I don't know what lead to going onto Vodacom's website today, but when I did, I noticed that I had R769.70 worth of airtime monies - or so it was deceived.
Last year around June/July I initiated a Top-up 135 contract with Vodacom, and ever since last December I haven't used it, at all - I'm no longer even in the possession of the SIM card(read: phone stolen, no insurance at the time).
The only deduction happening on the account is from a Simfy subscription of R60 p/m. So, by mathematical proof: (R135 - R60) * 9 = R675.
How I ended up with the previously mentioned amount I'm not really uncertain about, but I don't really care either: I feel as if I'm busy sending money into oblivion every month. I'd buy out the contract, but I fear that this will be even more money wasted.
Onto today. I called up customer care to find out what I could do with this airtime balance(hint: nothing), and after some in-depth explanation of my problem to a clueless support agent, I gathered the following information from them:
1. Airtime transfers are possible but needs to be activated(since it's free I said yay),
2. Activation of said service takes an hour to activate,
3. Airtime with contract ≠Airtime with voucher :erm:,
4. Clueless Support agents will side-step every attempt from a person to gain knowledge on a subject they do not know about,
5. Support agents will not admit that they do not know something, oh no, they'll tell you to RTFM.
So onto my questions for you guys and girls...
Why is airtime handed out within a contract period ≠airtime bought with voucher at the stores? I tried to reason this, but I can't come at any logical conclusion as to why. One's effectively paying for it, and although it may be at a lesser price, the principle of using the virtual currency to transmit data through a series of radio towers stays the same.
What can I possibly do with this insanely high amount of airtime? I tried reasoning data bundles since I've got an ol' 3G stick, but I have ADSL at home and already a bundle activated on my current phone.
Any suggestions are appreciated.
Last year around June/July I initiated a Top-up 135 contract with Vodacom, and ever since last December I haven't used it, at all - I'm no longer even in the possession of the SIM card(read: phone stolen, no insurance at the time).
The only deduction happening on the account is from a Simfy subscription of R60 p/m. So, by mathematical proof: (R135 - R60) * 9 = R675.
How I ended up with the previously mentioned amount I'm not really uncertain about, but I don't really care either: I feel as if I'm busy sending money into oblivion every month. I'd buy out the contract, but I fear that this will be even more money wasted.
Onto today. I called up customer care to find out what I could do with this airtime balance(hint: nothing), and after some in-depth explanation of my problem to a clueless support agent, I gathered the following information from them:
1. Airtime transfers are possible but needs to be activated(since it's free I said yay),
2. Activation of said service takes an hour to activate,
3. Airtime with contract ≠Airtime with voucher :erm:,
4. Clueless Support agents will side-step every attempt from a person to gain knowledge on a subject they do not know about,
5. Support agents will not admit that they do not know something, oh no, they'll tell you to RTFM.
So onto my questions for you guys and girls...
Why is airtime handed out within a contract period ≠airtime bought with voucher at the stores? I tried to reason this, but I can't come at any logical conclusion as to why. One's effectively paying for it, and although it may be at a lesser price, the principle of using the virtual currency to transmit data through a series of radio towers stays the same.
What can I possibly do with this insanely high amount of airtime? I tried reasoning data bundles since I've got an ol' 3G stick, but I have ADSL at home and already a bundle activated on my current phone.
Any suggestions are appreciated.
or use the airtime to buy bundles *if that possible*
)