26 Mar 2012 - Update Highest Rated Pain Stories Highest Rated Gain Stories Vodafail Local Facebook Page
Dear visitor,

Since its inception Vodafail.com has made a significant contribution towards raising awareness of the problems and issues faced by Vodafone customers.

Vodafone Australia customers have had the opportunity to voice their concerns, their fears and their troubles from every corner of Australia and beyond our borders. You have gathered the courage to stand up for your rights as consumers and to make your voice heard.

Each and every person who shared their story should have a sense of pride in this achievement and the changes that have occurred since the start of Vodafail.com.

More recently, traffic to Vodafail.com has declined significantly. Having achieved the goal of raising awareness and promoting concrete action in early 2011, we have now reached the point of closing Vodafail to new complaints. The site will remain online for as long as possible as a reminder and an example of what is possible when we share our experiences.

It has been a privilege to run this initiative and I'm am forever grateful for the help and support I've received. In particular I would like to thank Melissa, David and Travis for their continued efforts over the past 15 months. I'm also thankful and humbled by the support of ACCAN, Choice magazine and a wide range of media outlets, blogs and websites.

You can still browse existing stories and find out how to file a complaint if you are experiencing problems.

Until next time,

Adam Brimo

Share Your Gain


Vodafail.com is no longer accepting complaints.
Over the past 6 months traffic to Vodafail has declined significantly. Therefore we have closed off Vodafail to new complaints. We think you will find more joy in posting on any one of these fine product / brand review sites.

You can also post directly on the Vodafone community forums.

Other People's Gain


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12208 Someone from VIC thinks their gain is out of contract for free at 12 Jan 2011 08:50:50 AM
Hi,
i was facing the standard problems with 3g mms and call drop outs etc i wrote to the tio in 3 days i was out of my contract dont try and do it ur self go thru the tio!

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12198 Someone from VIC thinks their gain is Great... I hope! at 12 Jan 2011 07:41:18 AM
I have been with Vodafail since July 2009 and have had nothing but problems with them. Countless calls to them to try and resolve the problems, hours of life lost while on hold, next to no coverage at home (15km from Melbourne CBD), constant call drop outs, no data coverage... the list goes on.
After seeing the news about this website and people taking action I contacted them again yesterday and have canceled my contract. If the above problems are happening with you, contact V and ask them to investigate the problems, they did that with me and concurred that I am in a poor signal area for them (which is the case in most areas of Australia) and therefore I am free to leave the contract with NO cancellation fees, these are waived when I return my handset. Today I will go about signing up with a real provider and look fwd to a hassle free telecommunication future. Give it a crack, you have nothing to loose and everything to gain!

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12124 Someone from VIC thinks their gain is Good Outcome at 11 Jan 2011 05:43:43 PM
I am a business customer with Vodafone and rely heavily on my calls to make money. I am using an Iphone and am continuously having call drops, which in turn effects my productivity and is more of a pain than anything.
I was speaking to an Aussie chap by the name of Graham at the call centre which I believe is in Tassie.
I must admit was angry and was at the stage where I wanted out of my contract due to the continued issues with my calls dropping. He was actually probably the most helpful consultant I've ever spoken to at a call centre. He copped my anger which was not directed at him, just the bloody network. He stepped me through an option which I didn't know was possible, to switch the Iphone to 2G. He explained the data speeds would be a lot slower but would help at least with the call drops. I must admit I was skeptical but he sounded genuine in what he was saying and also indicated that parts of Melbourne would be improved over teh coming months. So I gave it a go. I've been using my phone for calls on 2G for several days now and would you believe it. I have no call drops!!, except if I know I'm going through a black spot. So apart from the data side of things something so simple has impacted me in a positive way. I take my hat off to the chap that helped me.
11 Jan 2011 07:09:34 PM: He just saved his company some more money by not losing another customer, and you fell for his BS. Ring the TIO and get out of your contract - you pay for the data which you cannot get - Vodafail don't go about you.
11 Jan 2011 07:16:24 PM: Granted the service is not 100% but I am still using it and I am still saving more that what I was paying with Telstra.
11 Jan 2011 08:10:07 PM: I can't see how you much different it would be. Telstra is superior over all the other telcos combined. I got out of my crappy vodafone contract. I pay $20 a month LESS and I get the same call credit on my cap at cheaper call rates and I get 1GB data now instead of 750mb.

Vodafone can go suck a fat one and I hope they go bankrupt
11 Jan 2011 08:10:56 PM: I am now with Telstra, for the record...I forgot to mention.
13 Jan 2011 12:42:08 PM: I new telstra cap is heaps better. $50 p/month iPhone 4 32gig plan with 4 gig p/month for $80. Laughing
26 Jan 2011 07:41:51 PM: @11 Jan 10:10 Cheaper then $45?

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12098 Someone from QLD thinks their gain is good in the end at 11 Jan 2011 03:45:47 PM
after 30 elapsed hours on hold, a complaint to the TIO and a complaint to vodafone, they have removed the commitment on my contract

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12008 Someone from NSW thinks their gain is VERY GOOD at 11 Jan 2011 10:45:14 AM
switched to IInet
11 Jan 2011 01:56:26 PM: that would be just as bad.......Telstra is the only good mobile company and their prices now match these other shitty telcos
11 Jan 2011 02:09:58 PM: Actually iiNet use Optus, and they are not bad. The optus network has almost as good a coverage as Telstra, the only downfall of the optus network is web browsing can be sluggish at times. This is where Telstra exceeds at everthing on the NextG network, they have the best coverage and performance.

But Optus 3G is certainly up there, and definitely better than Vodafone!
11 Jan 2011 04:23:11 PM: yes they are better then vodafone, but optus have a lot of flat spots in their coverage. I agree their internet is terrible but i left them after 12 years because they got worse and worse.
12 Jan 2011 04:17:23 AM: im using their naked dsl. and while i was using a Vodafone internet dongle, Im just glad that if anything does ever go wrong, their customer service far surpasses that of Vodafone's.
18 Jan 2011 08:59:51 PM: I think some people who have posted on here might just be Telstra Dealers.....

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11790 Someone from SA thinks their gain is Breath of fresh air at 10 Jan 2011 04:35:21 PM
I'd had enough of Vodafone internet (or lack thereof) reception. the speed was excruciatungly slow, took forever to download the smallest file. We're talking about 5 - 10 minutes for a few MB's, plus i could never get enought data allowance. Switched to Adam Internet, a local company with a local call centre. Very helpful staff, good deal with plenty of data allowance & really good download speeds & no dropping out!!!

