Did you know that if you are using a pre-paid sim in your Vodafone Mobile Connect Device, Vodacom charges you R4-00 just to connect to the internet? Well they do. I know this because a Vodacom operator by the name of Irene told me so. In other words, if you receive an sms notification of an e-mail and you connect to the internet using airtime and not data, you have already been charged R4-00 just to connect and that's before you've even accessed your maibox. But it gets worse. They charge R4-00 EACH TIME YOU CONNECT. Does this mean it would be cheaper just to remain connected and not surf or browse? Probably not. They'll probably charge you for remaining online and NOT surfing or browsing. Who knows? Perhaps Vodacom will send me the full nitty gritty so I can publish it for user information.

I use a Rica Registered sim card in my Vodafone Mobile Connect Dongle. I received an sms from Vodacom telling me that I had 3Meg usage before costs would be deducted from my account

I went out and bought airtime to purchase a bundle (Vodacom does not have ONE airtime dealer, including Spar and Pep Stores who supply data bundles in Hibberdene). When I accessed my account it read that I had R144 odd in my account. I strictly use this sim card in my Vodafone Mobile Connect Device. I selected to purchase a 300Meg data bundle which is R139. After the 1^st attempt to purchase the bundle (Vodacom was unable to process the transaction), My balance read R141 odd. I then attempted to purchase 3 times but on each occasion the site returned a verdict that THEY were unable to process the transaction. It did not say I had insufficient funds, because I did have sufficient funds to purchase the bundle when I accessed my account.

When I next checked my balance, it was down to R136.80 odd. In short, Vodacom had taken R7-00 for absolutely nothing (Oh sorry! I forgot – I accessed the internet.) This ensured that I was not able to purchase the data bundle I required and am now forced to buy more airtime, reconnect again using that airtime which in effect will cost me a further R4-00 before I have even accessed my account to purchase the bundle. Let's put this into perspective. Let's say 100 000 users connect to the internet using airtime on a daily basis (which is not even close to the real figure I would think), Vodacom would have taken R400 000 before having done anything to earn that money, but, how many times a day do those users connect to the internet?

Lets say they connect on average three times a day. That's R12-00 per user and that equals a whopping 1.2 million per 100 000 users. That's before these 100 000 users have actually done anything on the internet.

I then recharged with another R29-00 just to make sure I can purchase the bundle before Vodacom eats all the money. My balance is R165.80. I purchased the bundle and my account read R22-80 following the purchase which indicates that indeed they did charge me a further R4-00 just to connect. I immediately closed the web, did no surfing, entered no other sites and waited half an hour. I paid in excess of R11 just to access the vodacom site in order to buy 300Meg of Data. Now tell me, is this not a rip off?

I intend to take this further and I hope there are others who will report this and lay complaints with the relevant authorities. This is hugely unfair, unethical, and totally unacceptable. Particularly because it takes away the opportunity for millions of South Africans who can only afford R5-00 a day or less in airtime, to browse and explore the internet.

This is not the first time I have had this issue with Vodacom. I have in a previous release asked the question: Is Vodacom Ripping Us Off? I feel that I can quite truthfully answer that question.In my opinion THEY ARE and someone needs to come explain to Vodacom users exactly what charges are being applied, how they are being applied and when. It is a VERY unethical practice to keep customers in the dark. These things should be told to clients when they purchase their Vodafone Mobile Connect Devices at a price of R1 400 odd. Jeepers!

This is not the only complaint I have about Vodacom. Last night I was unable to connect to the internet for approximately 3 hours. I work online and this became hugely frustrating. I had to wake up early this morning to catch up with my work before attending appointments. There was NO network available from around 4:30am when I tried to connect until after 9am by which time I had to leave. So, I got no work done which is also costing me money.

Even the 111 number was inaccessible for hours on end. It's pathetic and I urge consumers to demand a better service from Vodacom or at least bring their complaints to the general public across South Africa in order to get these Networs who rip us to become more customer friendly and to start showing the integrity which requires that they apply charges which are above board, and if they aren't going to, to at least inform customers properly and clearly of how charges work across the board. The MMS and SMS facility from Voadacom was also on the blink for the entire night and this made sure that I was unable to utilise the free SMS and MMS service.

Respect For Customers – Transferring customers from operator to operator and keeping customers on hold for what are quite obviously unreasonable lengths of time. In some cases I have been kept on hold and been transferred from operator to operator for over an hour! In the hope that there'll be a connection failure or that the client will run out of battery power? Hmm.

At some point Vodacom needs to be held accountable for the service it promises and does not provide. Are you willing to bring your points and complaints about Vodacom and other Networks to the public? Contact me and I'll publish your stories. Vodacom is welcome to reply. I believe a full investigation needs to take place to establish what is being charged, which charges are acceptable and which aren't as well as to create a platform on which the rights of consumers, the access and availability of information regarding their accounts etc. are tabled.

I have only ever dealt with Vodacom and therefore cannot comment on the usage charges and my experiences with any other Network. If you are experiencing the same or similar with your Network, or if you are A Cellular Network, send Oink your stuff and let us keep the public informed of HOW MUCH, WHY and WHEN! It all makes one wonder if the extensive and costly sponsorships, promotions and giveaways are an indication that indeed, these businesses are overcharging consumers.

Craig Nuttley – Tel: 079 154 7696

Email Me – This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it