VODACOM will not enter into cellphone contracts with Sole Traders!

<p>Dear Sir</p> <p> </p> <p>I'm writing to you in frustration as I have just learnt today (after spending a grueling 3 hours in your Canal Walk branch on Saturday) that Vodacom will not register cellphone contracts for Sole Traders. They will only enter into cellphone contracts with companies and individuals. </p> <p> </p> <p>I have been a customer of Vodacom's for a number of years in my individual capacity and on saturday I tried to arrange the following transactions:</p> <p>- Create a business account </p> <p>- Transfer my personal phone into this business account</p> <p>- Upgrade this cellphone ( my upgrade is long overdue)</p> <p>- Take out a new cellphone contract on the business account for an employee of mine</p> <p>- Take out 2x 4G contracts - one for me and one for the employee</p> <p> </p> <p>Firstly I was told that the transfer of my personal cell to a business account would take SIXTY to NINETY days to come into effect! I have to be loaded on the "old system" and that will take this length of time to effect. An incredible turnaround time for a technology company!</p> <p>Secondly, on Staturday I submitted all the required documentation to open a business account only to learn on Sunday that I needed to submit additional documentation. One was to replace my letter of request to effect these transactions - they asked me to remove the request for transfer "until the number was ready to be transferred", which I did and emailed it to the consultant. The other request was to submit a Surety form. It was during this interaction that I realised that Vodacom will not/cannot create accounts for Sole Traders. </p> <p> </p> <p>The fact that my cellphone account was R27,000 in the 2016 tax year and that my account payments have been exemplary appears not to count for anything.</p> <p> </p> <p>The request to complete a Surety form is totally inappropriate. The form has loads of legalise when in fact this form is redundant since Vodacom is protected by the law. Sole Traders are wholley liable in their personal capacity for debts entered into personally and in the name of the trading as entity. Why on earth would Vodacom need a surety form? The form requests a company number, which I don't have.</p> <p> </p> <p>In principle I do not wish to sign anything that's nonsensical. The reason for the request has no basis in law but is needed to navigate antiquated/cumbersome systems and procedures, as their systems do not cater for the sole trader.</p> <p> </p> <p>When I enquired whether an individual entering into the contract needs to complete the Surety form, I was told emphatically...of course not, which begs the question, why would Vodacom need it for sole traders when they are in fact seen as "individuals" in terms of the law?</p> <p> </p> <p>How can a company of Vodacom's size have such deficient systems and procedures which create administration nightmares for their staff and the hapless (good, paying) customer just trying to enter into a contract.</p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p>Economic growth in our country and job creation is going to be stimulated by the small entrepreneurs and sole traders. It's enough to have to contend with all the red tape that the authorities put in our way. One would think that a company of Vodacom's size would be interested in making things as easy as possible for the small business owners to do business. </p> <p> </p> <p>I tried to ask the consultant to get someone in the legal department or senior management to call me. This didn't seem possible as their management "hides" behind call centres and consultants structures and these people are expected to field any questions, regardless of the fact that they do not set procedure or nore are they empowered to change procedure.</p> <p> </p> <p>A branch manager called me, but merely repeated the request for the Surety form. I got exceedingly frustrated with him. I suggested that Cape Talk might be interested in hearing more about Vodacom's reluctance to accommodate the small business person. I asked him for his name, which he didn't / wouldn't divulge and later pretended that he could not hear me and terminated the call.</p> <p> </p> <p>Please could a decision-maker give me a call to discuss this nonsensical request of signing a Surety form. If my loyal custom means nothing to Vodacom, then please let me know and I'll happily take my custom elsewhere.</p> <p> </p> <p>I look forward to hearing from you.</p> <p> </p> <p>Yours sincerely</p> <p> </p> <p>Marina Hall</p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p>