Vodacom Insurance (by Finrite) is a joke

I was convinced some years ago to switch my device insurance to Vodacom (underwritten by Finrite) because any claim I submitted would be settled quicker than normal insurance. It was a lot easier too since I could simply organise this the minute I upgraded to a new handset.

I submitted a claim for a ****** iPad on 26/09/2019 - my bag had been ****** in Windhoek.

I also submitted a claim to Santam for the bag and other contents insured through them. I received Santam's pay-out with a few days straight into my bank account - no quotes needed, no special shops I had to buy from etc etc. Just paid straight to me and I could spend the money as I chose. Obviously I didn't get as much back as was ****** but I was pleased to at least be able to replace the most important stuff.

It is now 3 weeks since my claim was submitted to Vodacom. I wasn't told it had been approved until I phoned the call centre to ask what was up. 4 days had passed and no one had bothered to tell me that it was approved. I was told to go to a Vodacom shop to get a new iPad. My budget was 18k and I would pay 10% of the value as my excess.

I went to store after store after store. No one had stock. I couldn't go to iStore despite there being a Vodacom rep there because they no longer process Vodacom insurance claims. Eventually I had to place an order. And I waited and waited.

Eventually I got fed up and phoned the call centre again. I was told that I could submit a quote from an iStore and Vodacom would take 2 WEEKS to approve payment for the device. Or I could pay for it myself and then submit a claim which would take TWO WEEKS to refund me.

Why wasn't I told this upfront??? Anyway, it doesn't matter. This is laughably pathetic. Don't use Vodacom insurance.