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11768 Someone from ACT thinks their gain is NO GAIN WITOUT PAIN at 10 Jan 2011 03:23:04 PM
10 Jan 2011 03:27:06 PM: OOPS! Actually from VIC.

Rakesh the call centre manager was also quite reasonable especially considering the strain placed upon him, and his team (two of whom I dealt with before getting Rakesh) but I shall be penalised for breaching the contract.
10 Jan 2011 04:34:36 PM: Strike that! I am still connected (to Voda) but can't get through to customer "care" . Tried to call Darwin but "Network busy"
11 Jan 2011 03:53:08 PM: OK I.m stil connected. Nice chat with vocabularily challenged Lara who put me through to several sections but there is noone home. Customer care responds to my texts with the amount owing. Tried to call local stores but the message says they are busy.
12 Jan 2011 08:46:57 PM: Speak to the TIO, they should be able to get you out of your contract free of charge. Im pretty sure there should be a clause in there regarding availability of service. A company cant charge you for a service they cant provide to you
13 Jan 2011 12:14:25 PM: You should also be able to take your phone number with you to a new provider - I did last year
14 Jan 2011 10:35:31 PM: It's called porting your number. Ask your new provider about porting your number.
18 Dec 2011 01:26:21 PM: "A company cant charge you for a service they cant provide to you"
they charge you for a service they do provide, if you leave the service area, its not their fault. just the same as if you are renting a house and go away for a month you keep paying rent, its not that hard to understand.

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11720 Someone from VIC thinks their gain is No more vodafail at 10 Jan 2011 12:34:56 PM
On December 23 I spent the best part of a morning on the phone to a Vodafail call centre in India. I was polite but firm and when I was told that I did have service in my area I repeated that I had my phone there with me (I called on my landline as I had no service on the Vodafail) and I definitely had no service despite what their database said. They appeared to have no record of my previous complaints and offered to refer me to technical support. I politely declined this as pointless and asked to speak to a supervisor each time having to explain my situation - living in rural Victoria, travelling alone on country roads at night - a safety issue etc etc. I persisted politely, each time escalating it to the next level of supervisor and finally they agreed to cancel my contract and waive any fees. I am now with another provider and have five bars on my phone.

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11688 Someone from NSW thinks their gain is I WON! at 10 Jan 2011 11:16:14 AM
Finally got a call from Vodafone in regards to the TIO complaint I had made and had a lovely discussion with the consultant. She had obviously done her research into my complaint (maybe cos I had documented everything but hey she was good) and she gave me all my options..
1. 3 months free access for both numbers and wait and see what will happen - ie if the service improves etc
2. keep the numbers, wipe the commitment date and reduce my bills significantly (have under $100 to pay for 3 mths)
I chose option 2... I'm free to port my number elsewhere and so now I'm checking out other telcos...
Downside tho, I now can't call out on my phone which is fair enough but a major hassle while I'm travelling home!!

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11649 Someone from NSW thinks their gain is Out of contract at 10 Jan 2011 09:06:12 AM
Made a TIO complaint on 1 Jan 2011. (At 3.37 pm they (TIO) numbered my complaint 11/000077, ie 77 complaints by 3.37 on 1 January, mostly Vodafone I expect.) I was called by Rex of Vodafone this am. Recorded whole conversation, in which he admitted that Vodafone have severe bandwidth problems on the Central Coast where I live, and terminated two contracts, mine and my wife's, after 7 months of 24 months. I retained the HTC Magic handsets, which we like, for $100 each, bargained down from his joke 'offer' of $250. Also discussed the fact that Vodafone were effectively committing fraud by signing up suckers, at Bateau Bay Village Vodafone shop, and over the internet, as we spoke, for a service which he directly stated to me that their system could not provide in this area.
We also discussed, for the taped record, that five of the eight accounts I have received were in error, by 70% to over 400%, always in vodafone's favour, and that it took over ten hours of my $150 per hour chargeable time to get them corrected. He had the accounts in front of him, as we spoke, and agreed that they were plainly in error, and should never have been sent.
My experience indicates that there is strong circumstantial evidence that Vodafone, as currently configured, (with misleading advertising, and admitted incapable network, a disfunctional support, service, and dispute 'resolution' system), is effectively a massive fraud perpetration system aimed at extracting money from the Australian people.
10 Jan 2011 09:36:32 AM: Me again, Forgot to say that they also refunded last three monthly contract payments, since Rex agreed that the service was not being provided (on tape). Everybody going through the TIO process, to terminate their contract, should start with a minimum negotiating position of 3 months refund, and, of course, no payout, except for something reasonable, but slanted your way on the handset. Find out what yours is going for on ebaY, used, and offer half that, then move up a little.

cheers, (I feel better now!)
10 Jan 2011 01:21:42 PM: Hehe the TIO complaints had risen by 5,000 on Jan 5th
One thousand per day!

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11565 Someone from NSW thinks their gain is Perfect at 9 Jan 2011 09:21:25 PM
10 Jan 2011 08:24:53 AM: my contract is up on april 23rd and they said i can cancel my contract and keep my handset coz its so old
10 Jan 2011 09:07:27 AM: If you've spent the better part of two years PAYING for your handset, then I would argue that you should be able to keep it, even if you do get a new one with another carrier.
11 Jan 2011 12:29:21 PM: mate this is not the case, they do not just cancell contract, they need to investigate the network first, they call you bak in 72 hours, not they have called me back, i complained to the tio, and still no call back, soon i will just not pay my bills, that simple

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11506 Someone from NSW thinks their gain is excellent at 9 Jan 2011 07:04:09 PM
after 2 weeks of constant ringing 1555 and complaining about how bad my reception is and after i complained to the ambudsman i got a phone call from and australian women who has cancelled my 20 month left contract... she wanted $800 for my I phone in which i declined and will send it back... good bye VODAFONE FOR GOOD

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11505 Someone from QLD thinks their gain is no penalty at 9 Jan 2011 07:04:08 PM
after constant dropouts and no network coverage, diverted calls to messagebank, then the cost to retrieve them, on top of speaking to an indian call centre about 20 times. We decided to break the plan and go to telstra. filed a complaint with the ombudsman and received a call from an australian!!! she was very helpful and acknowledged we have left them and waived any early get out fees and cancelled our last bill of $180.00. total saving over $500.00 due to having 2 phones on plan with them. I recommend using the ombudsman and standing firm that it is their bad service costing you money.

