Cell-C: Bad reception & bad service!!

[3G_]

Hi everyone

Does anyone else also experience bad reception from Cell-C?

I have a few friends with Cell-C and they are all complaining. Even my mom got Cell-C and we can never reach her because the phone is "off" ... meanwhile its actually on.

She can send SMS to me, I cant send to her. (it shows delivered, but doesnt deliver).

Furthermore, my cellphone is constantly in a battle to get signal from Cell-C. If a miracle happens and someone gets through to my phone, then either:

1) the call gets cut off after two rings (by itself) ;
2) the call quality is so poor, two parties cannot hear eachother ;
3) the call gets disconnected after about 30 seconds ;

Then I have to struggle to call the other party back and whenever I get through, its the same thing again... we get disconnected after about 30 seconds.

Lately, my phone also gives the "no network coverage" error.

Cell-C told me to set the network search to "manual" and to select Vodacom. I did that but nothing helps.

Their branches is of no help because the consultants have no idea what they are selling or how it works, the customer care is useless (when I get through and if I do, I only have like a few seconds!) and their email support is even worse.

[email protected] took days to reply and when they did, look at their arrogance:

I made the subject: "bad reception"

They replied with: "cell-c customer service would like to recall the message "cell-c". AND THATS IT!!! No further detail in the email. That's arrogant!!

Then later they replied with the same as their branches said, change the network to Vodacom, which actually does not help me.

I cannot cancel my contract either, I still have over a year left.

What can I do - anyone have any ideas or similar complaints?

Thanks,
3G_

 

[warwickw]

What area you in? It would be great to know what areas you are experiencing these problems in. Maybe if a Cell C tech is reading this he can then act on it and report back.

I've not had any problems in the Somerset West area and Cape Town areas myself lately. But then I'm most probably viewed as being biased

I use my phone alot and my whole family is on Cell C and we havnt had issues in ages, but then we are all Western Cape based.

As for the lack of respone from their call centre I suggest you call Cell C main switchboard and report this their number is 0113248000. Cell C's mission this year is on improving the customer service experience from the call centre, so I'm sure they would love to hear about problems and sort them out.

Warwick

 

[3G_]

Im in the Pretoria area... Gauteng.

I hope they can fix this soon.

I have my phone set on "manual search" for mobile networks and I have selected "Vodacom". I have activated GSM & 3G networks and I have also tried it without that, nothing works.

Lately I get "no access to network" erros alot - just had it for about 20 minutes a while ago. In that time, NO calls can be made or received, nor sms'es.

Also, I don't receive sms messages when I get voicemail, I have to dial up regularly to check for voicemails myself (during the time I do actually have signal).

This is bad...

 

[pkid]

I've not had any problems in the Somerset West area and Cape Town areas myself lately. But then I'm most probably viewed as being biased

True

I ported to MTN about 2 weeks ago. Before that I was with Virgin who use the Cell C network. About a week before porting I started also getting the no network error. I think that I even posted a message on the forum about it but I can't remember. Call quality was also always shocking and there were a few times where I had to try to dial a couple of times before being able to get around the network busy errors. The problems weren't as bad as yours sound though and while they were annoying most times I could use my phone as normal.

In my area Cell C suck. MTN are a bit better but Vodacom seem to be the best. I went with MTN because their MyCall 100 provides me with good value and I previously had a contract with them and their service was great.

 

[cavedog]

Ok. Cell-c uses their own towers and where there is bad or no reception they WILL use vodacom towers. If you dont beleive me then manually change the network to vodacom. This would solve your problem and the network busy error on woza free weekends!

 

[simmo44]

dont recommend switching to vodacom - dont think they like cell c ppl on their network - i can barely call on vodacom on weekends. cell c isnt great either but on vodacom - almost 0 chance of getting through.

 

[simmo44]

^ by switching to vodacom i mean being a cell c subscriber and manually selecting vodacom.

 

[cavedog]

I wonder how much cellc pays vodacom to hire their towers/roaming. And yes Vodacom customers get priority!

 

[nocilah]

cell c have use of vodacoms towers until 2012 or something like that - either way cell c's network is crap

 

[SUPERMAN89]

http://www.gsmworld.com/roaming/gsminfo/cou_za.shtml

gaves us a picture as to what gsm we use in sa.....

Cell C with gsm 1800/900 (900 which i think is vodacom i may be wrong about that part) means that they need more towers to cover an area since they use GSM 1800 as to gsm 850/900 thus we have "constantly in a battle to get signal from Cell-C"

But i do think Cell C did some kind of upgrade to their gsm ( when you phone someone on Cell C the "ring ring" is funny to what they had - sounded like vodacom while mtn has a much deeper sound) just an idea- who knows if they upgraded..