Vodacom/VVM Nightmare

I was a Vodacom contract customer for well over 20 years. In fact, I was even a Platinum customer at one stage if memory serves me correctly. I have even retained my number as a pay-as-you-go customer for use during my frequent visits to SA from the UK. This all counts for nought in the eyes of their non-existent and useless customer service and equally useless debt collection company called VVM. I have the scars to prove it in my numerous dealings with them. By way of background, I ceased to continue with my cell phone contract at the end of September 2021 just prior to moving to the UK as the 2-year contract (or so I thought) I was on since February 2019 had expired, and I had continued to operate on a month-by-month basis since March 2021. According to my records, all monies owing to the company were up to date prior to my move or so I thought. Imagine my surprise when out of the blue I received an email from a debt collecting company called VVM in the early part of 2022 telling me that I owed Vodacom over R3100 plus collection charges. No explanation, no background, no nothing, just a demand. I ignored the mail thinking it was a ****. However, after receiving a few more of these mails, I decided to contact them for more information about this so-called debt and asked them to provide proof of how this amount was made up. I was duly sent a statement which clearly showed that I did not owe any monies to Vodacom. When I queried this, I was then informed that the amount referred to the monthly service charges that related to the remaining months of the initial contract period or contract. Imagine my surprise at hearing this new information. On requesting a copy of the contract, as I had disposed of my original contract prior to moving to the UK, I was duly informed that they require an affidavit before they could proceed. At this point I had a sense of humour failure and I referred them to the requirements of the Consumer Protection Act and that I certainly wouldn’t be incurring legal fees in the UK to obtain an affidavit for something I was entitled to. There has been no response from VVM except for the odd communication informing me an exciting discount if I paid the balance they say is owing. I continue to watch this space with interest. Obviously, no one at Vodacom believes in communicating with previously long standing and loyal customers in the first place before letting this useless company called VVM loose on unsuspecting customers. I am more than happy to pay this amount if Vodacom/VVM can show me that I correctly and contractually owe the money i.e. provide the requisite proof, but until they do............. Talk about great customer service from Vodacom.