NJ
Nicole J
1 reviews | Active since Apr 2014
14 Dec 2020, 21:12
Pathetic service
Dear Greg Smuts ***ner of Vodacom 4U Vangate)
On the 13th December 2020 I purchased a P40 Lite from the Vodacom 4U store in Vangate mall.
We were advised by the consultant employed within the store that we could access the Google apps on the device (through the App Gallery). Upon returning home and trying to set up the handset (and after thorough research) we discovered that the above was not possible. We were promised Google apps and not shortcuts!!! The device is not supported by Google at all! We were also not advised to read the documentation and only asked to place initials wherever an asterisk was marked. This entire process was dealt with so unprofessionally!!
We approached you to request to return the device and receive a full refund as it was purchased under incorrect information provided by your employee. You indicated that this was not possible despite that fact that in terms of the Consumer Protection Act 68 of 2008 we have the right to return the device within five (5) business days after the agreement was concluded.
I would like to inform you that if you do not allow me to exercise my right in terms of the CPA I will have to take matters further.
I do not have your email address and hopefully this will reach you. I hope we can resolve this matter accordingly.
Nicole
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Replies (4)
Vodacom's replyOfficial
15 Dec 2020, 07:03Dear Customer, Thank you for making us aware of your complaint. Kindly be advised that a consultant will make contact with you in due course to assist with your query. ***Please note*** Beware of phishing ****s. Vodacom will not contact you via Whatsapp to request your personal details Regards, Vodacom Consumer Website Team
Vodacom's reply15 Dec 2020, 07:03
Official
Dear Customer, Thank you for making us aware of your complaint. Kindly be advised that a consultant will make contact with you in due course to assist with your query. ***Please note*** Beware of phishing ****s. Vodacom will not contact you via Whatsapp to request your personal details Regards, Vodacom Consumer Website Team
NJ
Nicole J's updateReviewer Update
15 Dec 2020, 11:39To whom it may concern.
My sister was pickpocketed on Friday 11 December 2020 and her phone was ******. We then decided to go to Vodacom 4U in Vangate Mall to purchase a new phone cash. Upon entering the store, we explained to the consultant that we'd like the P40 lite as my sister had her P30 lite ******. She advised that this was a perfect choice and gave us some contract options, however, we agreed to purchase the phone cash. She also mentioned that this device does not come with Google apps pre-installed and that we shouldn't worry as these apps could be obtained in the Hauwei "AppGallery". This placed our hearts at ease as we knew we'd be able to get the apps once the handset had been setup.
AppGallery is Hauwei's version of Google Play Store. The consultant then had the paperwork ready and marked an * wherever my sister had to initial or sign. This entire process took less than a minute before the consultant had the paperwork back in her hands. No reading of any documentation took place at this time. The R6000.00 cash was then paid and we headed home, all very excited to set up her new device. Upon setting up, I noticed some frustration in her face and asked what was wrong. She then showed me that the Google apps actually cannot be obtained on the Hauwei App Gallery. I then did some thorough research and found out that all new Hauwei devices are not supported by Google due to the sour Trump-China relationship at the moment. We're now in quite a desperate situation as my sister had her entire life backed up on her Google account and the only way to retrieve this information would be to have a new Google-supported device. This device adds shortcuts of the many google supported apps and they take one to the respective websites. They cannot be called apps. I was contacted by the owner of the store. His name is Greg Smuts. When I spoke with him I advised him that the phone, at that exact moment we spoke, wasn't even 24 hours old and that we wanted a refund. He advised that he's sold 100s of these phones and has had no issues. He also advised that he cannot take the phone back as it had been opened. Apparently he wouldn't be able to sell it. He also said that we had to make sure we read the documents we were signing but as I mentioned above, that particular process was so quick and the consultant had the paperwork back in her hands within a minute. My sister is now stuck with a cellphone that she cannot use as all her information has been backed up onto her Google account. I have called Vodacom customer care on multiple occasions on the evening of 13th December 2020 and they advised that we have 14 days to return the phone. You are welcome to trace these calls as proof. Greg Smuts seemed adamant that he's not interested in meeting us halfway. My sister no longer has her old phone to do a backup so she really needs a google-supported phone to do so. She has since purchased a google-supported device on Takealot and now we're having to either sell this P40 lite privately or have Vodacom meet us halfway and return our money. I have been a client of Vodacom's for over 10 years and this is by far the worst service I have ever received. Please kindly advise the way forward. The phone is about a day and a half old now and I need my money back!
Kindly note that I have contacted the National Consumer Commision and CPA re this matter should Vodacom not meet us halfway.