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11413 Someone from QLD thinks their gain is sad at 9 Jan 2011 01:42:05 PM
The only way out of this shit is to switch to Optus.
9 Jan 2011 06:29:11 PM: Yep spent two days and excessive number of calls, transfers, call cut outs, hang ups and what not, trying to accept their 24mnth discounted offer to stick around.

I finally gave up trying to accept their offer and called Optus. All was done and dusted within 20minutes - new plan and new phone on its way.

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11402 Someone from VIC thinks their gain is Release from Contract at 9 Jan 2011 01:17:05 PM
I contacted Vodafone 1555 a number of times regarding coverage issues I was having in Southbank Victoria and my iphone 4 coming up with "searching" and "No service" This went on for around two weeks before I contacted the TIO, after waiting for a vodafone complains staff member to contact me, that took around two weeks I was released from my contract and was able to keep the handset due to being on a 12 month contract. I also received a $60.00 credit for three months of not being able to use data on the vodafone network.

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11379 Someone from QLD thinks their gain is rather good at 9 Jan 2011 11:56:08 AM
i jumped through all of vodafone's hoops by calling 1555 about five times and resetting my phone settings, upgrading the software, getting a new sim and even having the phone replaced under warranty. i was rather sure the problem was theirs, and true to form none of their 'fixes' worked and 1555 was out of ideas.

so i emailed (PERSONAL DETAILS REMOVED) with a brief overview of my problems and what i wanted to achieve. i got a call from them first thing the next day and we reached a mutually agreeable outcome.

if you have followed their process in good faith and still gotten nowhere then i completely recommend emailing this guy, he is in charge and needs to take responsibility for his inaction. it is a lot faster than the TIO and i suspect the outcome is more favourable.
9 Jan 2011 02:29:32 PM: So what outcome did you reach?
10 Jan 2011 11:39:11 AM: Yeah tell us. I hope you didn't settle for two months credit.

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11369 Someone from NSW thinks their gain is Top Class at 9 Jan 2011 11:22:28 AM
After reading others' comments I signed up for the Class Action and also contacted the T.I.O. Within 48 hours Vodafone (and an Australian person) contacted me offering to release me from my contract without penalty. I jumped at th opportunity and have since joined up with Virgin Mobile. English speaking support people and so far quite a good service. Thanks for giving us the various options on action to take in this fiasco. Bye, bye Vodafone for good!

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11324 Someone from QLD thinks their gain is at 9 Jan 2011 09:14:41 AM
I contacte TIO Vodafone called me, ended my contract no charge and cancelled my last bill 'cause they made me pay for a new phone Thank God

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11309 Someone from NSW thinks their gain is a workaround omly at 9 Jan 2011 08:37:46 AM
I found this out the hard way:

If your phone is on 3G and all internet (and My Vodafone) services stop one day, just put your phone into 2G mode (may have to deselect certain frequencies in Network Setup etc).

The problem is likely to be affecting one mobile cell tower only. It is temporary. It is not your phone' fault, no matter what Voda say.

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11289 Someone from VIC thinks their gain is Great to be honest at 9 Jan 2011 07:49:39 AM
My issue was from back in august'10 an was resolved by late oct!
Basically I had network issues and they kept blaming my handset. Through out my dispute with vodafone I received many comments which suprisef me like "do you have another handset?" I said no, vodafone the asked "Could you borrow a phone from a friend for a few days?" I lost my mind at that statement as a multiple million dollar company would stoop so low! I had also been left on hold for hours at a time. One particular day my call from my handset was on hold for 2.5 hrs, while my phone was on hold my wides got through in 20 minutes. From this I suspect that thier system is designed to detect accounts with issues and divert to a line with no or little staffing hoping the customer will just give up!
In the end I managed to get 3 months free for all of my sevices (3 mobiles and a mobile Internet) on the grounds that there was insuffiecieny coverage for me to run a business on. Then after thier investigation was completed they released the remainder of my contract ( about 7 months worth) and unlocked my phones even released outstanding payments.
If you try to talk to anyone try and speak to the loyalties department as they are based in Australia and a genuinely more help than their foreign counterparts(I won't even comment on their level of service!!!!!!' wink wink).
No I am with relates and can't complain this far, it's been a little over 2 months but I am getting the service I am paying for!

Good luck and try the loyalties guys, they helped me.

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11274 Someone from TAS thinks their gain is Totally Good at 9 Jan 2011 06:13:55 AM
I sent an email to the TIO & Voda contacted me in less than 48 hours. Released me from my iPhone contract which still had 14 months remaining.

Thanks!
13 Jan 2011 01:06:56 PM: were u able to keep ur iphone?
6 Feb 2011 05:03:08 PM: Sure was. Well, they haven't billed me for it. They said they would 'release me from all commitments' that I had with them.

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11262 Someone from QLD thinks their gain is Great! at 9 Jan 2011 12:28:44 AM

My story was added onto vodafail's Facebook page.

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11199 Someone from QLD thinks their gain is Good at 8 Jan 2011 11:40:05 AM
Vodafone business customer service is FAR better than consumer (although they don't advertise this number often)

Business customers call 135 888 and they can cancel the account. Hell, I would try even if I wasn't a business customer.

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11195 Someone from NSW thinks their gain is NOT HAPPY JAN!!!! at 8 Jan 2011 09:51:04 AM
All because the boofhead I spoke to on Monday did not log my complaint to the correct dept I have to wait another 5-7 days for them to do an investigation. I think its a joke that after I waited 45 mins to speak to a person whom was soooo located overseas as soon as he picks up the phone it dropped out this is the story of my life with vaodfail anyway he rang me straight back then as a slap to the face he offered me a $24.50 refund off my current bill as this was half my contracted amount WHAT THE??? anyway I asked to speak to another guy in the correct dept and to cut it short Im getting a full refund of my contracted amount off my last bill and a part refund of the current month as its only early days into this months bill. This whole phone call wasted 1 hr and 25mins of my life which is an improvement from 1hr and 45mins from the previous call.

How rude if the guy did it correctly in the first place I would be staying bye bye today but no I have to wait another 5-7days for them to do an investigation just so I can get out of my contract without any penalties


I am still going phone shopping with other non Vodafone companies, this time next week its bye bye vodafone and kiss my ass as I am not paying you the rest of my contracted amount. I have lost way too much money being with you

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11191 Someone from NSW thinks their gain is very good at 8 Jan 2011 09:03:34 AM
I complained to the TIO, and had vodafone resolutions team contact me within three weeks. They were very keen to resolve the situation even though I was on holidays. The offer was to be released from my contract 5 months early, and given a free months access in the hope that I would hang around to see if the network improves. I accepted the offer, and plan to hit up a Telstra store today!

