I overpaid Vodacom to cancel my contract... and they still won't help and make it impossible

The story with Vodacom continues. I overpaid on an arrears account (which was verbally cancelled in 2020) - anyway, long story short - had to spend another day not getting to my own work to cancel a contract. My latest has been with the Collections Dept. See you can't use customer care when your account is in arrears. Anyway. Timeline...

Vodacom didn't update my profile with collections, so I've spent another 4hours trying to get this sorted, from a Cell C number, because I don't have a Vodacom line. So far the timeline is;

January 2020 1) Device ****** with SIM 2) Report it ****** and try to get replacement device through Finrite after years of insurance payment 3) Nothing. No help.

February 2020 1) Finally get the all clear for a replacement device (not within the 48hrs Vodacom boasts with on their website), told I can go to any store, any day. 2) Go to Vodashop Irene Mall. Sit another 30min with an agent, taking copies of ID, etc. 30min's in he tells me; "I can't help you on a Sunday because Finrite is not online to verify". Something I could have been told 30 earlier. 3) Upset the next day I decide to rather cancel the contract than continue any business with Vodacom. Sent a premature contract cancellation form. Phone back, tell agent okay I'll finish my month and she says she will cancel contract. 4) All Vodacom email is regarded as spam.

January 2021 1) See bills from Vodacom. First query it. 2) No response. 3) Stop all payments to Vodacom.

April 2021 1) Receive legal letter. Query why an account for a number that is not active and was reported ****** the previous year, tell Vodacom about cancellation. Ask why two more months of additional billing was added after January. 2) Told there was "technical difficulties" January, they didn't see my query. 3) Told can't cancel contract when account is in arrears. 4) Go through a few days of back and forth. 5) Give up and pay what is owed. 6) Vodacom can't cancel contract until amount reflects. 7) Wait two days. Try again. Told by agent at collections they're updating my profile. In an hour I can phone again. 8) Phone cancellations and upgrades. 9) Told go back to step 6. 10) Collections admit they didn't update profile. Told the supervisor Zanele will phone me back. 11 to 100) Zanele didn't phone back. 101) No help, no support. It is literally impossible to cancel your contract with Vodacom. I even went as far as 'upgrading' my contract today - and even that is nearly impossible. Hands down Vodacom has only ever performed poorly on all fronts. I remember back in 2014 when I started the said contract for an iPad the wrong colour and wrong spec device was delivered. The agent in store actually blamed me for not confirming, when the colour I ordered and the spec were captured - he ordered the wrong device. Really. I really don't know what to do. I'm so done. Tired. ****ed off. Done. Yet, it falls on me to sort this out. There is ZERO assistance from Vodacom, as proven again today when you're put through to department after department. 102) Another work day wasted. Zanele was unavailable. Finally reached Collections again and was told this. A new supervisor, Sena, Xena or Zena is next in line, and will phone "within the hour" 103) Sena, Xena or Zena hasn't phones. Nor will she...

I really think I likely spent a good 24 to 26hrs on the phone with Vodacom since January to replace a ****** device and to cancel a contract. Neither of which has happened. But I will receive a bill for a device, and contract with them I don't have in the next few days. Of that I am sure.