Unfortunate Request

Peon

Peon

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Afternoon all,

I have a request from one of my clients.

My client tragically lost his son in August last year and Vodacom in January this year I believe closed his contract and subsequently his number.

How can my client regain the number and contract? He wishes to keep his Whatsapp and things like that.

Is there anyone from Vodacom here that can help us?

Peon.
 
No, his son died and he didnt think to port the number or carry on paying it. High level of shock and grief.
 
If the number is just in a deleted state, then there is a chance it can be reactivated. You will need to buy a new sim and complete a reactivation form and there is a reactivation charge. A concern is that if the contract was in your son's name, then you would not be able to do it, unless they accept the death certificate. Best would be to go into a store and ask them to assist.

If the number has already been recycled and issued to someone else, then there is not much you can do.
 
The thing with whatsapp if you change number it erases your previous chats. Personally I would backup the phone and move on from the number
 
The son was over 18 and paying the contract himself or were his parent paying it?
 
Peon said:
The phone is backed up. He was over 18 and paying it himself.
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Isn't this a bit complicated then? Would've thought there'd be some (legal?) issues around claiming someone else's number once they're over 18 and paying it themselves.
 
saor said:
Isn't this a bit complicated then? Would've thought there'd be some (legal?) issues around claiming someone else's number once they're over 18 and paying it themselves.
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I dont understand.

His son died. He's just trying to get the number back out of the deleted pool.
 
Peon said:
I dont understand.

His son died. He's just trying to get the number back out of the deleted pool.
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What I'm saying is I'm not sure what the policy is regarding this in terms of privacy laws etc. If my friend dies and I have his phone and want to get his number, I'm not sure what the legalities around that are? I surely have no right to his number?
 
saor said:
What I'm saying is I'm not sure what the policy is regarding this in terms of privacy laws etc. If my friend dies and I have his phone and want to get his number, I'm not sure what the legalities around that are? I have to right to his number. Not sure how this works with family.
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So he can browse his sons whatsapp and voice notes. Yea you can create a folder on a PC and just listen that. Its sentimental if that makes sense.
 
Peon said:
So he can browse his sons whatsapp and voice notes. Yea you can create a folder on a PC and just listen that. Its sentimental if that makes sense.
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That sounds like something that will open old wounds or cause more pain down the line. I would rather not help someone acquiring his sons or daughter's phone number, so that they can go through private whatsapps etc.
Can he not just stick to what his son has shared with him via whatsapp?

Sidenote to self : Don't just delete browsing history, also IM messages.
 
It's just sentimental reasons. I'm just trying to help a parent griefing.

Ok, thx guys.
 
Peon said:
So he can browse his sons whatsapp and voice notes. Yea you can create a folder on a PC and just listen that. Its sentimental if that makes sense.
Click to expand...

I’d come back to haunt my folks were they ever to do that.
 
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