Even if you're not a Vodacom subscriber, you're bound to have heard about last week's service issues - whether it be on Facebook, Twitter, or the 7 o'clock news. Having been a loyal subscriber for 11 years now, I can happily say I was not affected by Thursday's little service malfunction - no, my 3G connection was only about as dodgy as it always is. I did, however, receive an SMS to my contract cellphone line on Friday, apologising for the mishap. When last I checked, my other half hadn't received one on his prepaid line. And while I appreciate the sentiment and Chris Moerdyk gives kudos to Vodacom's CEO Pieter Uys, I'm afraid I'm just one of those cynical consumers. Because, from my reckoning, this is where the courtesy to contract customers stops. Moving on from connection service to service offerings, am I the only one who thinks prepaid customers get more attention and better deals? From talking points and free talk time between certain hours, to the ability to buy data bundles without leaving your computer chair - why, oh, why, is it so difficult for contract customers to get such basic service extras? Why is it that I can send a data bundle to a prepaid line, but not buy one for myself? Why is it so hard to get a monthly data bundle tacked on to my existing contract line, just like an SMS bundle? And why can prepaid customers get contract data bundles via their phone and contract customers can't? It's as though, once you're bound by a contract, they know they have your money so essentially, they stop trying to woo you. With my contract up for renewal shortly, perhaps it's time to see if another network is willing to make me feel special again...

Shan Radcliffe, Retail editor
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