Unsatisfied with repair from Vodacom repairs Fourways mall

Good day

I'm writing this review to express my concern and dissatisfaction with the recent repairs done to my device - CAT S62 PRO.

On the 12 December 2021, my device was booked in at Vodacom repairs Fourways Mall for repairs due to the device not having power/not switching on. I received a message a few days later to inform me that my device is ready for collection and I collected it on 18 December 2021. The motherboard, device frame and rear cover were replaced.

Upon inspection of the device I found :

1- Glue strip that was app**** to adhere the rear cover to the phone body was protruding from the sides of the device body.

2- The screen protector had been removed with no valid reason as to why.

3- Gaps between the rear cover and frame of the device due to being stuck back together.

For these reasons I did not collect the device and requested to speak to the repair manager at the branch

I raised my concern with him regarding the reliability of the repair with regards to water and dust finding it's way into the device. He assured me that the devices are tested upon completion of repair. I also raised my concern regarding the screen protector being removed as it is against CAT phones warranty. He acknowledged my concerns and the device was booked in the same day, 18 December 2021 to replace the adhesive. I was offered for a new screen protector to be made off site at my own expense, I declined this offer and raised the concern that CAT phones warranty insists that the screen protector should not be removed at all. I am still waiting for feedback on this point.

24 December 2021, I called the repair center to follow up on my repair and was informed my device is ready for collection. 27 December 2021, I collected the device and was unsatisfied again with the repairs as the previous concerns mentioned were still prominent and hadn’t been changed upon my inspection.

I requested to speak to the manager again. I was informed he was not in office at the time and that he will return to office Sunday 2nd of January 2022. The consultant acknowledged my concerns and rebooked the device the same day.

Sunday 2nd of January I returned in the hopes of receiving my phone without having any concerns. Unfortunately I was disappointed again. My previous concerns had finally been met. However, upon arrival to collect my device, the screen protector had still not been installed after being at the branch for another full week. I had to wait for my screen protector to be installed before finally taking the device home with me. I was unable to fully test and inspect my device due to the battery life being depleted.

After charging, setting up my device and backing everything up I proceeded to check that everything was working the way it should. I have found that my thermal camera is defective.

Was my device tested properly? To what extent has the device been tested? If it was tested, how was it not picked up that the thermal camera is now malfunctioning? Do the devices really undergo tests to inspect reliability against water and dust?

I live in Germiston which is 37km to Fourways Mall and 37km back. Due to my device not being repaired correctly the first time and lack of communication from Vodacom, it totals up to 222km in total that I have traveled and R600 worth of fuel I have wasted due to unsatisfied repairs and zero feedback received from managing staff.

I will not waste any more time and money to get my phone repaired. I will not accept a repaired device from Vodacom repairs as they have made it very clear that they are *********** in repairing my device. Therefore, I am requesting a new device and will not settle for anything less