Westwood Mall - Huawei Nova Y61-Sold a device that's no longer compatible to WhatsApp

Good day The below email was sent to Westwood Vodacom.

I purchased the following product at Vodacom Westwood mall. Date of Purchase: 28/02/2023 Mobile : Huawei Y61 nova Colour : Mint Green Price : R3100 When i purchased this mobile cash, i was notified that i would be able to access whatsapp ect from Huawei App store and there will be no future issues.

1st Report October 2023, CALLED VODACOM WESTWOOD A lady answered and i explained that my whatsapp has stopped working and a message came up saying i needed to use an official WhatsApp on this device and i need playstore, [Refer to screen shot ] . I further explained that the whatsapp is working and verifying on other devices. So the problem is with my phone and that the WhatsApp version on Huawei store is not compatible. She laughed and said impossible, you need to download the app from petal Huawei store. She clearly did not understand me and said come in a tech will help. I went into the store with box and cash slip and the lady who stood by the door said its Sunday, can't really help, you can speak to the Huawei guy he was in the Telkom store, I went HUAWEI GUY said, you need an older huawei phone to clone whatsapp. This is happening cause you used GB whatsapp. Your number is banned Yet i never use this app. If my number was blocked by whatsapp it would not veryfy on a different handset. He said, why did you buy this phone, you should of gone for another one, why not take a contract, so he took me to the Telkom guy and said he will sign me up for a contract. I was so angry and just said i will think about it. Result he failed to help me with my issue

I then went back in the week and wanted to port my number over, and maybe i could find some in The Westwood vodacom, who is competent and has the ability to listen to the customer. The same lady at the door said the tech guy us here, you can see,

VODACOM TECHNICIAN I spoke to Him and he said i can fix your phone for R150, let me get my tool. You can go see the thr consultant and port your number. So the consultant assisted. I was told to comeback once i get a text.

VODACOM TECHNICIAN The technician called me to the area where he sorts out issues like this and to my surprise i see the tool was an old huawei phone, he cloned the whatsapp, got the code on that phone and i saw the whatsapp was working, he then copied it over to the Huawei Y61 device, With my other number he put a Business WhatsApp and that number verified on my Huawei Y61 phone. So i paid the R150

PORTING It was unsuccessful, i called my service provider and asked why they rejected my port request, after i followed all the rules given. Customer service Agent said the Vodacom consultant did it wrong. So i ended up porting over to MTN and it quick and easy.

December 28 On December 28th, business whatsapp which verified on Huawei Y61 requested an update as it was outdated. I tried to follow the instructions the Technician game me however it was unsuccessful. So the business WhatsApp stopped working and my number stopped verifying on whatsapp.

January 2024 I went back to vodocom, the same lady was at the door and directed me to the same technician. I sat and waited, however during that time i heard how he spoke down on a customer. She requested a new number and he was like why do you want one, just block spam messages. She tried to explain, but like he did with me he failed to listen to clients requirements. She walked out upset and unhappy, he failed to help her. It wasn't a joke but a security issue she had.

VODACOM TECHNICIAN He called me and he pretended like he didn't know who i was, or the fact that he charged me R150 to copy whatsapp. Plus westwood branch is never busy. I found myself re-explaining to him and told him my business whatsapp has also stopped working and the icon has gone of my phone, after i received the message the version is outdated. I FOLLOWED the instructions given, however PETAL SEARCH, HUAWEI APP STORE DOESN'T UPDATE IT. The technician stated that he will have to charge me for putting it back on. Yet it wasn't my fault. He failed to listen to me. He said even if he puts it few months down the same thing will happen and that the phone i have doesn't support whatsapp, I need to buy a new one. Not this silly huawei make.

OVERALL COMMENT Firstly I purchased the Huawei Nova Y61 mint green under the notion that i could easily access my apps from the huawei store. However this wasn't true and nobody notified that is phone will no longer be compatible to whatsapp. The updates on Petal Search, huawei app store is out dated. Not to forget a message coming up that i need Google Play store. Again i was told the phone doesn't have Google Playstore, but it has Huawei App store, so you can access everything.

My experience with Westwood Vodacom was horrific, Where is the Store Manager, Why wasn't my complaint taken seriously. The fact is nothing is wrong with whatsapp, i wasn't blocked, it's just that its no longer supports Huawei Y61 Nova device. My other Business WhatsApp stopped working. I had to troubleshoot, tried diff numbers to verify and no code gets generated. (Refer to screen shot )

Yet the *********** Technician cloned the whatsapp knowing the real reason. Instead i should of been given a refund for this device as i no longer can use it. Its currently switch off..

I was misled, not treated well by this Store and i wasted R3100 on purchasing a phone that's not good as per the consultants, Huawei Tech and Vodacom Technician , plus R150 to sort. This store has a lack of professionalism and client satisfaction seems lost. They are not alert and very poor listening skills. Again? Where is the store Manager? All i see is everyone standing by the door, nobody helps.

I have attached, my till slip, various screenshots. Please refund my money for this huawei nova y61 green. SO i can put it towards buying another device. As i use it for work ect. Overall its such an inconvenience waste of time going back and forth. The consultants needs to be transparent with customers.

Again please sort out ASAP