Very poor service - Vodacom

<p>26 August 2016</p> <p> </p> <p>VODACOM</p> <p>ACCOUNT NA098794-1 - CELL 082 ********** </p> <p>My contract was an Altech Autopage Vodacom Contract for the last 15+ years. I also had a second contract linked to my original contract on the Cell C service provider which is perfectly in order.</p> <p>Currently a split contract - Vodacom contract and a Cell C contract.</p> <p>Since the close down off Altech Autopage I have been experiencing difficulty in communicating with Vodacom. I could not even retrieve my account online as I previously communicated.</p> <p>Financially I ran into some problems and could not honour my debit orders. I made a telephonic arrangement to make a payment in July, which I could not honour again. I then received a sms offering me a discounted special on the amount outstanding. I send a fax to the number, I tried calling and staying on the line for minutes on end with not responses at all.</p> <p>My partner and I tried getting in touch via e-mails and telephone but with no luck. Nobody responded to my e-mail request nor did anyone phone us back on messages left.</p> <p>I went online and had a live chat with a Vodacom assistant. I was instructed to make a payment for the amount of R3404. 46 which was the full amount outstanding till the end of August 2016. I then got hold of a lady at the Bedford Gardens Vodacom branch explaining my situation and that I need to make a payment. She suggested that I make a cash deposit into Standard Bank on the following account – NA098794-1. I repeatedly asked her if this account number quoted was correct because it does not look like a normal account number. Her response was that each customer has his or hers own account number into which they need to make payments.</p> <p>I then decided to rather go into a branch personally to make this payment. I phoned the same branch again and spoke to another lady who advised that I must go into a Vodacom shop and not a branch and she suggested the East Gate shop.</p> <p>My partner fetched me from my work place at 3:45 on Tuesday, 23 August 2016 to go pay at the Vodacom shop. We arrived at East Gate and first went to the smaller Vodacom shop on the upper lever and they directed us where to go.</p> <p>On our arrival at the bigger Vodacom shop on the ground level, we identified a problem.</p> <p>The shop was packed with people waiting to be attended to. At the security point, a lady in front of us was explained that the shop was offline and they are not sure if they can assist people.</p> <p>I took time off from my office to go and make a payment as I was instructed.</p> <p>We were given a security number and we had to take a seat.</p> <p>A person that arrived after us was seen to first – not sure how this was possible as my number was A36 and this person’s number was B5.</p> <p>We waited and a few minutes later was called to see a Vodacom assistant – hidden away around a corner.</p> <p>On arrival I explained to the assistant my situation and that I was there to pay my account in full and to get my phone reconnected. I was told by this person that he will not take my money because the system is down. This was totally unacceptable to me as my phone had been disconnected now for almost 2 months. This person also explained to me that I had to complete some forms because my phone had been cancelled. To get my phone activated again, which will only happen in 7 working days, this is the requirement.</p> <p>I was told I will have to pay R285 reconnection fee and +-R105 for a new sim. Not once was I told that my number was deleted. I eventually spoke to a lady at.</p> <p>I then wanted to know why none of the assistants that I have been chatting to online and telephonically told me this from the start. As always the “sorry” word was used.</p> <p>The next issue was that they could not even give me the forms that was so needed to be completed to get this whole process going, because they are off line, and nor could I print them off the internet.</p> <p>The put it bluntly I was stuffed. Vodacom did not want to take my money nor could they give me any assistance in getting my phone reconnected any time soon.</p> <p>I was always complaining about Altech Autopage’s service, but Vodacom is even more disgusting in their service.</p> <p>I will now pursue to get a buy out through Cell C and will settle my Vodacom account monthly.</p> <p> </p> <p>Vitalia Botha</p> <p> </p>