Pathetic system, pathetic company

I'm a former Vodacom customer who ported my last number away four or five years ago. Now I try to take out two new contracts for my twins turning 14 tomorrow and I am told my account balance is zero (and has been for years) but I cannot get the phones because the status does not show settled. Called the customer call center and even the supervisor has zero authority to fix a clear administrative error. Pathetic Vodacom. Truly pathetic.