Shocking service by Vodacom

<p>I was on a Vodacom contract for two years, and decided to convert to prepaid after the contract expired. I gave written notice in advance, and this was accepted by Vodacom. I recharged with prepaid on the date as instructed by Vodacom to ensure that my contract would be cancelled at the end of April and I would be transferred to prepaid on 1 May.</p> <p> </p> <p>On Wednesday 4 May, I was charged for another month of the contract. I immediately complained and was contacted by Vodacom, who said that my records were traced and I was totally in the right, and Vodacom made a mistake. They said I would be reimbursed immediately, and that by midnight on 4 May, the contract would be cancelled and I would be immediately transferred to prepaid. However, I woke up on 5 May with no Vodacom service at all, and this problem persists until today (12 May). In other words, my contract was cancelled, but I was not transferred to prepaid. I cannot send or receive SMSes, or make or receive calls. I can connect to Internet based services via Wi-Fi. I have also not been reimbursed.</p> <p> </p> <p>I have been in daily contact with Vodacom via phone, email and Facebook. After being given the run around to an extreme degree and told many different stories, I eventually took the day off work on Friday 6 May and went in to the Vodacom care centre at Gateway. They informed me that my number no longer exists on Vodacom. They helped me by forwarding my complaint to management and said that I should hopefully be able to get my number and services back (on a prepaid basis). They said my problem will be sorted (one way or another) within 24 to 48 hours. This did not happen.</p> <p> </p> <p>I have persisted in nagging Vodacom and was told yesterday that I will have my number and services restored by today (12 May). It is now 17:00 and my services are not restored, and my attempts to get in touch with Vodacom are ignored.</p> <p> </p> <p>I work from home as a university lecturer on a contract basis, and I am paid when I work. Part of my job description is to be in daily contact with hundreds of students across the country and the continent, as well as internationally. I cannot perform my services adequately because Vodacom has failed dismally in delivering a service to me. It is causing me a massive problem at my work, during exam time to boot. Vodacom could very well cause me to have a loss of earnings if this continues any longer, and if this occurs, I will be seeking compensation from Vodacom. I could not even use Internet banking because of this problem and I had an ordeal with the bank in changing my SMS notifications.</p> <p> </p> <p>Apart from the above, it is a massive safety risk for a young woman to be left without means of communication, particularly when travelling or going out. If something should happen to me and I am left stranded, will Vodacom be liable for this?</p> <p> </p> <p>I will never go on to another Vodacom contract and nor will anyone in my household. I am waiting to get my number back and will then look into transferring to another company for my prepaid needs.</p>