Vodacom’s Contract Packages is a ****

Vodacom’s contract system feels like it’s designed purely to trap customers into paying more for less.

Six months ago when I upgraded my phone, I specifically asked to keep my existing R350 airtime package because it worked perfectly for me. But Vodacom refused to allow it if I wanted the phone I chose. Instead, I was forced onto a worse package that includes 750MB of data and a pointless SMS bundle — something almost nobody even uses anymore.

Let’s talk about the 750MB of data. In today’s world that amount is laughably small. It’s barely enough to get through a few days of normal phone use. So every month you end up having to buy additional data with your own money, which completely defeats the purpose of the package.

But here’s the part that really shows how ridiculous this whole situation is.

Six months later Vodacom phones me and tries to sell me the exact same R350 airtime package that I originally wanted — except now they calculate this shortfall every month that you usually spend on airtime ADDITIONALLY, and work that into your existing contract, basically trapping you at that amount for the rest of your contract.

So to summarize Vodacom’s logic:

I couldn’t keep the R350 package when upgrading my phone. I was forced onto a worse plan that doesn’t meet basic modern usage. I had to spend extra money every month on data just to make the package usable. And now Vodacom wants to sell me my original package back at this higher price. Then acting like they are doing me a favor?

This is exactly the kind of behaviour that makes customers lose trust in a company. It feels like Vodacom deliberately designs packages and upgrade rules to squeeze as much money as possible out of loyal customers instead of offering fair options.

Calling customers months later to sell them something they previously refused to give them — and at a higher price — is honestly insulting.

Vodacom really needs to start treating customers with a bit more respect.

Absolutely ridiculous experience.