Vodacom Executives have no interest in clients.

I should start by offering some free advice, NEVER buy a phone through Vodacom.

I had the unfortunate experience of doing this, and have experienced a customer service nightmare from the company who claims to be the best network for Smartphones – VODACOM!

That being said, welcome to my tale of the Vodacom Service Nightmare. I would like to expose Siseko Ndotshayisa and Delion Green on their slovenly approach to customer service.

Let us start with Siseko. He earns a strong minus 10 in customer service with his contemptuous lack of responses and inability to confirm anything in writing. He also seems to be the only person working at Vodacom as he has failed to provide me with his Managers’ or Executives details upon my numerous requests.

Siseko also holds zero product knowledge – ultimately not knowing his **** from his elbow. He strongly believes that Vodacom warranties actually offer less than Apple warranties, and override any Apple (manufacturer) warranties.

Due to his incompetence to conduct research, I have done some for him, extracted below (from, wait for this Siseko, THE VODACOM WEBSITE!)

“Device, repair and aftersales related information”

“Please Note: Vodacom Repairs will manage the warranty on behalf of the various manufacturers on Vodacom sold devices only.”

“v. Because Vodacom Repairs acts in accordance with the manufacturer warranty, you have to make sure that you comply with the warranty requirements as they are outlined in your device manual.” (this is the Apple manual Siseko!)

“Warranty repairs i. All warranty repairs undertaken by Vodacom Repairs are covered under manufacturer warranty and as such no costs will be incurred by you for any in warranty repairs completed.”

In alignment with the Apple Warranty extract provided by Delion (below), there is NO excerpt stating that a third party screen replacement voids the Apple warranty. CoreGroup (iStore) has also confirmed same.

A. Decline all types of service for any functional failure on an iOS device when any of the following third-party parts are present: battery, main logic board (MLB), enclosure, microphone (Bottom Mic, Rear Mic, Bottom Noise Cancelling [BNC] Mic), Lightning connectors, headset jacks, volume buttons, ringer/side switch and sleep wake buttons. B. For products covered by Limited Warranty (or AppleCare+), when the functional failure is unrelated to the third-party part, the service is processed under the product’s warranty coverage. Remember, if the product has any of the components shown in step A, decline service. C. For products under warranty with a reported functional failure related to a TPP, quote the appropriate OOW cost for the modular repair. If the customer declines the out-of-warranty charge, then decline service. D. Devices with third-party batteries will always be ineligible for all types of service (Swap, In-Store Repair, Mail-In Repair) for any functional failure, due to safety concerns.

My display was working fine when I booked the phone in Delion. All that it was booked in for was the battery drainage due to overheating, well covered under the warranty Sir. And, do you actually make any reference to your job card Delion? Or is for toilet admin?

And Delion-Sir, it is you who confirmed in writing and I quote as follows:

"Your display is not functional as the flexes are torn and Apple won’t cover any other warranty repair on the device because the device is not functional without the display.”

Delion has also failed to explain what he meant when he said the above. Instead he chose to ignore my many emails, and refused to commit his profanity in writing.

Did I forget to mention that Delion, a representative of Vodacom, accused me of trying to conduct warranty *****? Perhaps it’s because I am Indian. What’s next, him calling me a ****** Gupta?

“I’m of the opinion that you not satisfied with whatever answer that we(Vodacom) will and have supp**** you and knowingly that your device does not qualify to be repaired under the Manufacturers terms and conditions” Your words verbatim Delion!

@Vodacom South Africa

This is what I want. 1. A written apology for being accused of trying to ***** a warranty. 2. The details of the executive that was arranged to be at our meeting. 3. An explanation to the statement that my screen is not functional. 4. A call from an executive failing which I will involve the CPA.

Kindly note that despite my arranging for a meeting with the said executive four working days in advance, they insisted that I come to the Johannesburg outlet for the meeting, Midrand more precisely – how convenient for you Mr Executive! Imagine if I was living in Cape Town, the return flight would’ve cost me, your customer, more than the phone, lol.