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11168 Someone from WA thinks their gain is Great at 8 Jan 2011 12:33:37 AM
After complaining to TIO I was called by the department that handled these types of complaints. It seriously took about 2minutes. Contract is terminated. No cancellation charges but I have to return the handset - which is not a problem since it also gave me grief. Funniest thing was the call cut out when I was talking to the consultant.

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11135 Someone from ACT thinks their gain is Vodafree at 7 Jan 2011 06:35:42 PM
After more than 2 months of complaining and problems (before this site even existed) vodafone had agreed to let me out of my contract 12 months in with no termination fee. They offered me to purchase my handset iPhone 3G for $350 which I think is fairly reasonable since it is only two weeks old (warranty replacement). I went to a vf store and the helpful person gave me a direct number to their cancellation team - crazily I was on hold for less than 30 seconds before my call was answered. I also got a print out of my customer notes - very helpful. During the cancellation call my call ironicall dropped 3 times. Anyway I'm of to telstra. Best advise is to not let vf sweet-talk you with offered of account credits etc. Be assertive but not rude or agesive - that won't get you anywhere...

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11112 Someone from QLD thinks their gain is slight at 7 Jan 2011 03:43:54 PM
Vodafone actually CALLED ME!!!!!! Sure, it was an offshore call centre person ... but my complaint was handled by a real person .... finally.
Of course - this single 9 minute phone call from Vodafail comes after probably 3 months ....inumerable minutes (hours?) on hold listening to Lara and a litany of emails that forever go unresolved .... but ... I got to speak to a REAL PERSON ...
The down side is that the real person had to call me on my work (Telstra) mobile ... because of the continued Vodafail dodgy coverage.
The campaign continues ...

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11083 Someone from QLD thinks their gain is Half good at 7 Jan 2011 12:53:18 PM
I had tried three nights waiting over an hour on the phone. First two nights the phone kept dropping and my iphone was lucky not to be in 1000 pieces on the road after that. Third night got through and advised that had no signal at home even though the local Vodafone shop (2km's away advised that there should be no problem). Managed to get out at half price on what I had left on my plan. I dont think I should pay it though as they arent holding up their part of the contract. As I live in a regional town I am not concerned about the 3G part of the contract as I suppose that is a sacrifice of living in a regional area, but a basic phone service is expected. I dislike Telstra with a passion, now vodafone, which has now left me with Optus - so far so good.

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11080 Someone from VIC thinks their gain is erm..? at 7 Jan 2011 12:31:40 PM
I contacted Voafone to complain about the service, the calls dropping out; the slow data and they advised me to change my SIM card and/or wipe my SIM card.

If only I know this 10 months ago. Well I'll be trying this out this evening. Looking forward to seeing the results :-)
7 Jan 2011 01:40:50 PM: Tongue planted firmly in cheek
7 Jan 2011 07:55:38 PM: hahahaha I had a dinosaure simcard till late last year (dated appros 1998) and updated to a new sim.
ever since - I have had problems ... goodluck

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11073 Someone from NSW thinks their gain is ~$200 at 7 Jan 2011 11:55:51 AM
I wrote an email and sent a formal letter to Vodafone last month to complain about the ongoing reception issues. I've previously posted my complaints on this site.

I've got 3 connections for my business with Vodafone and I received a call today from a very friendly lady called Judy. She was very helpful and ended up giving us a month free on each connection, which I think was a fair resolution.

Yes, it's taken some time (and I can see people waiting on hold for ages), but the outcome has been the right one and has been fair. Well done Vodafone and I do hope for your sakes that the network is upgraded quickly, as you've said would happen, because many people won't be as patient the next time around.

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11054 Someone from NSW thinks their gain is excellent gain! at 7 Jan 2011 10:34:53 AM
Had a call from an Aussie who spoke English as a first language to advise me that they werent going to pursue me the $1000 over an early exit fee with my contract,which was before the Telco ombudsman.............my response was that i wouldnt sue them then for loss of business due to their 'non' service levels.........so they now have a 'happy' EX CUSTOMER! Like the cricket - its over and out!

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11026 Someone from NSW thinks their gain is great at 7 Jan 2011 08:31:40 AM
alot of complaining and keeping email records of my complaints and the lack of responses from vodafone. this helped seal the deal as you need to prove you contacted them but they did not respond/fix the problem.

i got out scott free, kept my phones also. was only 6 months into a 24 month contract on 5 x $99 unlimited plans.
11 Jan 2011 02:51:51 PM: how did you do this? please tell us more.

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11014 Someone from NSW thinks their gain is Excellent at 7 Jan 2011 06:39:43 AM
Im a Vodafone Mobile Broadband Customer, and im Satisfied with the service.
Its not fast I admit BUT at the cost "$99 for Modem Incl 15gig to use over 12 months", what more could you want.
I was on dial-up with Pacnet and if you think Vodafone is BAD "TRY THEM".
In this world you get what you pay for, no free rides, OK
SO PLEASE KEEP COMPLAINING. IF YOU GET A RESULT I'LL BE ON CLOUD NINE WHEN THE SPEED INCREASES.
7 Jan 2011 06:47:08 AM: I agree, Im also a customer and I went and bought the same $99 pack.
I didnt even want the modem, just the 12 month 12gig recharge. The modem I will keep for a spare, maybe I'll activate it sometime in the future and use the 3gig included.
It was too cheap to pass up, all you people complaining - keep it up!

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11009 Someone from NSW thinks their gain is ok at 7 Jan 2011 05:48:09 AM
I got three months free..but the problem is that you would have to call up vodafone (billing) each month to get it credited which really sucks...

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10998 Someone from QLD thinks their gain is Interesting at 6 Jan 2011 10:19:26 PM
I emailed the CEO of Vodafone Group in the email as follows, can't believe I got a reply literarly 5 minutes later.


