Vodacom deletes my mobile number after being abroad for work for 6 months

After being a loyal Vodacom customer for more than 20 years, my number was deleted from the system after being abroad for the last 6 months.

Upon arrival at ORT, I went straight to the Vodashop, and they informed me that they can only sell me something and can not assist with any customer queries.

I then went to the Vodacom shop in Rosebank. They looked on their system and informed me that my number was deleted and that it will get recycled. They then told me that they can't assist and that I need to phone the customer care line.....which I did last week Thursday. The gentleman on the line was very helpful and told me that he fully understands my issue and that he will escalate it to the back office and promised to call me back by Monday this week.

I then decided to follow up because I haven't heard anything back from them again....only to be told that there is nothing they can do for me! My number was deleted and I will never get it back.

This is EXTREMELY disappointing! How is it possible that a company like Vodacom can not re-activate or generate a number. I've tried calling the number and it was not reallocated yet ( the number you have dialed does not exist....). In countries abroad, you go to the mobile service provider and they ask you what number you would like to get. Check if it is available and give it to you while you wait. Apparently not in SA and definitely not with Vodacom.

20 years of memories gone!!! 20 years of mails in my vodamail account gone! All my bills that was going to my vodamail mailbox needs to be changed!!! All my online subscriptions that uses my vodamail email address needs to be changed!!! Now I need to teach my kids my new cell number again! Do you know how long that takes to teach your 4 year old a new cell number?

Is it incompetence??? Is it unwillingness??? Is it a lack of innovation and technology??? Who knows??? Apparently Vodacom doesn't care! It's a pity M-Net is not a mobile service provider.....

Bad on you Vodacom....bad on you!

Maybe I should start getting 100 Vodacom sim cards per day in the hope that I will win the cell phone number lottery? Seems like that is the only way I will be able to get my number back......in the meantime, I have joined the opposition party and will definitely never walk past a Vodacom shop without spitting! Kids lessons for tomorrow....061.....