MTN to Cell C migrating - I feel guilty

As odd as it may seem, I actually feel guilty.
For the better part of 15 years I have had 2 contract numbers & 3 prepaid with MTN - that is quite a bit of money over the years.
Although the contract numbers qualified for the usual handset upgrades - prepaid numbers get nothing, but that is the same for all networks.
However, one would think that a service provider would recognize 15 years of loyalty - but no.

The thing that drove me over the edge was really bad customer service.
On one occasion I had a serious problem & wanted to speak to the customer service manager - only to be told the customer service manager does not deal with customers. WTF ???
I have sent numerous emails to MTN about various issues. Over the course of 15 years I have yet to be afforded the courtesy of one single reply.

I have signal problems in my area. I have contacted MTN on many occasions regards this - always to be told the "technical" people will get back to me - still waiting !!

I have been running a prepaid Cell C sim card for 2 months at home, using voice & data, essentially to "test the water". On the few occasions I have had to call Cell C, they have managed to resolve the problem or call back as promised.

Very strange that I should be feeling guilty about getting out of a loveless marriage !!!

Don't worry yourself - the last I heard, MTN had a market cap of R300 billion.
As I'm sure you know, they're very well represented throughout Africa, so have many other individuals / businesses they're 'married' to.

Have been with MTN since 1999, I know what you are talking about, currently have an issue with them, I have complained at ICASA which is useless, and I also complained at the DTI, Nothing but uselessness.

Since I have seen your post I am currently up for an upgrade, but i am just gonna drop my contracts with them. and call it a decade.

You should feel joy

If I was working for MTN, these people giving you such crap service, would be on their way out.

Sadly I have found that some people have a good experience at [Service Provider], while other people have had a bad experience at same [Service Provider].

I have heard of people who received a solar charger as a thank you for being with their network for a very long time, but that's just 1 case.

Consider business today:
You drive a VW, you have for the past 30 years bought and drove different VW models. VW has never sent you anything, the same way that DEFY has never sent you anything for always using their washing machines. That is business today.

If networks wanted to, they can see who has been a loyal client and send them something (as cars and washing machines are not registered to owners the way phones are). My brother got a R100 voucher from MTN that he could use with his next upgrade (on accessories) that was for his first upgrade.

I have found though that the are shops and consultants that offer bad service are not limited to a single network. You get shops that give good service, but they have been few and far between (in my experience).

May you find happiness @ CellC or whichever Service Provider you choose!