Gathu
Well-Known Member
Just a little rant on my utterly s***ty experience with SA Cellphone companies. (TL
R - The Cell experience in SA SUCK)
At the end of July I started looking at the available deals for a Samsung Galaxy S2. Because I still have 12 months to go on my current contract (Galaxy S ftw
) I decided to take out an additional contract (Galaxy nut, what can I say...) From the start Vodacom was eliminated due to their amazingly bad pricing, and Virgin due to some bad feedback here and from family.
This left me with Cell C and MTN. On July the 29th I went to the local Secunda MTN shop since I figured it would be the least hassle. Turns out they haven't heard about the S2, it's not on their system and I was advised to order one through MTN direct. Tried to phone MTNSP several times, with the number supplied on their website, but got either busy tones or dropped calls. On the 30th I phoned Cellc and placed my order with them, having written of MTN as useless. Things went smooth and I was advised that delivery will take 5 to 7 working days.
I did not follow up during the next week, being fairly busy at work, expecting a delivery by Thursday or Friday the 5th. On Thurday morning I got a call from CellC. Expecting to hear when the delivery will be made, I was dumbstruck when I was told they could not verify my worknumber as the person they reached told CellC they do not know me. WTF?? I had the same worknumber for the past ten years. I verified they had the correct number, tested it myself and had them phone me again, with no problems. It took them the full week to follow up on that number because the lady that handled my application was sick, and they seemingly have no procedure for passing on applications when their agents are sick.
I went a bit ballistic on CELLC, although I did not blame the agent, but the s***ty admin procedures. Asking her to please expedite my application, since I have been waiting for a week already, I ended the call. Next day I followed up and was informed that they still haven't verified my employment. Basically told them to get it verified by Monday, and let me know asap, as I will go looking for other options. Even so, it would take another week after the vetting before I get a Galaxy S2.
Over the weekend I saw the new MTN ads, and figured I'd try the local shop again. Hallelujah, they have it on their system now and have some stock. Went in on Monday to apply, figuring it should be fast since I am a current customer. No dice, their system was offline, and my application will take another 24-48 hours to validate after onlining, even though I am a current customer.
Currently still waiting for the MTN vetting process to finish, should have the phone by tomorrow, 12 days after I started looking. All in all a fairly s**t experience, with no clear winner in customer experience. CellC will get my call to cancel tomorrow.
In conclusion
Virgin will not get my business until their rep improve, Vodacom will not get my business because of their excessive pricing, CellC won't see me again because I am not willing to wait 2-3 weeks for them to wake up, leaves me only with MTN. So much for choice in SA.
R - The Cell experience in SA SUCK)At the end of July I started looking at the available deals for a Samsung Galaxy S2. Because I still have 12 months to go on my current contract (Galaxy S ftw
) I decided to take out an additional contract (Galaxy nut, what can I say...) From the start Vodacom was eliminated due to their amazingly bad pricing, and Virgin due to some bad feedback here and from family.This left me with Cell C and MTN. On July the 29th I went to the local Secunda MTN shop since I figured it would be the least hassle. Turns out they haven't heard about the S2, it's not on their system and I was advised to order one through MTN direct. Tried to phone MTNSP several times, with the number supplied on their website, but got either busy tones or dropped calls. On the 30th I phoned Cellc and placed my order with them, having written of MTN as useless. Things went smooth and I was advised that delivery will take 5 to 7 working days.
I did not follow up during the next week, being fairly busy at work, expecting a delivery by Thursday or Friday the 5th. On Thurday morning I got a call from CellC. Expecting to hear when the delivery will be made, I was dumbstruck when I was told they could not verify my worknumber as the person they reached told CellC they do not know me. WTF?? I had the same worknumber for the past ten years. I verified they had the correct number, tested it myself and had them phone me again, with no problems. It took them the full week to follow up on that number because the lady that handled my application was sick, and they seemingly have no procedure for passing on applications when their agents are sick.
I went a bit ballistic on CELLC, although I did not blame the agent, but the s***ty admin procedures. Asking her to please expedite my application, since I have been waiting for a week already, I ended the call. Next day I followed up and was informed that they still haven't verified my employment. Basically told them to get it verified by Monday, and let me know asap, as I will go looking for other options. Even so, it would take another week after the vetting before I get a Galaxy S2.
Over the weekend I saw the new MTN ads, and figured I'd try the local shop again. Hallelujah, they have it on their system now and have some stock. Went in on Monday to apply, figuring it should be fast since I am a current customer. No dice, their system was offline, and my application will take another 24-48 hours to validate after onlining, even though I am a current customer.
Currently still waiting for the MTN vetting process to finish, should have the phone by tomorrow, 12 days after I started looking. All in all a fairly s**t experience, with no clear winner in customer experience. CellC will get my call to cancel tomorrow.
In conclusion
Virgin will not get my business until their rep improve, Vodacom will not get my business because of their excessive pricing, CellC won't see me again because I am not willing to wait 2-3 weeks for them to wake up, leaves me only with MTN. So much for choice in SA.