From: Colao, Vittorio, VF-Group [mailto:(PERSONAL DETAILS REMOVED - Vodafail.com Team)]
Sent: Thursday, January 06, 2011 11:13 PM
To: Nicks Pic's Photography
Subject: RE: Important New From Vodafone Australia

Thanks,

We are wel aware of the issues and working on it. Aprreciate anyhow your suggestion

Regards

VC

________________________________________
From: Nicks Pic's Photography [mailto:(PERSONAL DETAILS REMOVED - Vodafail.com Team)]
Sent: 06 January 2011 13:08
To: Colao, Vittorio, VF-Group
Subject: Important New From Vodafone Australia
Hi Vittorio,

I would just like to share a website regarding Vodafone Australia with you that you may not have seen recently and I think it is very important you have a look at it.

www.vodafail.com

Kindest Regards,
Nick Peters
7 Jan 2011 07:09:03 AM: Nick....you'd think the Vodafone CEO would be able to spell....??
7 Jan 2011 07:34:52 AM: Yes, thats right. He's probably emailing all sorts of people worldwide, this is if it was actually him. Mindu execs, CEO's etc generally do sign off emails as their initials. Funny he was aware of the vodafail australia site, I love it, but I don't love unrealiable internet :(
7 Jan 2011 09:19:43 AM: Ohmygod, that is so funny. A email reply from the VF CEO and he/she cannot spell?
If the CEO cannot spell, what is the educashunal stanndadd of the resst of Voddyphoney like ? eeeeeek.
7 Jan 2011 09:30:27 AM: To be fair, it seems more like typos than spelling mistakes. He probably replied on his phone in a rush and couldn't click the right letters. At the last commenter, educashunal..bhahaha..good one! One would HOPE the global CEO would be aware if they get national bad PR in one country. We are only a small country, but we can do big things.
7 Jan 2011 10:36:58 AM: I wonder if he uses a 3g connection with huawei modem?? lol
7 Jan 2011 03:13:07 PM: Maybe he knew his response would be posted up on this website, and wanted to throw in a typo or two to fit in.

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10976 Someone from ACT thinks their gain is positive at 6 Jan 2011 06:48:01 PM
waiting on breaking contract talks form voda, but they threw in 500 free minutes.. be good if i could only now make phone calls!!
12 Jan 2011 07:54:15 PM: I spoke to a representative from the Vodafone resolution centre today after making a complaint to the TIO approx one week ago. The rep was very understanding of my complaint regarding lack of service etc and he agreed to my request to cancel my mobile contract with 9 months to go. This is without penalties and/or additional fees. There are great people working at Vodafone who are caught up in this mess and I agree that they should be treated with respect as this experience reminded me of the early days with Vodafone when they had outstanding customer service. thank you to the rep who helped me today, I won't post your name but I greatly appreciate your understanding and extreme courtesy in resolving my complaint.

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10972 Someone from NSW thinks their gain is Appeciated at 6 Jan 2011 06:36:48 PM
After constant coverage and call drop issues, and a lack of action from Vodafone I contacted to TIO. VF's TIO resolution team contacted me today, ironically they couldn't get through on my mobile because I didn't have coverage and called my landline today. They instantly offered to let me out of both contracts: one has iPhone 3GS and 10 months still left on contract and the second is iPhone 4 with 23 months still on contract. They have let me keep the iPhone 3GS (no cost) and I offered to return the iPhone 4. They have unlocked the 3GS and said they hope I will one day want to return to VF. I called back 20 minutes later and it was all completed. I thanked them for their assistance and felt a lot better about them as a company. I have gone to Telstra as I am in a regional area it is the only viable option. I wish I hadn't had to go to the TIO to get the result that I needed but I do appreciate them resolving it so quickly without fuss or argument.

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10939 Someone from QLD thinks their gain is perfect at 6 Jan 2011 03:23:05 PM
myself and my parnter have been with vodafone for ages and never had a problem they are merging with three atm thats why some people have been having problems but no body complained when the same thing happened to optus and virgin patients people does not hurt
6 Jan 2011 05:20:29 PM: First of all, I'm fairly sure people DID complain when Optus had its issues, it even received some media attention in 2008. Secondly, it might be OK for you as a long time Voda customer who have been happy to say you'll be patient and wait it out. That's your choice, but what about new customers of Voda who came into crappy service who really need reliable phones and are facing the prospect of a 2 year contract? What patience do they owe Vodafone? Each to their own!
6 Jan 2011 06:45:57 PM: Vodafone Australia and Hutchison 3G Australia (3) have merged, not their networks... as yet

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10926 Someone from VIC thinks their gain is Acceptable at 6 Jan 2011 02:27:31 PM
After being a Voda customer for a few years I decided enough was enough. Went to a Voda store to complain about the poor iPhone performance on their network and was told "it is what it is". I went straight to the TIO, two weeks later I was with another network with a new iPhone and will never look back.

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10925 Someone from QLD thinks their gain is awesome at 6 Jan 2011 02:25:49 PM
my fone has always worked fine. Never had a problem with voda and am sick of hearing stupid remarks
6 Jan 2011 02:56:25 PM: if you were having the same problem you wouldnt be posting on this screen - good luck cos u can speak on your phone - we cant
6 Jan 2011 03:10:06 PM: Naive! thats the word for you buddy! Hope you dont experience such a thing in any part of your life! Sad to inform you, life is full of problems and this is a great platform for consumers not to be bullied by large firms!
6 Jan 2011 03:30:57 PM: the person from QLD who thinks their gain is awesome. count yourself lucky that you are not having any problems with vodafone. in time you'll most probably will have problems with vodafone. when that happens all i can say is HA! HA! HA!
8 Jan 2011 12:52:44 PM: That's really good that you haven't had any problems and have not gone through what all of us here have, and I hope you never do. This is about people power and how if people get together and say this is not good enough then something can be done to fix it. All we want is a service that work, to get what we pay for, no more no less, and if they cannot deliver that then to find an alternative solution. With big companies it is so hard to find a resolution if you are just one person, by joining together we are loud enough that they have no choice to listen

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10919 Someone from QLD thinks their gain is Good at 6 Jan 2011 01:57:44 PM
I went to Castletown Vodafone to sort out a mess with the online vodafone who sent me a handset that did not work. The staff there spent over 2 hours trying to sort the mess out for me. We just about got it sorted when the person on the phone cut us off. The lovely staff at Vodafone shop have undertaken the tricky course of sorting this out for me. I really do appreciate them trying to sort this out. Fingers Crossed

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10882 Someone from NSW thinks their gain is getting better.... at 6 Jan 2011 11:38:46 AM
Vodafone have called me back numerous times this week. They were very friendly and seemingly helpful.

I was told to reset my phone and also given a special super long number to type into my Iphone keypad to address the 'problem'. (I have a feeling this is just a waste of time) it's the network not my phone?!

They called again today to offer me a discounted plan. I want to think about it - but I have tried calling back three times and either got a crackly line or hung up on etc.

The guy I spoke to earlier gave me his 'extension' to call him direct - I assumed the prefix would be their customer service no. "1300" followed by his extension - silly that I didn't think to ask.

