Using a competitor SIM in a Vodacom device voids your warranty

If your vodacom purchased handset is within its 1st year warranty and if you where using a competitors network.All you need is the proof of purchase.The 90 day rule only applies to the second year warranty.You can call 0821944(vodacare customer care line) free from any vodacom cellphone during office hours to confirm
 
Try that with an iPhone :p and you get the run around, each party passing the proverbial buck to the other party!

EDIT : I have been with VC for a long time now (on the same number, and with other accounts) Longest running number with them goes back to 1998 :)
 
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How do networks get away with this? Can you imagine buying a new car and being told you can only use one fuel brand and if that fuel brand is not detected in the tank you then have no warranty??

I'm sure this unfair practice will fall away once the new trading laws come into force! Along with self renewing gym contracts that tie you in for another 12 months even though you didn't sign for another 12 months!

Most pre-pay adverts state: "comes with free Vodacom (or whatever network) SIM pack" therefore by this statement, they have sold you a cellular handset and as such the manufacture or their agent must repair the handset. Vodacom may be able to wiggle out of the two-year warranty because this is not manufactures warranty!

Of course then it'll be returned as "water" damage! Another SOB used by all SA networks or should I say some of their rogue technicians!
 
Haha I see Vodacom is starting to get worried about some of their users inserting MTN/Telkom SIMs into their modems
 
JimM said:
How do networks get away with this? Can you imagine buying a new car and being told you can only use one fuel brand and if that fuel brand is not detected in the tank you then have no warranty??
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Do you take your BMW to a Caltex filling station to be serviced or repaired? Not exactly the same thing is it. Running all the Vodacare centres must cost a pretty penny I am sure, and the Vodacare channel was put into place to service Vodacom Service Provider Company clients. If you insist on using MTN or any other sim in your Vodacom phone, then the manufacturer will then have to honour the warranty.
 
Don't see anything wrong with this. It's like buying a BMW through caltex and BMW gives you a 5 year guarantee but if you're always using caltex and it breaks at 6 years they will repair it for you. If you went off and started using shell then you're stuck or maybe you must go ask shell to repair it.
 
Just make sure to put the vodacom sim into the modem for a bit every month or so then you should be fine.
 
The problem we have in South Africa is that the Handsets manufactures don't have the resources to open repair centres everywhere.And they leave their problems to the cellphone networks.

Vodacom and MTN actualy doing us a BIg favour by having repair centres throught SA.Vodacom has 43 Vodacares and MTN has about the same.

The cellphone networks are not responsible for repairing your cellphone its your handset manufacturer.


So Now you know why if you buy a phone from Vodacom you must use Vodacom.Same with MTN and Cell C.Cell C does not have any repair centres.
 
^^^ Thats not our problem - and they're also not doing us a favour, that's like me saying I'm doing them a favour by using their network.

If CellC doesn't have repair centres, do that not offer warranties?

Also, my phone has always had to go to Jhb from Cpt - are all these repair centres only in Jhb?
 
This type of behaviour from companies is fairly common I think.

For instance, Standard Bank will only pay staff salaries into a standard bank account. If you refuse to open a standard bank account then they will physically write you a cheque. All done so the staff don't go with their competitors. Vodacom thinks just because they put their name on the modem only they have rights to it, stupid, but expected.
 
How can you blame the cellphone network for your handset problems.The networks don't make phones,they only sell them.

You can only complain to your network if you have a network problem.

All Advanced repair centres are in JHB.It is not viable to put a ARC in every region.

Then you get customers saying Eish Vodacom giving me bad service because my phone is freezing".Next time I will try MTN".And when they have the same problem with MTN.They threaten to go to Vodacom and Cell C........The problem is the PHONE not network
 
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Sponge Bob Square Pants said:
How can you blame the cellphone network for your handset problems.The networks don't make phones,they only sell them.

You can only complain to your network if you have a network problem.

All Advanced repair centres are in JHB.It is not viable to put a ARC in every region.

Then you get customers saying Eish Vodacom giving me bad service because my phone is freezing".Next time I will try MTN".And when they have the same problem with MTN.They threaten to go to Vodacom and Cell C........The problem is the PHONE not network
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If Vodacom/MTN/CellC are offering warranty services, then its their own problem.

Game sell TVs, if there's a problem, you take it back to Game, you don't take it to the TV manufacturer.
 
xrapidx said:
If Vodacom/MTN/CellC are offering warranty services, then its their own problem.

Game sell TVs, if there's a problem, you take it back to Game, you don't take it to the TV manufacturer.
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Yes, and so you may. No one said you cant bring it to us. That is what the Vodacare channel is there fore. Provided the warranty on the phone is in place as per our Terms and Conditions.
 
ocleroux said:
Yes, and so you may. No one said you cant bring it to us. That is what the Vodacare channel is there fore. Provided the warranty on the phone is in place as per our Terms and Conditions.
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Don't worry - have nothing against Vodacom (except sales :p) - just finding his argument that we owe the supplier something a bit off.

I don't think Vodacom (or any other SP) have a leg to stand on while the phone is under manufacturer warranty - after that is over, I'm quite happy with them only providing an extended service IF you use their network.

Thing is, what happens if I buy a modem (which I did) - and I only use it every now and then, the last time I used it was six months ago... ? I haven't been using it on another network, but I also haven't been using it.... and then something goes wrong? (I only use it when travelling, which fortunately I haven't had to do in awhile.
 
xrapidx said:
Thing is, what happens if I buy a modem (which I did) - and I only use it every now and then, the last time I used it was six months ago... ? I haven't been using it on another network, but I also haven't been using it.... and then something goes wrong? (I only use it when travelling, which fortunately I haven't had to do in awhile.
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The warranty is now Void and Vodacare will not book the unit in should something go wrong. When you use it again and it registers on the network, the warranty will be reinstated. But like I said before, if something goes badly wrong and the modem is unable to connect to the network, then the warranty database will not be updated and the warranty will stay void.
 
ocleroux said:
The warranty is now Void and Vodacare will not book the unit in should something go wrong. When you use it again and it registers on the network, the warranty will be reinstated. But like I said before, if something goes badly wrong and the modem is unable to connect to the network, then the warranty database will not be updated and the warranty will stay void.
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Is that mentioned in the T&C of the 2yr warranty though? That the device has to be used every 3 months... so it doesn't really have anything to do with using another provider, its more about actively using the device on the VC network?
 
xrapidx said:
Is that mentioned in the T&C of the 2yr warranty though? That the device has to be used every 3 months... so it doesn't really have anything to do with using another provider, its more about actively using the device on the VC network?
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It is mentioned yes. I posted the full terms and conditions in a related thread a while ago, but cant find it. urg. Basically yes, but whether it is inactive or used on another providers network comes down to the same thing.
 
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