Merry Xmas from Vodacom! - now PAY us R2.7K xoxo

Yesterday as I was about to drive I received several SMS's warning me about data usage.

17:24 - Less than 98MB left 17:24 - Less than 38MB left 17:25 - Used R11 out of Bundle

At this point, I turned off mobile data thinking nothing of it, as it is near month end and we are permanently on wifi.

When I arrived at my destination I received several more SMS's

17:26 - Used R158 out of Bundle 17:26 - Used R104 out of Bundle (Yes in that order) 17:26 - Used R305 our of Bundle 17:26 - Your data on 082***XX82 has run out. 17:26 - Used R608 out of Bundle 17:27 - Used R902 out of Bundle

At this point I immediately phone customer care, holding on for listening to promotions for almost a minute before even having the option to choose to speak to a consultant. A lady answered and the line promptly disconnected due to Vodacom's usual line dropping service. I phoned again but received an incoming call so I hung up to accept the incoming call - which also dropped. Just another day being PREMIUM Red Vantage customer. I phoned customer care AGAIN. Holding another minute before being able to talk to a consultant. The call didn't drop this time. (Usually with Vodacom 3rd time is the charm)

After going through the hoops to verify I am the actual account holder, the lady assured me on her side that according to the system I still had 1.7GB data left on my contract, but that she would phone me the next day. I left it at that and went about my business.

Later the afternoon I noticed there had been more messages while my line was busy dropping.

17:31 - Used R1,205 out of Bundle 17:32 - Used R1,512 out of Bundle

(I checked my phone records and my phone data usage has been 992MB OFF of wifi)

It is now the following day and said lady has not contacted me yet, however, my cellphone bill for the month has updated to R2.7K on the myVodacom app.

Just some background. I am and have been a Vodacom customer all my life, and was one of the first people to switch over to the Red contracts when they launched. (I am still on a Red Vantage contract)

On the 4th of November I went in to the Vodacom store at Irene to look at changing my contract from Red Vantage (the old one R999 - 700 minutes, limitless sms's and 1GB of data) to the Red Select+ (The newer Red Vantage contract - R999 - 800 minutes, limitless sms's 2GB of data) BUT guess again, the Vodacom system was down, and they couldn't generate the migration - but a rep would phone me two weeks ago to complete the migration when the systems are online (I'm still waiting - so I assume Vodacoms systems are STILL offline? Or they just downt want to migrate their old customers to a better plan)

All that aside, I can barely have a normal phone conversation with all the calls dropping all the time BUT somehow manage to use R1.5K of data in less than five minutes, yet again the sms's don't come through due to poor service reception and even the call to their own call centre drops.

I vow you this Vodacom - If you don't resolve this issue and if you actually debit the R1.5K extra from my account, our long standing business relationship is over, and you will convert a loyal customer to a very verbal public enemy.

The ball is in your court.