Any ideas what the prefix would be so I can call this guy back?!! Its not 1300.
6 Jan 2011 08:47:17 PM: 1555, good luck getting though though...
9 Jan 2011 06:27:31 PM: Yep two days of multiple calls to Vodafone, numerous hang ups, multiple transfers, excessive call cut outs - and I have finally given up trying to accept their offer to stick around.

I immediately called Optus and all was done and dusted within 20 minutes and I have a new phone on its way :D

YAY

Buh bye Vodafail

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10880 Someone from SA thinks their gain is AMAZING GAIN! at 6 Jan 2011 11:35:54 AM
I just had a call from Emma at TIO, a lovely lady. I have been able to successfully exit my contract with Vodafail with over 12 months still remaining on my contract. A sensational result! Thanks so much to this website, as I had no idea the TIO existed until I found Vodafail.com.
7 Jan 2011 07:12:35 AM: I submitted a complaint to the TIO yesterday 6/1/11 after no luck with Vodafone customer service...how long did it take after your complaint to TIO before you heard from them....if you don't mind me asking....:-))
8 Jan 2011 12:54:20 PM: im from victoria and I had a reply and a resolution within a week. They move very quickly when the ito is involved

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10876 Someone from VIC thinks their gain is Ok at 6 Jan 2011 11:25:52 AM
ok I was travelling to the city alot around new years christmas ect... and for some reason EVERYTIME The train stopped @ Richmond I would lose all my Signal and I wouldn't get it back until I arrived in at Flinders Street. I went passed today and I had Signal :) was like average 3-4 bars. not good but not bad :).

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10858 Someone from NSW thinks their gain is heading in the right direction. at 6 Jan 2011 10:26:31 AM
I contacted Vodafone via their customer service email address, after hearing the horror stories regarding the on-hold queues on the 1555 line.

In the email I infomed them that I had experienced call drop-outs, delayed text messages/voicemails, and limited 3G connectivity for a four month period. I also indicated that if I wasn't able to obtain a satisfactory outcome with Vodafone directly, I would be pursuing it with the TIO.

The initial response from a Vodafone CSR offered me two months credit, which I said wasn't sufficient. They also asked that I provide my PIN and/or personal details over email, which I refused to do over email, and requested they call my mobile to discuss.

After several to and fro automated emails, I received a call today. I was informed that the network was being strengthened in my suburb, completion due by end Q1 2011. Off the bat, the CSR offered me three months credit, in addition to 50% off my access fee for the remainder of the contract (10 months). Also, the CSR said that they would add a note on my file that if I was still unhappy with the coverage by the end of Q1 2011, I could leave the contract without penalty.

I asked the CSR to email me to confirm these arrangements, which was done within the hour.

All in all, I couldn't fault the customer service. Obviously they are on damage control now, and will be quite generous in attempting to keep you as a customer/off their backs.

A few things I could suggest when dealing with Vodafone customer service:
- Be polite and reasonable - they aren't the network guys, they just mop up the mess.
- Get the CSR's name for your records
- Keep a written record of the time/date/nature of the call
- Know what you want to achieve as a result (i.e. discount/credit/cancellation)
- Ask them to confirm the arrangements in writing. Your notes are good, but not as good as something from them.

I'll be staying with them for the time being, and will reassess in a couple of months after the network upgrades (whatever that involves).

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10852 Someone from NSW thinks their gain is Fair at 6 Jan 2011 09:41:31 AM
Filed a complaint with the Ombudsman and when contacted by Vodaphone in response to my complaint I requested my unused credit back (I was on a prepay device).

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10811 Someone from NSW thinks their gain is Acceptable at 6 Jan 2011 07:05:48 AM
I had called Vodafone a number of times complaining about poor reception and call dropouts, particularly about inconsistency, where I'd have service in a location one day, but not the next. In general terms I kept being told to update my software on my iPhone 3Gs, despite my assertions I was already on the latest versions of everything.

With the netowrk getting worse and worse I tried three times within a week to contact the call centre with long wait times, so I gave up. Afte giving up on Voda I wrote a complain to the TIO via the TIO website. I explained my concerns with good detail and suggested the resolution I wanted was to be let out of my contract, explaining that I was happy for Voda to take my handset back, even though I'd had it for half of the contracted time.

Voda's resolutions team contacted me in response to the TIO complaint and in one phone call agreed to let me out of my contract, whilst keeping the phone and having it unlocked for free too.

I saw this as a good resolution, although a little disappointing it had to get so far. I had been a long term voda customer and was very happy with them until recently. It's disappointing the only way I got any action was to go to the TIO, when it seemed so easy once I'd made the complaint official. I've since helped a number of freinds get out of thier contracts too.

Also worth noting that now when you call voda and they have long wait times, the system offers to call you back when the queue calms down - if that option was around when I initially had to wait for hours with no response, I may well have been saved the trouble of using the TIO.

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10810 Someone from VIC thinks their gain is Excellent at 6 Jan 2011 07:03:32 AM
Lodge a complaint with the ITO. Vodafone rang me this morning (06/01/11) and without any hesition let me out of my contrct early with no charges and credited my internet bill as I hadn't been using the internet. Very happy with the result, and now I can go with another carrier.
7 Jan 2011 07:14:35 AM: if you don't mind me asking how long did it take to hear from the TIO once you lodged your complaint....??
8 Jan 2011 12:56:44 PM: within a week, it was very quick. You submit your complaint to the ito and then forward it to a department in vodafone and then they call you. The best thing to do is be polite and state what you want, they are really nice and very helpful

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10799 Someone from QLD thinks their gain is Excellent at 6 Jan 2011 05:45:34 AM
I called vodafone and my phone was continually saying no servic so I called vodafone about this they said they would get back to me within 72 hrs did not happen I reported them and they asked what I wanted from vodafone and I said I wanted out of my contract I still had until 2012 to go and all I have to do now is said back my phone. Which is already a replacement from apple. The only thing is I can no longer be with vodafone (like I care) or three so I'm out thankyou vodafail

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10786 Someone from VIC thinks their gain is Threw out the sim at 5 Jan 2011 10:14:22 PM
Got sick of trying to get through to the call centre and ignored emails regarding an over charge on my bill and when the service was disconnected after I refused to pay them, I ripped out the sim, binned it and changed providers.
7 Jan 2011 10:40:18 AM: You might want to know that the billing has been resolved otherwise you can end up on a credit list, and thats the last place you want to find your name.