Regards,
Nicole Jacobs***
My sister was pickpocketed on Friday 11 December 2020 and her phone was ******. We then decided to go to Vodacom 4U in Vangate Mall to purchase a new phone cash. Upon entering the store, we explained to the consultant that we'd like the P40 lite as my sister had her P30 lite ******. She advised that this was a perfect choice and gave us some contract options, however, we agreed to purchase the phone cash. She also mentioned that this device does not come with Google apps pre-installed and that we shouldn't worry as these apps could be obtained in the Hauwei "AppGallery". This placed our hearts at ease as we knew we'd be able to get the apps once the handset had been setup.
AppGallery is Hauwei's version of Google Play Store. The consultant then had the paperwork ready and marked an * wherever my sister had to initial or sign. This entire process took less than a minute before the consultant had the paperwork back in her hands. No reading of any documentation took place at this time. The R6000.00 cash was then paid and we headed home, all very excited to set up her new device. Upon setting up, I noticed some frustration in her face and asked what was wrong. She then showed me that the Google apps actually cannot be obtained on the Hauwei App Gallery. I then did some thorough research and found out that all new Hauwei devices are not supported by Google due to the sour Trump-China relationship at the moment. We're now in quite a desperate situation as my sister had her entire life backed up on her Google account and the only way to retrieve this information would be to have a new Google-supported device. This device adds shortcuts of the many google supported apps and they take one to the respective websites. They cannot be called apps. I was contacted by the owner of the store. His name is Greg Smuts. When I spoke with him I advised him that the phone, at that exact moment we spoke, wasn't even 24 hours old and that we wanted a refund. He advised that he's sold 100s of these phones and has had no issues. He also advised that he cannot take the phone back as it had been opened. Apparently he wouldn't be able to sell it. He also said that we had to make sure we read the documents we were signing but as I mentioned above, that particular process was so quick and the consultant had the paperwork back in her hands within a minute. My sister is now stuck with a cellphone that she cannot use as all her information has been backed up onto her Google account. I have called Vodacom customer care on multiple occasions on the evening of 13th December 2020 and they advised that we have 14 days to return the phone. You are welcome to trace these calls as proof. Greg Smuts seemed adamant that he's not interested in meeting us halfway. My sister no longer has her old phone to do a backup so she really needs a google-supported phone to do so. She has since purchased a google-supported device on Takealot and now we're having to either sell this P40 lite privately or have Vodacom meet us halfway and return our money. I have been a client of Vodacom's for over 10 years and this is by far the worst service I have ever received. Please kindly advise the way forward. The phone is about a day and a half old now and I need my money back!
Kindly note that I have contacted the National Consumer Commision and CPA re this matter should Vodacom not meet us halfway.
Regards,
Nicole Jacobs***
NJ
Nicole J's update15 Dec 2020, 11:39
Reviewer Update
To whom it may concern.
My sister was pickpocketed on Friday 11 December 2020 and her phone was ******. We then decided to go to Vodacom 4U in Vangate Mall to purchase a new phone cash. Upon entering the store, we explained to the consultant that we'd like the P40 lite as my sister had her P30 lite ******. She advised that this was a perfect choice and gave us some contract options, however, we agreed to purchase the phone cash. She also mentioned that this device does not come with Google apps pre-installed and that we shouldn't worry as these apps could be obtained in the Hauwei "AppGallery". This placed our hearts at ease as we knew we'd be able to get the apps once the handset had been setup.
AppGallery is Hauwei's version of Google Play Store. The consultant then had the paperwork ready and marked an * wherever my sister had to initial or sign. This entire process took less than a minute before the consultant had the paperwork back in her hands. No reading of any documentation took place at this time. The R6000.00 cash was then paid and we headed home, all very excited to set up her new device. Upon setting up, I noticed some frustration in her face and asked what was wrong. She then showed me that the Google apps actually cannot be obtained on the Hauwei App Gallery. I then did some thorough research and found out that all new Hauwei devices are not supported by Google due to the sour Trump-China relationship at the moment. We're now in quite a desperate situation as my sister had her entire life backed up on her Google account and the only way to retrieve this information would be to have a new Google-supported device. This device adds shortcuts of the many google supported apps and they take one to the respective websites. They cannot be called apps. I was contacted by the owner of the store. His name is Greg Smuts. When I spoke with him I advised him that the phone, at that exact moment we spoke, wasn't even 24 hours old and that we wanted a refund. He advised that he's sold 100s of these phones and has had no issues. He also advised that he cannot take the phone back as it had been opened. Apparently he wouldn't be able to sell it. He also said that we had to make sure we read the documents we were signing but as I mentioned above, that particular process was so quick and the consultant had the paperwork back in her hands within a minute. My sister is now stuck with a cellphone that she cannot use as all her information has been backed up onto her Google account. I have called Vodacom customer care on multiple occasions on the evening of 13th December 2020 and they advised that we have 14 days to return the phone. You are welcome to trace these calls as proof. Greg Smuts seemed adamant that he's not interested in meeting us halfway. My sister no longer has her old phone to do a backup so she really needs a google-supported phone to do so. She has since purchased a google-supported device on Takealot and now we're having to either sell this P40 lite privately or have Vodacom meet us halfway and return our money. I have been a client of Vodacom's for over 10 years and this is by far the worst service I have ever received. Please kindly advise the way forward. The phone is about a day and a half old now and I need my money back!
