be displayed on the page where I would apply for the offer, as Vodacom did not deliver it. But I will be able to claim the watch from the Samsung Members app.

When I received the phone, I noted that I could only claim a Samsung Galaxy Buds Core. I phoned Vodacom, who directed me to contact Samsung. Samsung informed me that Vodacom made the mistake, as the promotion expired in August/September 2025, and that I had to take it up with them.

When I then followed up with Vodacom, I was informed that the matter had been handed over to a manager and that they would contact me; a week later, nothing... I then contacted Vodacom again to follow up and was told that "there was a recent update" on the profile and that there was a "dispatch" from RAM Couriers, but they didn't know what for. They were going to call me back, which never happened.

I then contacted Vodacom again and went through several departments; each was "unable" to help. The last one informed me that they couldn't transfer me to another department; when I pushed back, they transferred me, but instead of being transferred, I was informed that my number was flagged due to the number of times I had called Vodacom ('*****ulent activity') and that any further calls would be charged at R2 a minute.

This is ******** and HOSTILE. You make a mistake, refuse to fix it, then conveniently start charging me for trying to fix YOUR mistake.

I invite Vodacom to resolve this matter within the next seven working days; otherwise, I will be compelled to escalate the issue further with the relevant authority.