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10764 Someone from VIC thinks their gain is got what I asked for. at 5 Jan 2011 08:31:27 PM
When I signed up with Vodafail they asked me if I wanted to transfer my old mob ph number over to them. I said yes as long as that didn't cancel out my contract with other provider as I still wanted some of the options they were offering. Vodafail assured me that in doing this it wouldn't cause a breach of contract and thus incur exit fees - I agreed to that re-inforcing to them that I didn't want to cancel the other contract, they again assured me there would be no problem. In the mean time I received a large account from other service provider and when I phoned them they said that this amount was an exit fee I explained to them what had happened. They advised me that if Vodafail would cancel my contract then they would waive the exit fee fully. Well there in lay the long drawn out process the first 2 times I called them was met with utter rudeness. Before I rang the 3rd time I decided to seek legal advice as to the legality of non-disclusure in contracts. I was told that the contract would be considered invalid if they failed to disclose contractual information. Armed with this info I rang Vodafail explained the situation for the 3rd time and told them of my conversation with my lawyer and the legal stance re this matter. I also said that if this problem wasn't resolved then the next move would be a legal letter demanding action and if necessary we were fully prepared to take them to court. Well they couldn't be more helpful they asked me what the exit fee was I told them and they said that they would get back to me. Surprisingly they called me back 20 mins later and said that they were willing to pay the exit fee of over $400 as for the problems with service delivery if they are unable to fix this then they will release me from my contract without incurring an exit fee. I strongly advise people to seek legal advice I got mine from the Victorian Legal Aid Service so it didn't even cost me anything at all.

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10726 Someone from VIC thinks their gain is gold at 5 Jan 2011 06:15:01 PM
It is more expensive but as we don't have a home phone (our choice I know) we needed more reliable coverage, so we went to investigate telstra. while inside the telstra shop i rang vodafail to check my biller code number for the paperwork, waited online for 16 minutes before talking to someone. i told him what was going on and that we were leaving vodafail. he responded by saying "we know that there have been problems, how about giving us another chance?". how about no. then i got put through to vodafails cancellation team and waited on the phone for 6 minutes before the call cut out! what a surprise! the bloke at telstra was fantastic and our numbers were ported across as we sat there. fantastic service! like i said more expensive but at this stage well worth it

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10713 Someone from NSW thinks their gain is almost there at 5 Jan 2011 05:24:19 PM
after being on hold today with vodafone for more than 3 hours (and many more hours across the last 2 months) I finally made some small headway. They told me if they cant fix the network problems in 48 hours they will release me from my contract without a termination fee. They said I would have to send back my handset (im 14 months into my contract)I said hell no but I am happy to discuss some payment for it. I also better be carefull that I can still port my numnber. I have heard voda have been blocking some people from porting their number accross.

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10701 Someone from NSW thinks their gain is Excellent at 5 Jan 2011 04:33:44 PM
Well afters weeks of waiting I finally recieved a phone call from VHA yesterday and said i had 2 options.
1. VHA offering a credit to my Account
2. rip up my contract, I can keep my phone.

I choose Opt2......:), my contract has 10 mothns left on a $69 cap with an iPhone 3gs.
I'm just waiting for an email then I'm off to port my number to Telstra were the grass is greener.

well a few day later I go into Telstra shop at Erina and signed up for a new phone and contract, she said that the number would take 2 hrs to port over.

5 hrs later i got a call from Telstra saying that Vodafone had rejecting my porting! WTF, Telstra asked me to call VHA to sort out the mess.

So i call VHA on hold for 47mins and it turns out that they have my D.O.B. wrong and i need to fax it to bla bla number and it will take up to 72hrs to get fixed.

VHA what a joke of a company, I am now sitting on the Telstra network and swear blind I will never go back to VHA.
5 Jan 2011 07:04:17 PM: As I understand it the telco's use "Billing Account Number" for Postpaid ports? So either telstra put though the port request incorrectly or your full of crap?.....
6 Jan 2011 02:38:24 PM: yeah that's right, prepaid ports can use the DOB to port the number, postpaid need an account/billing number. something here doesn't add up...
8 Jan 2011 09:33:16 AM: You can port with the date of birth through Telstra, just most CAs require the account number so that they know you're the owner of the service.
9 Jan 2011 01:57:37 PM: Porting is done with 2 or 3 bits of information these days. 1. Phone Number 2. D.OB & Finally Your Name

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10675 Someone from NSW thinks their gain is Temporary at 5 Jan 2011 03:12:29 PM
Luckily I'm not on a plan and can move my provider whenever I want, but I complained to the TIO and was contacted by an Australian Vodafone representative and now have the following two months completely free. If there is no improvement past that point my business goes elsewhere.

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10674 Someone from NSW thinks their gain is Fantastic at 5 Jan 2011 03:10:21 PM
Lowered my VF plan to $29 a month, the customer service agent waived the change fee out of sympathy, then I cancelled my contract the next day and signed up to Telstra. 6 months left on the plan x $29 = worth it to have text messages delivered and phone calls completed.

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10633 Someone from NSW thinks their gain is Good at 5 Jan 2011 01:55:50 PM
After sending a number of politely worded emails and lodging a complaint with the TIO, Vodafone have agreed to release me from my contract 20 months early, with a $200 handset charge. Thank you Vodafail for providing the information to allow the individual to take control :)
5 Jan 2011 02:33:35 PM: Cool, we're really glad you were able to get out of your contract. All the best and hopefully your phone issues are a thing of the past. -Vodafail.com Team
6 Jan 2011 02:22:46 PM: I've been released from my contract but they pulled a swifty on me regarding my handset charge. They calculated the repayments remaining as thought I had bought the phone outright, which I hadn't. My options were pay the 18months remaining of $486 or return the handset. Umm...return the handset lol. Lucky you. I got Vishal from India btw.

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10628 Someone from ACT thinks their gain is HUGE! I'm finally free! at 5 Jan 2011 01:41:30 PM
I followed the How to Complain and a few success stories below and within 4 days I'm free.

I had to talk to their cancelations/retentions team and perform a network coverage check. They promised that if they didn't get a report back from the networks coverage check they would allow me to cancel the contract exit fee free.

I just have to return the phone in the satchel they'll provide and I'll be done with vodafone!

Note that I also sent through a complaint to the TIO on the 3rd day.
Note 2 that the exit fee DOES appear on your account/bill until they recieve the phone. Once the phone is returned the fee is completely waived.
6 Jan 2011 05:52:53 AM: That's what happened to me send back your handset and your outta there so so glad

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10607 Someone from NSW thinks their gain is A Relief - sort of at 5 Jan 2011 12:56:57 PM
Wrote letters to VF, Sent Emails, Contacted call center, Wrote letter to CEO at Head office Sydney ""two months"" of haggling, finally they let me out of contract (18 mths) served - They said NO EXIT FEE,,--- BUT wait,, phone still locked to VF,, contacted VF call center they advise you either pay $25 to unlock online or $50 via VF call center, otherwise will not discuss any further,, Paid $25 and sending CEO the bill for $25 and time spent in waiting que..

