PE
Patricia E

1 reviews | Active since Oct 2013

09 Jan 2020, 11:29

Vodacom telephone sales agents deliberately lying to make a sale

I had a Vodacom contract on an iPad coming to and end in October 2019 which I planned on closing. Shortly before the contract was due to come to an end I received a call from the Vodacom call centre offering me a data only package. I initially declined the offer, but after being told that we would be able to transfer the data to other numbers on our contract, I accepted. I made sure to ask the agent more than once that I would be able to transfer the data.

From October to December I attempted to transfer data to one of the other numbers on my contract, with no success. At end December I eventually took the iPad into the Vodacom store in Longbeach Mall in Noordhoek to ask for their assistance. They informed me that it's not possible to transfer data between numbers, and that the Vodacom agents selling products over the phone are aware of this but continue to falsely inform clients. Apparently this is a regular issue with clients going to that store.

I was given a number to call to cancel the contract, which I did, but a week later this has still not happened. Based on the fact that Vodacom is selling products using information that is false, and which they know to be incorrect, I want the contract cancelled as well as a refund for the months already paid.

0
Replies (2)
Vodacom
Vodacom's reply09 Jan 2020, 14:08
Official
Dear Customer, 
 
Thank you for making us aware of your complaint. 
 
Kindly be advised that a consultant will make contact with you in due course to assist with your query. 
 
***Please note*** Beware of phishing ****s. 
 
Vodacom will not contact you via Whatsapp to request your personal details 
 
Regards, 
 
Vodacom Consumer Website Team 
PE
Patricia E's update18 Feb 2020, 08:59
Reviewer Update
Further to my review of Vodacom on 9th of January, they were very quick to respond that they would cancel the contract, but what they didn't tell me was that they would charge me R6 300 for the early cancellation. I just received my latest Vodacom statement and was shocked to see the amount due is over double what I would normally pay. Found an additional charge of R6 350,50, against which they allowed a discount of R1 575 - so total due of R5 440,08 (VAT inclusive).

Can anyone advise if there is a regulatory board you can report this to? The original upgrade was done based on false information supp****, in fact a blatant lie. I was told that I would be able to transfer the data to any of the other cellphones on my contract, and I got the call centre agent to confirm this more than once over the phone, knowing they record the calls. The sale consultant at our local Vodacom store said this was a regular practice carried out by the telesales agents.

I am now waiting for 7 workings days to pass before I can see if the cancellation fee will be reversed, this being how long its takes for a query to be escalated to the accounts department at Vodacom!