My descent into insanity with Vodacom

This is a saga of the descent into lunacy with Vodacom as a "service provider".

Since 18 June 2018, there has been an issue with the continual hardlocking of this sim card. This happens systematically every 2 to 3 days. I have been attempting, through calls to the ********** number (which somehow always brings me to the normal customer care centre, not business???) to resolve the issue and establish why this is happening. Most often the reason given is "the account is in arrears". This cannot be, as Vodacom gets their money, every month, without fail, via debit order on 15th?? On checking the system, the agent will then confirm that the account is in fact NOT in arrears?? Other paltry excuses I have been given are You need to be RICA'd General Customer Care has put in a "special request hardlock" A certain employee at a Vodacom4U shop in Paarl has been putting through a "special request hardlock". This was from the Team leader I spoke to a few days ago - Thato Khoele, who couldn't tell me why this would be and that I should take it up with the employee?? It is a system error - several service requests were put through for a technical person to call me but that has never happened??

Yesterday (17 July 2018) I went the Vodacom4U shop in Paarl and spoke to Virgil, the employee who has apparently hardlocked my sim every 2 days from 18 June - he knows nothing about this? He made a call on my behalf to the ********** and was passed from pillar to post (as I have been every time I call to get the sim unlocked). Business CC put him through to the accounts department who say I'm in arrears, they then say he must speak to Retentions. Here is the latest, most ridiculous reason given yesterday by Sbimangele (spelling??) at 16:06 - the phone/sim card was reported ******??? This person cannot give us any details and says we need to speak to another department. She puts Virgil through ..... TO PREPAID??? WTH???

And so we have to call, again and again, ad nauseum in a never-ending loop of UTTER USELESSNESS, INEFFICIENCY, AND THE MOST SHOCKING CUSTOMER SERVICE I HAVE EVER EXPERIENCED. This from Africa's supposedly biggest mobile service provider????

This is not the only issue I have with Vodacom's most atrocious way of dealing with customers. I have had nothing but grief since May 2017 when I took over managing my deceased son's business. Whether I have dealt with Customer, Business CC, the Vodacom shop in Paarl Mall (these people are beyond useless and have extremely bad attitudes), it has all been an experience in madness.

I have spent countless hours, huge volumes of energy and valuable personal time trying to sort out many issues, speaking telephonically, in person and via email to dozens of Vodacom employees. There have been issues regarding admin, money owed to me, faulty modems, etc etc etc. The ONLY satisfactory result I have had is from a Customer Care Team leader some 2 weeks ago, and Sturton & Virgil from the Vodacom4U shop in Paarl.

I also have very serious issues with data that disappears at an alarming rate (with feeble excuses given). I believe Vodacom has a way of depleting their product - many subscribers report this on data and prepaid minutes. Once Vodacom has the money (at premium rates - most expensive in the world???), they don't give a rat's @$$ about where your data has gone. Doing this systematically each month brings in a HUGE revenue. I would like to see this investigated by ICASA and other control bodies.

I am at my wit's end. I don't know what else I need to do to resolve what is clearly a continental %@#* up with Vodacom's poor business management. It is shocking beyond belief. Vodacom needs to be taken to task.

I have volumes of evidence to back up all that I have stated herein, and more.