TL
Thabang L

1 reviews | Active since Jan 2010

25 May 2021, 10:47

So disappointed in Vodacom!

So I'm paying R1594 per month to Vodacom for data I can barely use! Last year when the country went to level 3 lockdown the network where I stay (Ga-Rankuwa, Zone 7) has been TERRIBLE to put in lightly. I called in and was told that the reason it's slow is because the network is overloaded seeing that people are home. This is NOT true! When the country was at level 5 and EVERYONE was home the network was fine. However can you say it's overloaded when we are at level 3 and people are back at work is it was fine during level 5? That makes no sense whatsoever. Nevertheless, I reported the issuing and was told that the technician checked the site and there is nothing wring with it. The problem persisted so I called in again after 2 month and again was told that the technician checked the site and there is nothing wrong. Honestly, this feedback means nothing to be because on a practical level, my network is not working well! And it only when I am home that it does this. I was advised to get a sim swap which I did two or three times paying R157 each time and that still did not solve the problem. When I am not within vicinity of my home my network works just fine meaning the issue is not with my phone. My wife is experiencing the same problem and this is extremely frustrating. Between my wife and I, we are paying R1100 for the data contract, data we can barely use. My wife is always home, attends online classes and needs proper internet connection for work. She does online facilitations and has had a need to buy data of a different network just to do her work while she has a lot of data in her phone, data we are paying R1100 per month. This has been a problem for a year and no the problem is not load shedding either. I have recorded a number of videos showing how slow it is! I attempted to send a 500kb picture via WhatsApp and it kept buffering for 1 full minute. I tried opening Youtube and it took 2 to 3 minutes JUST to load the home page. Can you imagine what would happen it I had to attempt to stream something? I have all this and more on video. My request is simple. I want to cancel my contact as well as my wife's contract WITHOUT being liable to pay the 75% cancellation fee. Why do I need to pay for something caused not by me, but by Vodacom? The only reason I am leaving is because we are unable to enjoy the data we are paying so much for. This is not my fault and I do not see why I need to be paying is I want to leave. The remaining R400 I will pay because it's data contract that I am not using and the simcards are therefore being used away from where I stay. Interestingly, MTN does not has a cancellation fee. That just tells you of how confident they are on their service! Vodacom on the other hand has to keep you bound to a contract you cannot get out of without a heavy fee which in turn will lead to a person not leaving because they don't have that 75% required to cancel. I am honestly not happy about this and would like to terminate my contract immediately. I have been with Vodacom 16/ 17 years now, but I am now fed up. I would not advice anyone to take up a contract with Vodacom because should you have a problem that is not your fault, you will be bound by the contract anyway!

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Replies (6)
Vodacom
Vodacom's reply25 May 2021, 10:59
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 
Vodacom
Vodacom's reply25 May 2021, 10:59
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 
TL
Thabang L's update25 May 2021, 15:15
Reviewer Update
This will be the fourth time I am told that the Net Work Team is on the matter. I am honestly really tired of hearing that. All I want now is for my two data contracts to be cancelled without the 75% penalty fee because the need for cancellation is your fault and not mine.
TL
Thabang L's update07 Jun 2021, 08:10
Reviewer Update
So below is the reply I received from Vodacom yet again. This is unacceptable to me, especially because you cannot guarantee when the installation will be ALSO, this problem has only been there since last year, so it's not like the infrastructure has just always been bad, what happened between last year and now that can't be fixed? What if it takes another year before it's fixed? Meanwhile I must be paying R1100 a month for something I cannot use? My wife, who is working from home sometimes needs to buy data of another service provide because the R550 data that we pay for every month is not working! and to tell me to buy a signal booster, something that easily costs R3000 and above while I'm paying so much for the data contract, is also unacceptable. Why do I need to spend a further R3000 plus to solve a problem not created by me? Unless you are able to give me a signal booster AND IT ACTUALLY WORKS, PLEASE CANCEL MY CONTRACT BECAUSE I CANNOT BE PAYING R1100 PER MONTH FOR SOMETHING THAT DOES NOT WORK. PLEASE CANCEL MY CONTRACT. I CANNOT BE PAYING R1100 FOR ANOTHER 12 MONTHS FOR A SERVICE I AM NOT HAPPY WITH. THIS IS NOT AND CANNOT BE RIGHT!

Dear Thabang Lebeloane , kindly note that we are looking at improving coverage for your area in the near future.New site planned: Rankuwa_Unit_9_NGA . We however cannot confirm any time frames for completion of these projects due to 3rd party involvement in the planning process. We would like to thank you for your patience and understanding in this regard.You may also enquire at your nearest Vodacom Stores / Takealot / HiCell / Alisom Store, regarding a NetGear Cel-Fi Smart Signal Booster that may improve indoor coverage.Kind regards, Vodacom
TL
Thabang L's update08 Jun 2021, 08:38
Reviewer Update
As someone who has been with Vodacom for 17 years, I do not recommend anyone to take on a Vodacom data contract. Rather go with MTN, they are after all rated the best network service provider. The connect will be better and you will not be ignored when you need help like I am currently being ignored. MTN does not have the 75% cancellation fee Vodacom has, which shows how much confidence they have in their service, they know they are so good that you won't want to cancel, Vodacom on the other hand binds you by a 75% cancellation fee because they want to keep you bound. Vodacom, please respond to my post above.
TL
Thabang L's update09 Jun 2021, 10:06
Reviewer Update
Vodacom, while you are ignoring me, my wife just gave me a call. She got cut off in the middle of a work session while she was presenting and now I had to buy her data on a different sim card while we are paying R550 a month for her data.