Off to a bad start Vodacom

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martin

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I got myself a Cell C contract two years ago. The customer service sucked from the first month, the cellular service wasn't any better. So this month I decided to move back to Vodacom because I've heard they're the best of a bad bunch.

Yesterday morning, in the Vodacom shop my number port from Cell C to Vodacom was approved (in store) as well as my new Vodacom contract.

The gentleman who helped me told me two things:
1. The number would be ported to the Vodacom network that evening/morning at 24:00. If it didn't happen it meant there was a problem.
2. I must place my new Vodacom sim card in my new phone and leave it switched on

Well, I'm still on the Cell C network this morning so I went back to the Vodacom store. The gentleman who helped me yesterday wasn't in today so I spoke to a different assistant.

He told me two different things:
1. The number can take anything from 24 to 48 hours to port.
2. The new sim and phone must be switched off for the number to be ported.

Now, apparently it wasn't very nice of me to suggest to the fine gentleman 'assisting' me this morning that perhaps the people working in the Menlyn Vodashop should all sing from the same hymn sheet in future. He claimed I can't get upset at them for something that was the "system's" fault.

Yes, I am of course very upset because the system took it's sweet time to port my number. It had nothing to do with the fact that the Vodacom employees don't seem to have a clue.

Granted, it was probably very naive of me to entertain the idea that Vodacom employees are properly trained and actually know what's going on. I should have asked the questions on here from the beginning.

So citizens of myBB, please enlighten me as to what the correct procedure and waiting period is.

Edit:
- It's best to keep your phone off
- The waiting period seems to be anywhere from 24 - 48 hours (RICA seems to be causing some headaches with number portability)
 
Last edited:
Hi

Pm me your number/sim number so i could get in contact with port support

Thanks

VodacomData
 
From my experience when porting my number, i was also told it would take approx 48 hours for the port to be completely done. Once it gets going it doesnt take very long.

I had the new phone and simcard on, and eventually calls and sms's started coming through and stopped on the old. Don't think it will matter that the new phone and sim are on.

Typically if the new line is not active, you will still be able to use the old sim - so try hang in there.
 
VodacomData said:
Hi

Pm me your number/sim number so i could get in contact with port support

Thanks

VodacomData
Click to expand...

PM sent. Really appreciate the help, please also let me know about leaving the cellphone on vs. switching it off. I can't imagine that it makes a difference but you never know.
 
A port can be either very quick or can take a bit of time. Once Vodacom submits the port request on our system it gets sent through to the MTN system. MTN then needs to approve or decline the port request. A decline can be either because the account is in arrears or the wrong details were submitted on the port request, for example a wrong account number etc. But once the port request has been approved then vodacom activates the port. If I activate a port for a client lets say @ 15:00 that day and request the number to be ported that same day, then the port will happen @ 18:00 that night. I also normally recommend the client switch his phone off from lets say about 17:30 to 18:30 just to make sure the port goes through 100%. It happened to me last week where one of my clients did the above and when he switched on his new sim and phone, the port went through, but he could not recieve calls from MTN. A few hours later it came right on its own. Most likely just took a bit of time for the routing to update etc. Perhaps it is not a must to switch the phone off for the port to happen, but I recommend it just to be safe. I dont tell the client to keep the phone off for the whole day though...just for that hour when the port is supposed to happen.
 
ocleroux said:
A port can be either very quick or can take a bit of time. Once Vodacom submits the port request on our system it gets sent through to the MTN system. MTN then needs to approve or decline the port request. A decline can be either because the account is in arrears or the wrong details were submitted on the port request, for example a wrong account number etc. But once the port request has been approved then vodacom activates the port. If I activate a port for a client lets say @ 15:00 that day and request the number to be ported that same day, then the port will happen @ 18:00 that night. I also normally recommend the client switch his phone off from lets say about 17:30 to 18:30 just to make sure the port goes through 100%. It happened to me last week where one of my clients did the above and when he switched on his new sim and phone, the port went through, but he could not recieve calls from MTN. A few hours later it came right on its own. Most likely just took a bit of time for the routing to update etc. Perhaps it is not a must to switch the phone off for the port to happen, but I recommend it just to be safe. I dont tell the client to keep the phone off for the whole day though...just for that hour when the port is supposed to happen.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info. I'll keep the phone switched off just to be safe.

I got a SMS along with a PIN number from Cell C to say the port was approved on their side and the guy working at Vodacom showed me on the system that the port had also been approved on the Vodacom side so I'm fairly sure everything was approved. As I (sarcastically) pointed out in my first post - I don't mind waiting, I just want to be supplied with the correct information.
 
Hi

Port has been approved by Cell-C , port is set to go through this evening , RICA has caused alot of problems when porting in and out as the right info has to be sent and received from both providers.

As per port support.

Regards
VodaComData
 
VodacomData said:
Hi

Port has been approved by Cell-C , port is set to go through this evening , RICA has caused alot of problems when porting in and out as the right info has to be sent and received from both providers.

As per port support.

Regards
VodaComData
Click to expand...

Thanks! Will provide feedback tomorrow.
 
Now I feel bad. Your account would have been created on our system at about 18:00 but seems it takes a bit longer for the sim to go live. My appologies for creating the wrong impression.
 
ocleroux said:
Now I feel bad. Your account would have been created on our system at about 18:00 but seems it takes a bit longer for the sim to go live. My appologies for creating the wrong impression.
Click to expand...

No worries ocleroux. I'm just happy I can make phone calls again.

I would suggest that the various network representatives on myBB sticky some very clear info detailing the number port process. It would go a long way into managing client's expectations and eventually word will spread to non-members.
 
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