Vodacom
Breach of Consumer Protection Act

Vodacom has deactivated a pre-paid SIM card with airtime on it. Having airtime not only indicates the SIM card is active, but the airtime falls under the CPA requirements for voucher expiry which means Vodacom cannot deactivate the card for a period of three years after the airtime is loaded. Furthermore neither the SIM card itself nor the text message sent out when a card is activated on the network gives any indication that Vodacom intends to breach the CPA by applying a lesser time limit. The SIM card itself and activation text messages are the only things provided.

And this isn't about the airtime value itself, but the perfectly valid expectation that one can activate a SIM card, and retain that activation for the period required by the law.

Company: Vodacom
Country: South Africa
City: Cape Town

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