Torrid experience trying to procure a measly 100mb data bundle

<p>Just experienced shocking overall service from vodacom... Probably the first time since signing up with them in 2000.<br />I'm a contract-based customer and when trying to topup my data using the App, it tells me "Apologies, you do not have privileges to purchase on account and must use a bank card or credit card to buy bundles..." <br />Strange this, being on a contract and all.<br />Nonetheless I proceed to purchase data using my awesome banking app, which gives me a message from Vodacom saying "invalid cellphone number specified". Essentially saying its a contract number and cannot be topped up in this manner, right? Right. Now I'm out of data, getting charged ridiculously high rates for out of bundle data, and no way to top up. And here I am trying feebly to cut costs.<br />Back to the Vodacom app now, using the "contact us" feature, it doesn't allow me to send an email claiming that to improve customer service, turnaround time blah blah, which I get, that I must use the "Chat" feature. Clicketty click on "Chat" to which I get "Erm, please use an alternate channel, all our consultants are busy". Laugh out FRIGGIN Loud, in pure frustration!<br />By now I'm seeing RED, and it's not the red of the Vodacom app but the heat emanating from my face, and the steam spewing outta my ears kinda RED!<br />So, I call the call centre, trying to put my emotions aside and think logically, and deal maturely with the situation.<br />I get told about the new "voice password", I think "Hey, let me try so perhaps I can get some value from this complete waste of time." But at the same time thinking they're going to mis-route my call thereafter, even though I selected "Smartphone/ or Data problem" from the automated system. I complete this piece, and it routes me to a call centre agent, some guy, who answers with "Hi, how can I help you today" to which I reply "Hey, I would've thought the system would have told you that you need to help me to complete the voice password validation" to which he replies "oh it didn't complete" and then simply hangs up on me after I said "excuse me?"<br />Dialed back and the system detected an incomplete voice password activation, then asked me to say the phrase once again, thanked me profusely and transferred me to an agent to complete the validation process (the alleged manual piece) who once again had no idea what my call was about, and when posed with the same question I asked the call-dropping agent, simply mentioned that it was incomplete and how could she help me.<br />Well, she didn't hang up on me, yeowzers, impressive, but did take awfully long to validate me before putting me on hold for two minutes with no prior explanation, but upon return she did apologize and say the system was slow...<br />Nonetheless after mentioning that the app had a problem and that the engineers were busy working it, she was able to assist me with fervor and a good customer service attitude, however we were not able to complete the purchase of my mere 100mb data bundle (economy really kicking me in the teeth) given the slowness of the system. She did however say she would finalize the transaction and call me back. I hope she does!</p> <p> </p> <p>Post fact - the bundle came through about an hour later. Whoop whoop</p>