Kindly note that I have contacted the National Consumer Commision and CPA re this matter should Vodacom not meet us halfway.
Regards,
Nicole Jacobs***
My sister was pickpocketed on Friday 11 December 2020 and her phone was ******. We then decided to go to Vodacom 4U in Vangate Mall to purchase a new phone cash. Upon entering the store, we explained to the consultant that we'd like the P40 lite as my sister had her P30 lite ******. She advised that this was a perfect choice and gave us some contract options, however, we agreed to purchase the phone cash. She also mentioned that this device does not come with Google apps pre-installed and that we shouldn't worry as these apps could be obtained in the Hauwei "AppGallery". This placed our hearts at ease as we knew we'd be able to get the apps once the handset had been setup.
AppGallery is Hauwei's version of Google Play Store. The consultant then had the paperwork ready and marked an * wherever my sister had to initial or sign. This entire process took less than a minute before the consultant had the paperwork back in her hands. No reading of any documentation took place at this time. The R6000.00 cash was then paid and we headed home, all very excited to set up her new device. Upon setting up, I noticed some frustration in her face and asked what was wrong. She then showed me that the Google apps actually cannot be obtained on the Hauwei App Gallery. I then did some thorough research and found out that all new Hauwei devices are not supported by Google due to the sour Trump-China relationship at the moment. We're now in quite a desperate situation as my sister had her entire life backed up on her Google account and the only way to retrieve this information would be to have a new Google-supported device. This device adds shortcuts of the many google supported apps and they take one to the respective websites. They cannot be called apps. I was contacted by the owner of the store. His name is Greg Smuts. When I spoke with him I advised him that the phone, at that exact moment we spoke, wasn't even 24 hours old and that we wanted a refund. He advised that he's sold 100s of these phones and has had no issues. He also advised that he cannot take the phone back as it had been opened. Apparently he wouldn't be able to sell it. He also said that we had to make sure we read the documents we were signing but as I mentioned above, that particular process was so quick and the consultant had the paperwork back in her hands within a minute. My sister is now stuck with a cellphone that she cannot use as all her information has been backed up onto her Google account. I have called Vodacom customer care on multiple occasions on the evening of 13th December 2020 and they advised that we have 14 days to return the phone. You are welcome to trace these calls as proof. Greg Smuts seemed adamant that he's not interested in meeting us halfway. My sister no longer has her old phone to do a backup so she really needs a google-supported phone to do so. She has since purchased a google-supported device on Takealot and now we're having to either sell this P40 lite privately or have Vodacom meet us halfway and return our money. I have been a client of Vodacom's for over 10 years and this is by far the worst service I have ever received. Please kindly advise the way forward. The phone is about a day and a half old now and I need my money back!
Kindly note that I have contacted the National Consumer Commision and CPA re this matter should Vodacom not meet us halfway.
Regards,
Nicole Jacobs***
NJ
Nicole J's updateReviewer Update
15 Dec 2020, 22:28I was not contacted today. Such ****py service, Vodacom!
NJ
Nicole J's update15 Dec 2020, 22:28
Reviewer Update
I was not contacted today. Such ****py service, Vodacom!
NJ
Nicole J's updateReviewer Update
17 Dec 2020, 13:59What's you're explanation for the consultant personally contacting my sister and apologizing about this? She mentioned that her manager had told her that she gave us unprofessional service. I won't rest until this is resolved!
NJ
Nicole J's update17 Dec 2020, 13:59
Reviewer Update
What's you're explanation for the consultant personally contacting my sister and apologizing about this? She mentioned that her manager had told her that she gave us unprofessional service. I won't rest until this is resolved!