Vodacom: Where the client's voice isn't heard but definitely charged for

<p>I opened a Vodacom SIM Only Contract (Smart M) in October of 2014. At that time it was a necessity for work. I went into a Vodacom shop in Meyersdal and told them my dilemma. I needed to claim airtime spent from my employer at the time and because I used cell phone banking I couldn't get any records of purchase and all I really needed from Vodacom was a form which would show my airtime pucrhases during a given month. Such a form did not exist.<br /> <br /> I was then told that I could take a contract, I informed the consultant, I don't need a contract but he convinced me that it's the best way to get a month-by-month invoice to give my employer. I signed and started. A few months down the line, my employer’s policy of reimbur*****t ceased and I was no longer in need of this service. I attempted to cancel this SIM card only contract and this is when I was informed that I was in a 24-month contract (NEVER Trust anyone making a sale. I should've done my due diligence)</p> <p> </p> <p>I was informed that I'd have to pay back HALF of the remainder of my contract as per the agreement I signed. I wanted to question this specific clause in the contract so I was given a number to dial ********** (Legal Dept). This number took me to Customer Care (111) EVERY SINGLE TIME I called. I begrudgingly continued with this contract.<br /> <br /> February of 2016, I was no longer employed and definitely could not continue with this contract. I called their cancellation department and all they had in their rhetoric was "CANCELLATION FEE".<br /> <br /> It did not matter that I was not employed, it did not matter that I had paid up every month till then, it didn't even matter that I was willing to remain a Pre-Paid customer to Vodacom and continue with our relationship. All that mattered was 'CANCELLATION FEE'.</p> <p>I was honestly paying less per minute and less per megabyte on Prepaid (utilising a number of specials) than I was on this contract, so logically I did not see what financial benefit I had gained from this contract to warrant a cancellation fee. In actuality, up until that point Vodacom had obviously gained a lot more from this arrangement financially.</p> <p>Yet again I asked if I could speak with anyone to make arrangements... ********** ...and back I was chatting to customer care agents. I consulted my Invoice and Statement to maybe find an email address because calling was not working...NOTHING. Went on to the website and the Vodacom website has a very nice form you can fill (which conveniently does not cc the sender) in and they will address your queries. I had no idea it was just for show and that no one would reply. I mailed in March, April, May no reply. I also phoned ********** like a fool hoping that I would finally reach someone who can assist.<br /> </p> <p>I did some research and discovered that the clause is could be voidable in accordance with the Consumer Protector Act. The Act, also informed me that I can cancel the contract myself by sending a 30 day notice and there should be no extra cost as Vodacom will cease to give me service. Sounds like Simple Mathematics. I proceeded to send an email with my intent to cancel my contract in accordance with the Consumer Protection Act but I got no response. Following month I got a new statement.</p> <p>Now let me repeat, every time I called I made it clear I was no longer employed. Every time. Now based on my small knowledge of commercial law, Vodacom was aware of my economic situation, the burden the contract had on me, my intention (at the time) to remain a Vodacom client and decided the ‘CANCELLATION FEE’ was my only way out. Since I was not looking for work at that point the contract had no economic benefit to me and the burden of it outweighed the economic benefit thus making it an onerous contract which in South Africa happen to be void.<br /> <br /> “Let’s contact Vodacom and share all I’ve learnt and it will hopefully help them ease me off of this burden”.</p> <p>Still can’t get past Customer Care.</p> <p>We are now in August. I have been unable to put anything in to this account since July so I owe for 2 months now. The amounts I paid in May and June came out of my credit card putting me in deeper financial strain but luckily for Vodacom, I’m just another bill for collecting not a client who ported his number from a different cell provider and enjoyed their service I even recommended it to others. I tried to sort this out in March, April and gave up in May. It is now August, I owe and there’s still to invoices yet to come at the end of August and September that I will not be able to pay for.</p> <p>Vodacom have now cut me off, so I cannot call out, so yet again they have come out victorious. Another debtor, another satisfied attorney to hound me and for me, I get to know that it was my fault for signing a 24 month contract. My fault for not being able to afford an excessive cancellation fee, my fault for thinking Vodacom will reply to me or call me back. Actually, they did call me back to tell me I was two months behind on payment.</p> <p>If anyone from Vodacom reads this, You Win, I concede defeat so before you take me to the gallows, can I please have one wish.</p> <p>I have had my number since 2004 and have grown much attached to it. Please release it so I can port to another network and keep the number I so cherish. In relation to the amount I owe add it all up, add your ‘CANCELLATION FEE’ as you so choose and you can call me to make arrangements and I’ll seek employment and pay it back over a period of time. I know I’m only one client at the tender age of 27 so the prospect of me threatening you with pledging to spend the rest of my lifetime using other network providers is probably laughable so I will not even bother with it.</p> <p>Thanks for the last 5years but I guess all good things come to an end.</p>