Shocking treatment

<p>I have been a Vodacom customer forever. I spend a minimum of R1400 rand per month on my account and have a Red Advantage package. My phone has gone on the blink so I contacted Vodacom on Saturday the 25th June to ask whether I could get an early ugrade (meaning that I would extend my contract for a further 3 years. I was told that at store level they couldn't make that decision. I then asked if they could repair my phone (I was prepared to pay) and they flatly refused to accept it saying that as I had taken it in to a repair centre that they did not deem to be "approved" I should now have a pone that doesn't work and that they couldn't help me with an early upgrade. There was absolutely NO attempt to assist me at all. When I queried how I could cancel my contract I was told, ONLY in December. Another staff member in the store advised me to go to Vodaworld as they have the authority to do early upgrades. So I drove all the way out to Midrand. As I opened my mouth to ask about an early upgrade i was abruptly told that they could do nothing. I was actually in tears and sat outside on the wall and called the "CUSTOMER CARE" line. A lady there was sympathetic and promised to escalate the issue, I sat on the phone for about 20 minutes while she typed in the whole story, then gave me a reference number and assured me that I would be contacted in 48 hours. TWO WEEKS later (9th July) I had heard nothing. Called the CUSTOMER CARE line and gave the reference number. The agent did not once apologise that no-one had come back to me, merely told me that he couldn't help me. I then got very annoyed as he continued to tell me what he COULDN't do until I ended up demanding to have my call escalated, to which he told me that there was no-one to escalate it to. After telling him that he didn't know the meaning of CUSTOMER CARE he grudgingly said he wouldtransfer me to the upgrades department and then promptly cut me off. I am HORRIFIED and at this stage will look for every place I can to share this horrific story and will cancel my contract at the soonest opportunity I have. This is the reward for my loyalty to Vodacom, unbelievable!</p>