Unauthorized debits and poor/draining customer service

PART 1 - Vodacom, why are you *****ing money from my bank account account 2 months in a row? But first let me tell you when my headache started. I called Vodacom in July to upgrade my airtime contract which I did. At the same time the consultant said that I could save money on my data contact which was soon to expire in November. But what this consultant actually did was *****ulently upgrade my data contract to a 300GB home internet package for R399 a month. I had no idea until my router stopped working in September and I was made aware of this. Vodacom then downgraded my package back to what it was initially, 400GB home internet bundle. Why would I upgrade to a lower data package for the same value??? The consultant that did this was apparently dismissed as other customers complained about him. Vodacom how is your HR Department vetting/ screening your future employees??? They seem to have free rain to up their commission from the looks of things. So I have been calling in proactively from September enquiring to cancel this contract as I was not sure if I would get a good black Friday deal with Vodacom. I was told I can only cancel in November. I also called in October to cancel and the m*ron, Thamsanqa Ngcobo from your online 3rd party call centre Elite Mobile refused to cancel my contract! The smooth operator said that he will call me back on 1 November with a good deal. And if I don't upgrade I will be billed at the same rate on a month to month basis. He did not live up to his promise! He did not call me on 01 November 2024. I received an invoice on 8 November for R1357.95. My normal invoice amount is around R536. Can you see the jump? And mind you, this cost for a 400GB home internet deal? Realistically is there anyone paying this ludicrous amount? So Thamsanqa's reason for not calling me back is that he was told not to call clients as they were busy for Black Friday deals on 01/11. I mean??? You insist that the customer should not cancel because u will be calling back o do the upgrade but then you conveniently forget and lie about it! Then I chat to his Team leader Akshay Bisessai who was not really much of any help! So I eventually do end up canceling the contract. Part 2 - I then get in contact with Preston Gangiah from Rewards Co. A very kind and helpful consultant. He was going to call me back on 22/11/24 to do the upgrade that he spoke about. So in that week I do the upgrade for the R329 x 1TB of data for 36 months. After a week I did not get my router so I called in only to be told that there is no upgrade!!! So my data contract was miraculously upgraded *****ulently mind you, but when I eventually do an upgrade they can't see it on the system. I think I was told that it was cancelled. By who, I have no idea! A very efficient and helpful lady by the name of Tracey Pillay at Rewards Co. managed to get a Manager by the name of Aston to call me. At first he was helpful. He said that I would get a R1000 online accessory voucher and I would receive a credit for the first month after all that I have had to endure with Vodacom. What a bunch of lies! I chatted to him on 29 November. He was going to get a consultant to call me after 30mins. The call never came! The lady did call me on Sunday and it was already 01 December. She knew nothing about the online voucher! So I didn't on that day. I wanted to call and chat to Aston the next day. Hooray that means Vodacom will bill the full amount again...R1428 for the home internet...is there any individual out there who is actually paying this much for 400GB? I would call this thieving! This amount was taken on 09 December. I called in 3 times on Monday 02 December leaving messages for Aston to call me back. Did he call me...absolutely not! Another smooth operator I would say with a no care a damn attitude. On Tuesday 03/12 i had to make numerous calls again and even spoke to a customer service manager Siyabonga Mdletshe from Rewards Co. who had absolutely no interest in assisting me. I told him that I would be better at his job than he himself. he needed like 3 red bulls to get out of his slow talks! I am not surprised that he did not get back to me at all. And off course I had to call in again on Wednesday and ask the lovely lady Tracey Pillay to get me some assistance...the only person willing to go the extra mile at Rewards co. Finally my upgrade was done by Nokukhanya Sibiya who said she was from Vodacom Direct but the messages came through from Rewards Co. She advised me that I can switch on my router that was not in use from 01 December to avoid that monstrosity of a bill. She advised me that I was inconvenienced many times by Vodacom so I must go ahead and use the Router as I will get a credit for December. That I await to see . I was told that it would be an express delivery but my router arrived the following Tuesday. I have left out many stressful calls that I have made and Vodacom has and is still causing a lot of stress in my life. Part 3 - November bill R1375.95 - Received a credit of R822.23 after my complaints. December bill R1428 - Logged a query for a credit with Lauren. Awaiting her call to confirm. I am frustrated to the core with Vodacom. My vodacom number was blocked from calling all vodacom call centre numbers because of the calls that I had to make with not much assistance, so I had to keep calling back. And every time I call in to enquire about my 2nd credit I cannot compose myself while explaining the entire saga from the beginning! Vodacom is this how you value your client who has been your loyal customer for over a decade??? What compensation do I get for my mental health? Repeating myself over and over again and going nowhere slowly! I am utterly disgusted by both the level of service and treatment that I have been receiving! I am still waiting for my second credit! I suggest that these fly by night consultants be given the proper training as to how to service their customers on how to their jobs properly and leave their romeo talks for the streets. There is no need to lie and charm the customers out of cancelling their contracts and leaving them in the lurch! I have left a review for Rewards Co . more than 2 weeks ago and as expected, I got no reply on this platform. I also left a story on their website but never got any response. Rewards Co or who and what when they don't even take customer service seriously! Neither does Vodacom! If you plan to Respond make sure that a senior consultant takes on my issue! Miss Govender. People out there be aware of not cancelling your contracts in time or else Vodacom will give you grief in trying to get your money back! For my next upgrade I will definitely not remain with Vodacom and yes I will warn my friends and family as well!