Vodacom Drops The Ball...

I’m not one to go to the extreme of writing a negative review unless I feel it’s completely warranted.

I took out a data contract with Vodacom. The tele-sales agent informed me that I could cancel at any time - I specifically wanted some clarity around the process if the data connection turned out to be faulty. I was assured that a cancellation could be processed, no hassles.

I didn’t expect any issues with connection. I’ve been a Vodacom customer for years, and I’ve got no issues on my mobile. I can take calls and connect to the internet just fine.

The problem is with this data contract - R299 per month for 60GB in the day, and 30GB at night. I have constant problems connecting to the internet on this number. I’ve tried multiple devices, and all of them work for a bit, and then I eventually hit a wall - zero connection. And it can stay like that for hours. Oddly enough, I can still connect on my phone, but the number for my data contract has zero sign of life.

I’ve been fighting with it for half a year now. Customer care gives you the same response “I can’t see any connection issues from my side. Please turn off your device, wait 5 minutes and switch it on whilst I reboot here”.

That does nothing, but I have yet to find a person in customer service who has some other idea on how to fix it.

I phoned in to cancel the contract, and I was informed that I’ll have to pay close on R3000 as a penalty fee, for the exact reason I needed clarity on before I opened the contract.

Seems like something simple enough to fix if my phone works fine, but the Vodacom service centre doesn’t have another solution bedsides me switching my device off, and then on again.

If I don’t get what I’m paying for, why penalise me for wanting to cancel the contract? This is a faulty service... paying for these 6 months already feels like a waste of money.

I want out so I can find a data contract on a network that’s guarantees up time.

F.Y.I - I’m writing this review through my phone because my laptop can’t connect to the WiFi.