****s and ************s

I was contacted last year by a Vodacom representative promising me a free data sim if I renew my cellular contract. I repeatedly asked if this would imply any increase in my current bill as I did not have additional cash flow for a higher cell bill. I received my sim and router, but soon after that I started seeing and additional R267/month for this data sim. I phoned several numbers several times with statements like "it was a mistake" or "the agent probably ****...they do that"(!!) and the promise that the contract will be cancelled. I even went to a Vodacom shop, where they said that they cannot help me, I must just phone the same numbers again. The cancellation never happened and out of exhaustion I gave up the fight.

However, yesterday I received an e-mail that my fiber package will go up from R808 to R949/month on 1 April. I phoned immediately and was informed that Vodacom decided to upgrade my package from 50Mbps to 100Mbps and the only way I can keep my bill low would be to renew my contract (my contract expires in July). When I took out the contract middel 2022 I paid R598/month. Thus a 58% increase in less than 2 years if I don't renew my contract. Now if that is not corporate extorsion, then I don't know what is.

Vodacom has become a company that treats their customers unfairly by lying to them and extorsion. I will most probably cancel all my Vodacom contracts now, but I believe these activities needs to be highlighted and made known. Sales staff have no accountability and those who tried to help are disempowered.