Vodacom - An ************ company with *********** staff and shady lawyers!!!

Dearest Vodacom, After almost 3 months of back and forth communication, and no resolution to my dilemma, you leave me with no choice but to complain on a public platform about your revolting service, for the lack of a better word. 16 September 2019, I received an email from a lawyer appointed by Vodacom. Mr. Sechaba Radebe from Hammondpole lawyers. I was informed by Mr. Radebe that I have an outstanding amount of R379.66 that I owe to Vodacom and that his firm has been appointed to collect outstanding arrears on behalf of Vodacom. I have been living abroad for almost two years and was not even aware that I owed Vodacom money. However, this is not an excuse nor the reason for my complaint. I immediately responded back to Mr. Radebe to ask for his banking details in order to make the payment. 16 September 2019 – Mr. Radebe rep**** with his banking details giving me the following reference number to use when I make the payment: HP***. 17 September 2019 – I made the payment and sent proof of payment to Mr. Radebe (I am 6 hours ahead of South Africa, hence only making the payment the next day). 17 September 2019 – Mr. Radebe rep**** with an email to confirm that he has received proof of payment. 17 September 2019 – I ask Mr. Radebe to please send me proof that the account has been closed by Vodacom. 17 September 2019 – Response from Mr. Radebe in verbatim, “I had already made an arrangement to close the account so all should be good. That was the only and final amount due to Vodacom”. A very unprofessional response to say the least. 17 September 2019 – I respond back to Mr. Radebe to tell him that I would like formal proof that the account has been settled and closed. 17 September 2019 – This is the response I get from Mr. Radebe in verbatim, “I will send you a paid up letter as soon as the funds clear, will that be be proof enough?” Might I add again, extremely unprofessional. One month later, on 15 October 2019 I contact Mr. Radebe again. I email him to please send the proof that I requested. I never received a response back from Mr. Radebe, the lawyer that Vodacom appointed! 15 October 2019 - I contact Vodacom to ask them to assist because I am not sure whether the account has been closed or not, seeing that their lawyer, Mr. Radebe is choosing to ignore me. 17 October 2019 – Ntebo Chapi contacts me from Vodacom and refer me to another department. I explain to Mr. Chapi that it is very difficult to contact these people telephonically due to the time difference. I am then given the following reference number: ***.

6 Nov 2019 – I am contacted by Makabongwe Poni to tell me that my account has not been settled yet!!!!! Absolutely ****ing ludicrous! I reply to Makabongwe to say that I have settled the account already and that I have sent proof of payment to the lawyer that Vodacom appointed!!! 7 November 2019 – I am contacted by Faith Furno to say that Vodacom acknowledge receipt of my email and that my matter has been escalated to the legel department. 7 November 2019 – I am again contacted by Faith Furno, to ask for proof of payment AGAIN!!!! At this point I am furious and refuse to send proof of payment again. I asked Ms. Furno where the lawyer that Vodacom appointed is, and why is he not providing the proof of payment or responding to my emails. None of these questions were answered by Ms. Furno, instead I get the following email from yet another *********** Vodacom employee, almost 10 days later!!!!

19 November 2019 – Mthuthuzeli George contacts me and ask for proof of payment … AGAIN!!! I send the proof of payment to Mr. George, with screenshots of all the correspondence between myself and this mysterious Vodacom appointed lawyer. 19 November 2019 – I am contacted by Phindile Chiya to inform me that my matter has been escalated to their legal department AGAIN!!! 19 November 2019 - I am contacted by Busiswe Mhlongo to inform me that my case is with the legal department. 26 November 2019 – I email Busiswe Mhlongo back to ask if there’s any update on my case. I’ve never received a response back from this lady up until this day! I have never been so disappointed in a company before! Once this matter is settled I hope to never have to do business with Vodacom ever again! Not only is this entire timeline a reflection of your incompetence and professionalism but also your integrity as a company. The law firm you apparently appointed has more than 266 NEGATIVE reviews on this platform, including other Vodacom clients having the same complaint as myself. Another *********** Vodacom employee will probably be in contact soon to tell me that they acknowledge this complaint, just to ****ing disappear again! Absolutely ridiculous service!!!! Or rather the lack thereof!! 3 months later and no responsibility has been taken by Vodacom nor their rude unprofessional mysterious lawyer!!!