I almost do not know where to begin, I have had a data card for +- a year with quite extensive usage, this accumulated an account of R500-00 plus a month. A few months ago it went up to R2500-00 and even R3500-00 per month, with no changes from my side. On enquiryto VODACOM, it was a short and sweat - I am the problem, something about auto updates and auto down loads. Being in the sticks, I've made my way to an ITcompany (may I say, reputable place) they checked my laptop through, and whalla, it's clean and even virus free, for that was also one of VODACOM's solutions to MY problem. This was reported early in Feb 2011, with the required reference nr's and whom I have spoken too. This carried on for two more months, NO REPONSE, NO ANSWERS, At that stage I have learned that I should hang on to the ref nr's for apparently they can access these. It continued like this until I litterly lost my temper, and then one friendly incompetent pointed me towards their web site -needless to say this being as unfriendly and cumbersome as the consultants. I then realized I need to speak to a person rather than a machine - yet another month past and I have manged to get only one e-mail address. This too proofed to be of no help. I then logged a dispute resolution request - with promisses that it would take 14 days, these 14 days past, until I again managed to get yet another ref nr. Still NOTHING - The problem with the VODACOM system is - they only write contracts, supply absolutely no service and ''what they good at'' is collecting moneys. Your hands are chopped off when it comes down to an enquiry for they deduct, and deduct and there's no way you can get hold of any person - the ones you do manage to speak to, are only answering service people, they for ever escalating the problem to a higher authority, and that is where it remains. I then made the decission to source legal assistnace, yet, now I needed proof, WRITTEN proof, HOW THE HELL do you get written proof if you cannot even get hold of the bunsh on a phone. Further VODACOM so politely informed me that I should e-mail them, to an answering service person, BUT MY PROBLEM IS JUST THAT... I CANNOT USE MY DATA CARD FOR EVEN ONE HOUR AND IT ACCUMULATES R3500-00. To date I'm paying, no data card service, and then the consultant so nicely put it to me that ''I NEED TO SUPPLY PROOF THAT I'M NOT USING THE CARD - FOR CRYING OUT LOAD, I CANNOT USE IT, IT SUCKS ME DRY. My request is a detailed account, a reason for the escalation and a REFUND for the moneys, time and effort made to get disconnected for more than a month now and still the debit orders go off and off and... I can carry on and on, this saga I guess is of much delight to someone there at VODACOM, or do they actually have someone or something that can deal with problems like this - I'm of the opinion I's dealing with a computer - I have also traveled to PTA to the VODA WORLD, Here I was send from counter to counter, taking a whole Saturday, and no reference nr, solution or satisfaction - WHAT IS WRONG - PLS HELP. I'M STOPPING THE DEBIT ORDER AND READY TO FACE THE CONCEQUENCES

The 3 G Technology in South Africa favours the urbanized communities, and internet access it is a luxury for business people and the middle class.

I stay in a remote township of Ficksburg (Meqheleng)which got a very mountaneous terrain, I use my 3 G to do my business abroad, but most unfortunately the Vodacom reception in a neighbourhood I live in is not constant.

I can not access any information vital to my busines operation due to weak reception.
How do I access any information I need while running my internet at a speed of 236Kb/sec?
I use internet quite often and it is quite frustrating to recieve or send a 15 minutes content in a period extending to 4 - 5 hours. This inconvinience makes life much more difficult for us people who depends on internet to do business.

Will Vodacom SA choose a better location to place their 3G tower, just like what has been done by their competitors in an area where I live in.

Thank You