Vodacom's lack of client support and care

<p>I took out a new Vodacom contract last year in June with an iPhone 6 SE. Two weeks later I had to take the phone back as it wasn't working properly. It was sent off to the repair centre. After approximately 2 weeks, after many irate calls following up what was happening as I hadn't heard anything, I was told to come and collect a brand new phone as the other one had been replaced.<br />This phone arrived in bubble wrap. When I enquired as to why it didn't arrive in a new box with all the equipment with it. I was told that's how they come because they had to check it was working. I was not satisfied with this answer but I was reassured more than once that this is the procedure for a new phone. So in good faith I trusted all was in order.</p> <p>This new phone has again given me endless trouble and I have phoned the call centre and the sales lady who sold me the phone on a number of occasion and even been into the Midlands mall shop to enquire about the problems. I unfortunately never had a back up phone so could not leave it to be checked.</p> <p>When the phone gave me notification that the phone hadn't been backed up for 37 weeks, I went to double check on how long I had had the phone and in my calculations I could not have had the phone more than 31weeks. This to me confirms my suspicions that I was not given a brand new phone and rather someone else's repaired phone.</p> <p>The problems I have been having with the phone is:-</p> <p>FIRSTLY and Most Importantly, I dont think it was a brand new phone!!!<br />The signal is so poor. We have even had a booster aerial installed at our house and it is still missing calls and only letting me know about an hour plus later.<br />Night photos are very hazy and unclear.<br />I have to reset it often in order to make a call, otherwise it says user busy. When I reboot it the screen comes on with lines on it sometimes and not a plain black<br />screen.<br />When I answer calls there is a delay before it connects, if it even connects. Often the caller has to phone back a second time.<br />Whattsapps, I often have to go into the whattsapp and then the new messages come through. This has not been set like this on the phone.</p> <p>With regards to the signal, I am not sure that I should have even been sold a Vodacom contract with regards to where I live and work in Howick. (Northumberland Road and I teach at Howick Prep) This was discussed when I took out the phone as I was with Cell C before and their network coverage wasn't good. </p> <p>The phone was returned to Vodacom on the 19th of February. I phoned and e-mailed the Victoria Road, Pmb branch on the 20th of February to let them know what had happened as they were the agents who sold me the contract and dealt with the first repair. </p> <p>The phone went off to Umhlanga for repairs, then to the advanced centre and back again. I got notification on Tuesday the 7th of March it was ready for collection. I phoned to find out what was done and was promised a phone call back. By Saturday the 11th March, no word so I sent an e-mail and was told they would follow up on it.</p> <p>On Monday, 13 March, afternoon, I phoned the Midlands mall branch to see what was happening. They said the phone came back with no faults reported. I said that was impossible so they said they would send it off to repairs again!!!!</p> <p>I was furious with this response. Again the sales lady, who has been dealing with this from day one, promised to have answers before the end of the day. It is now Monday almost a week later and no word.</p> <p>I still dont have answers or a solution to the problem. </p> <p>I am convinced that the phone was a reconditioned 'new' phone.</p> <p>Hope you can help get to the bottom of this.</p>