IMPOSSIBLE TO CANCEL A VODACOM CONTRACT

I have been trying to change a two year cell phone contract to a pre-paid contract and to retain my existing number. I have been a client of Vodacom since I bought my first cell phone more than 20 years ago. I have visited several branches where I have been told that I must be done telephonically. I have tried for days to contact the call centre at 082195 Option 2 for days. I have even gone back to the Heidelberg Branch where they also tried to contact the call centre without success. Only the call centre is allowed to change or cancel the contract. They just don't answer. I have even tried to call the number for upgrades which is answered almost immediately. They are also not allowed to change my contract. Nobody at Vodacom can advise me on an alternative way to do the changes I require.

The only conclusion I can make is that is a deliberate strategy. People enquiring about upgrading or new contract are helped immediately. If you want to cancel or down grade you are frustrated. If the contracts are not cancelled or downgraded before the end of a month you have to pay for an additional month the higher rate or for a service you don't use or need any more. In the mean time you must spend hours on a phone praying that someone answers and assist you. Vodacom is ************ and try to keep more lucrative contracts going for as long as possible.

What do I do now? Not even the branch manager was able to help me. Am I doomed to pay this contract for months/years to come? Can somebody please help!

I also have a Vodacom fibre contract. Initially I also had to phone the call centre almost weekly due to no or poor service. My experience was that some of the people at the call centre was rude, dropped calls or just laughed at me. I also tried to cancel the fibre contract. I would only be allowed to cancel the contract if I pay in excess of R20 000 for the period remaining on the contract. This means that they don't have to address your problems timeously as they are guaranteed that I have to pay them for the full period. I feel it is one sided and very disapointed with Vodacom's business model.