How do you qualify for a Vodacom contract?

RetroPedro

RetroPedro

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Friends of ours have applied for a Vodacom Weekender contract, but their credit profile only allows for a Top-up contract. Reason is they've been living in the sticks for the past two years and haven't had any accounts. They got a clean credit record but nothing current. Question is, what is the best route to take to qualify for a contract? Please take into account the following facts:
  1. The need a Weekender type contract NOT a top-up contract
  2. They stay on a farm and need the phone handy at all time for emegencies, can't buy prepaid if someone is breaking the door down
  3. Vodacom direct suggested that they take the top-up package, and then migrate to Weekender after 3 months. They could give no guarantees though and terms are not as favorable
  4. Another suggestion was that they open a clothing account, buy something and pay that off over three months, then apply again - but that sound like another shot in the dark

Any suggestions and comments are most appreciated!
 
Try applying through one of the other SP's, Nashua etc., they might have different credit requirements.
 
Do they really need a contract?

We manage to lower our cellphone expenses to R300 for both my wife and I after switching over to prepaid.
 
Slightly OT, but I've always found it odd how not having any credit means that you find it difficult to get credit when you do need it... you'd think that having lived that long without needing credit shows that you know how to manage your money!
 
@Syndyre: Good idea - will suggest that tks
@The_Librarian: They are on prepaid, but the lady stays alone on the farm sometimes and they are concerned that an emergency might come up and that the pre-paid will run out. I can imagine it might be difficult to try to re-charge while someone is trying to bash your door down!
 
Cathryn said:
Slightly OT, but I've always found it odd how not having any credit means that you find it difficult to get credit when you do need it... you'd think that having lived that long without needing credit shows that you know how to manage your money!
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I suppose there's no track record of you having repaid stuff so you're more of a risk?
 
Syndyre said:
I suppose there's no track record of you having repaid stuff so you're more of a risk?
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Yeah, that's what they say. I'd say that not having needed credit is better than having had credit and paid it off promptly, but I guess they want to know how you handle credit - and if you haven't needed any, they can't see whether you would pay promptly if you had had any.
 
Cathryn said:
Slightly OT, but I've always found it odd how not having any credit means that you find it difficult to get credit when you do need it... you'd think that having lived that long without needing credit shows that you know how to manage your money!
Click to expand...

Exactly! But I suppose they work with masses of applications, not with individuals. My friends have a clean credit record, had a house bond that they paid off and pay cash for everything else, but that does not fit in the paradigm :confused:
 
Cathryn said:
Yeah, that's what they say. I'd say that not having needed credit is better than having had credit and paid it off promptly, but I guess they want to know how you handle credit - and if you haven't needed any, they can't see whether you would pay promptly if you had had any.
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Probably, the system's based on their past experiences I guess.
 
It's good to have a good credit record, and contracts, loans etc are good if you can pay them off etc.

Like if you need to apply for a car loan or home loan one day, you'll find it easier to get it if you have had debt in the past that you've paid off.

I'm not saying MAKE DEBT, I'm just saying, if you can get a credit card and use it wisely, do it - if you can get a vodacom contract and not run yourself into the ground using it, do it, if you want to take a personal loan (small) and you can pay it off, do it cause ultimately, down the line, it's good for you.

Truworths, Edgars, Woolworths, all these 'on account' stuff can work FOR YOU in the long run if used correctly.
 
Syndyre said:
Try applying through one of the other SP's, Nashua etc., they might have different credit requirements.
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Anything but Nashua Mobile!

I have found them to be absolute rubbish, over the phone and by any other means!
Seriously stay away from those crackers!
I can't wait for my contract to come to an end in March.

Also my damn free minutes run from 1st to the end of the Month right - but they bill from the 15th to the 15th of each month.

I just find their billing system annoying and everything else about them.
<sigh>
 
Shake&Bake said:
Anything but Nashua Mobile!

I have found them to be absolute rubbish, over the phone and by any other means!
Seriously stay away from those crackers!
I can't wait for my contract to come to an end in March.

Also my damn free minutes run from 1st to the end of the Month right - but they bill from the 15th to the 15th of each month.

I just find their billing system annoying and everything else about them.
<sigh>
Click to expand...

Was just an example. :p I haven't found them bad actually, but other people seem to.
 
While I understand that a Weekender contract is required - don't know much about the Weekender contract beyond what its name suggests, but if they do consider migrating from Top-Up to Weekender, I suggest going for a 4U contract instead of Top-Up and then migrating from 4U to Weekender.
 
DearHeart said:
@Syndyre: Good idea - will suggest that tks
@The_Librarian: They are on prepaid, but the lady stays alone on the farm sometimes and they are concerned that an emergency might come up and that the pre-paid will run out. I can imagine it might be difficult to try to re-charge while someone is trying to bash your door down!
Click to expand...
Do you need credit to make an emergency call now??
 
ic said:
While I understand that a Weekender contract is required - don't know much about the Weekender contract beyond what its name suggests, but if they do consider migrating from Top-Up to Weekender, I suggest going for a 4U contract instead of Top-Up and then migrating from 4U to Weekender.
Click to expand...

Thanks ic, never studied the 4U contract before, Weekender is just a monthly account package, use during the month and pay at the end. mmm... rates on 4U is pretty much the same as weekender.
 
Have they considered taking a post-paid contract on a different network? I know cell c offers a few of those at sub-hundred a month rates. Good enough for emergencies. But cell C network not the most reliable. How about a 2way system or CB radio. Give one to your neighbouring farmer in case of emergency...
 
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