Blacklisted IMEI

[ioos]

Goodness me I need help!

A family member took out a contract (Vodacom) in March this year. She used the handset a few times but borrowed/gave it to a friend of hers. The payments on the contract is NOT in arrears. Vodacom has blacklisted the handset because:

The family member's contract is somehow linked to MY contract (I did use my sim ONCE in that phone) My services with Vodacom is suspended because I was behind on payments on MY contract. (I know I know - bad bad bad) but how can they suspend THAT phone which is NOT on my name because MY contract is behind in payments. They picked up I used the phone once with my suspended sim.

Who can assist me?

 

[Willy Strong]

The contract holder call VC and unblacklist the phone.

 

[cavedog]

They can't do that. That means that if I don't pay my contract and put it in a prepaid simcard they will blacklist the prepaid simcard too.

No they can only blacklist the device that you got with the simcard and that is linked to the arrears account.

As far as I'm aware Vodacom is the only network that is this strict on cellphone contracts. If you don't pay we blacklist the device for bad debt.... Very strict have not seen other networks doing it but I stand to be corrected.

 

[ioos]

I understand the contract holder is the only one to unblacklist the phone. My question is WHY does it even happen in the first place? Tihs is not the first time - it happened in August as well. The family member did put in the request and it was opened. Now the same happened again. They told her its because my sim was used in the phone.

 

[MickZA]

I My question is WHY does it even happen in the first place?

Maybe they're hoping she'll loan you the money to pay your account

 

[Hemi300c]

Nail them.

 

[reactor_sa]

#paybackthemoney

 

[ioos]

Nail them.

How?

Call centre people tells me I need to do a special request. Which we did. We keep on ending up with a specific lady in the "Credit Department". She actually understands what I am saying but is telling me they can only unlock it once my account is settled. IN WHAT WORLD does this make sense?

#WTF

 

[Dairyfarmer]

People who get a device as part of their contracts need to read the contract very carefully. They never one the device. At the end of the contract the network is kind enough to give you the device.

This means the network has full right on that device for the whole period of the contract. You cannot legally sell the device or give it to someone else. You need the network's permission. This also effects what happens when the device needs repair or replacement.

9.1.2. Vodacom will remain the owner of the Apparatus for the duration of the Initial Period.

10.1. Should you fail to meet any payment obligations during the Initial Period or the Renewal Period, as the case may be, then Vodacom shall be entitled to prevent the further use of your Apparatus and you indemnify Vodacom in respect of any claim whatsoever arising from Vodacom exercising its right in terms hereof.

 

[R13...]

Why do they not suspend the SIM as well as the contract device instead of leaving the SIM open and simply blacklisting every device it is used in? Unless I am misunderstanding here

 

[Hemi300c]

IMO They can only block the sim and the phone connected to that contract.
There is no way they can legally block a different cell because the sim was used in it.

 

[airborne]

Something the op isn't telling is, I have never heard of that happening. Perhaps the contracts are somehow linked.

 

[Hemi300c]

Something the op isn't telling is, I have never heard of that happening. Perhaps the contracts are somehow linked.

Possibly the only reason

 

[reactor_sa]

Something the op isn't telling is, I have never heard of that happening. Perhaps the contracts are somehow linked.

See:

#paybackthemoney

Why is the OP not paying the outstanding on his/her contract?

 

[ioos]

LOL It sounds like a BS story doesn't it? I have all communication with Vodacom in this regard. The contracts are not at all linked. The device belongs to the contract of the family member and that account is up to date! The debit order goes through every month.

Email from the lady from Vodacom:

Good day,

Please note that the handset cannot be unlisted, as the handset was listed on the your account ******* on msidn *******(my number).


Regards

My email back to her:

Hi ****

Please assist in this matter.

This handset belongs to a family member and is part of her contract (account *******) It should not have been listed under ********

She received the phone on her contract on 21st April. The phone was used by me for a day with my sim which has been suspended now.

Kind regards


I am paying my account after a payment arrangement was made.

 

[ioos]

People who get a device as part of their contracts need to read the contract very carefully. They never one the device. At the end of the contract the network is kind enough to give you the device.

This means the network has full right on that device for the whole period of the contract. You cannot legally sell the device or give it to someone else. You need the network's permission. This also effects what happens when the device needs repair or replacement.

I understand this.

The point is its not my device. It belongs to a family member. It is the handset she received with her contract. Whether she uses it, or whether a friend uses it, is irrelevant. The point is the handset is blacklisted even though the account is up to date.

 

[airborne]

I understand this.

The point is its not my device. It belongs to a family member. It is the handset she received with her contract. Whether she uses it, or whether a friend uses it, is irrelevant. The point is the handset is blacklisted even though the account is up to date.

How is this phone linked to your account/name, debit from the same bank account, or both registered in your name/id etc, there would have to be something linking them, there is no rule that states if you let a contract sim of some random person to be used in your phone it can be liable to be black listed if that random person doesn't pay their contract. Just imagine the uproar if that was the case.

No there's something else either you aren't telling us or you don't know. Perhaps you are standing surety for the other contract?

 

[ioos]

How is this phone linked to your account/name, debit from the same bank account, or both registered in your name/id etc, there would have to be something linking them, there is no rule that states if you let a contract sim of some random person to be used in your phone it can be liable to be black listed if that random person doesn't pay their contract. Just imagine the uproar if that was the case.

No there's something else either you aren't telling us or you don't know. Perhaps you are standing surety for the other contract?

When I spoke to the Lady at Vodacom (the same one that sent me the email) she explained to me the only thing that could've happened was that my sim car (Which was in arrears) was used in that phone. My sim registered the IMEI number and it was linked to my SIM. Not linked to my contract though. So when the suspended my account/contract/sim - the handset was suspended too.

The contracts are TOTALLY independent. The family member is paying her account religiously. From her own bank account (Debit order monthly).

The lady also explained to me that all handsets that was registered on my contract would have been blacklisted.

I know this sounds ridiculous. She explained it to me that way. I am paying off my account now (payment arrangement) but the handset of the other contract is still blacklisted. I don't understand it either. I emailed her again this morning. It doesn't make sense to me either. I have never signed surety or anything for the other contract. I wasn't even with the family member when she took out the contract. This is very frustrating

 

[ld13]

Taken on face value of the into presented here...

The operator has the right to disable the device and sim that is on the contract. I have no problems with that. My problem comes in with them seemingly disabling a device that is not on the contract. I cannot think of anything, short of a court order or fraud check, that would allow them to do this. It has to be an error of some sort. If they did this to me I would not take it lying down.

But to get to the bottom of this would need some intervention. Keep hounding them on all the social outlets till you get an answer.

 

[ioos]

Thank you for all the responses.

I am at a loss at what to do. No feedback from VC yesterday. The people inside the Vodacom shops are not sure why/what is happening. Do you think if I write this on Hello Peter it will make a difference? Should I try?