Check your bill for October and November very carefully. Vodacom is double billing customers for upgrades. If you received an SMS from Vodacom for an upgrade, that you did not request, you may be affected.
On 27 September I received and SMS from Vodacom stating:
"Dear XXXX your quotation has been processed 1-3XXXXXXX. Use the order number 1-3XXXXXX when contacting Vodacom Customer Care on 082111 for further enquiries."
Note, I did not request any 'upgrade'. I immediately suspected a SIM swap or similar type of fraud and I called the 082111 number. Turns out they have decided to terminate the Smart Light package and we are all being migrated to Smart XS. The new package is about R9 more expensive with less features, but anyway I let that slide.
Come my November invoice, I notice that I am now being charged for the Smart XS for November and also in arrears for the Pro-Rata part of October. But wait a moment, I already paid for October full price for the Smart Light. Surely if I moved to the Smart XS on (lets say) the 5th of October, then I should have been refunded Pro-Rata for the Smart Light for the period 5-31 October?
So just to make it clear, my invoices looks as follows:
October 2017
Smart Light (October) R121.93 (excl VAT)
November 2017
Smart XS (October) R126.48 (excl VAT)
Smart XS (November) R130.70 (excl VAT)
Since then, I have called 082111 twice (they flatly refused to listen to my argument) and I asked for a callback (they called me, I explained, and I am still waiting for a further response, two days and counting.)
I have now visited Customer Care at Vodacom World and escelated the matter (Ref 1-3410621203015). I am awaiting their response. I chalange any Vodacom Rep to come on here and explain why I should pay for the full Smart Light as well as Pro-Rata for the Smart XS for October.
This might be hidden somewhere in a contract or an upgrade form, then please show me the form that I signed. (Note again, I did not ask for the upgrade. I was ambushed with an SMS at 7am in the morning stating that it have already been approved.) Smells like something the Consumer Rights Ombud might want to listen too.
Now I know some might say: R120, is it really worth the effort? BUT if they did this to all their subscribers for the Smart Light package (lets say 10 000 ppl), that is R1 200 000 extra on their profit, for nothing. Who knows what may have happened with all the other packages...
So, have a look at your statement. Share your experience here.