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10584 Someone from VIC thinks their gain is Pretty well at 5 Jan 2011 12:12:57 PM
Finally. Sometimes being loud and louder with vodafone and went to TIO got you somewhere. After 4 weeks of phone call to voda and TIO etc, finally someone from vodafone (Aussie) guy called and released me from my contract, I got 7 months to go. yay ! Goodbye vodafone and thank you vodafail !!!!!!!!

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10571 Someone from VIC thinks their gain is Useless again! at 5 Jan 2011 11:48:33 AM
Trying to email vodafone via their website to tell them about my crap network coverage, its now been submitting for 15 minutes!....Good on you vodafone, it never ceases to amaze me how useless you are!

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10564 Someone from QLD thinks their gain is Ok at 5 Jan 2011 11:42:08 AM
Advised wanted to disconnect due to my ongoing data and mms issues and asked how much the ETF was etc. Was advised the value and then we discussed in details the reasons why etc. I was then told that I was able to get $10 off each month for the next 6 months. Hopefully it is resolved by then

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10509 Someone from NSW thinks their gain is Ok at 5 Jan 2011 10:22:26 AM
I called Vodaphone and told them of the ongoing problems my fiancee and I had been experiencing for several months. They provided each of us a two month credit on our bill, adding up to over $300. When you consider that both of us have had problems since June, it's really not overly generous of them...

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10407 Someone from NSW thinks their gain is Very at 4 Jan 2011 06:47:47 PM
It began by a bluff. I told them I was recording them. Vodafone customer care disconnected me for recording. After that I did record almost every call without telling them.
After registering a complaint with the TIO, I informed Vodafone on the next exchange that I was done talking to them until such time as I knew the TIO had contaced them. No More. As a guess, I have some 10-20 hours of calls recorded.

Today, someone in Australia from Vodafone called me. They were ready to play ball and see the end of me.

The contact (name I failed to get. My failing there. He was everything I wished Vodafone had been the past three months.) and I reviewed the history. I explained to him, I dissect spin every day. Just cut to the chase.

I recently changed from prepaid to contract. I am two months into a 12 month contract. My remaining contract was waived, no exit fees. Plus, they had already given me two free months. Basically cancelling out everything. Last was the phone to deal with. An LG Optimus. Retail about $260. Asked to send back, or make an offer to buy. I offered $100. They took it.
I have now gone w/ iinet. Who operate on the Optus network. Not the cheapest rates. However, I have been with iinet for years with my internet. The best customer service I deal with. Always honest, even when there have been faults- which are rare. Happy to spend money with a company who wants to supply a top notch service.

The saga is not complete yet. Once my new SIM cards come (moved my wife too) and the whole shebang is complete. I will post a comment saying so.

Thanks to this website and all the troubled folks who shared tales of woe.
This shows the power of the people when focused. Thank the Flying Spag Monster for the Internets. Our Voice. Our Power!
6 Jan 2011 09:56:19 AM: My new iinet sim cards came today. But we are not done yet. Vodafone has not ported my numbers yet. One call to iinet and they are all over it. Within minutes of the call. Updates are posted to my online toolbox and the support technician (in Melbourne) called me back as well.

Take a note Voda. This is customer service.

I have been with iinet for years for internet and VoIP. The best support I have ever had with an ISP.
If you are an iinet customer, look at the business sim plans. more freebies and bigger quotas.
6 Jan 2011 01:57:51 PM: Isnt it illegal to record a telephone conversation without the consent of the other party???
7 Jan 2011 09:42:30 AM: Isn't being fraudulent in your dealings with customers and holding a double standard over who can protect themselves give me the right to gather evidence. I did advise them when I bluffed. I did also state. I couldn't assure I wouldn't record in future.
I never published them. I did make the threat. The evidence is clear. They know it.
7 Jan 2011 09:44:58 AM: The saga for me is over. Thanks to this website and the TIO. I hope VF changes it's culture.
7 Jan 2011 10:08:06 AM: It is illeagl to record a call without the other half knowledge - however I think you will find that Vodafone state that the call will be recorded - they just don't state by whom....So, therefore they know the call is being recorded. Just my 2c worth.
7 Jan 2011 04:57:16 PM: worth shitload more than 2 c
29 Apr 2011 02:04:41 PM: It is NOT illegal to record a conversation, so long as one party is aware that it is being recorded ie you! The only time it is illegal is if both (or all) parties are unaware of the conversation being recorded (ie a covert listening device)
6 May 2011 04:09:43 PM: to the person who mentioned VF has not completed port out process: the provider whose no. is ported out has little say in the process. check with the gaining party.

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10378 Someone from WA thinks their gain is high five at 4 Jan 2011 04:53:38 PM
i was sold a blackberry storm going back 1yr- 2yrs ago when they where very first released.i brought it on a high contract with internet ect. from my capital city. i was told that my 3g reception would work and i could use all of the fetures. 2months into the plan i found out that where i lived was not on full 3g as they had originally told me. after phone call after phone call. i went around in circles 3months later one day i got so angry doen the phoone i was put onto a lady in tasmanina. in 2day i had been refunded all the plan i had payed out but i had to return the phone. sounded fair to me

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10362 Someone from QLD thinks their gain is 1 or none at 4 Jan 2011 03:35:15 PM
My Business is in the middle of Redcliffe Penicular surounded by houses. Max height two stories. The intersection is Prince Edward Parade and Queen street.
I have pleaded and asked for the past year why, while out in the street, not even in the house, the coverage is dropping out. If thay can't provide it why not release me from the two year contract if they cannot forfill their side of the contract? They answer is that it has been looked into and it has been fixed. It is still the same. Vodafone should release me or fix it.
17 Jan 2011 01:58:22 PM: Hey mate i live basically next door to you...not sure where you are exactly but im within VERY close of that area....

im EXACTLY the same as you!!!

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10355 Someone from NSW thinks their gain is epic fail ! at 4 Jan 2011 03:22:18 PM
after 9 mths of pathetic coverage, call dropouts and internet snail pace I had enough and called Vodaphone. Multiple attempts, dropouts and then finally 2 x 1hr+ holds last week got through to Vodaphone and after complaining was offered 2GB worth a data a month instead of my normal 1Gb cap - I refused this idiotic "fix" as 2x zero network coverage/internet connectivity is still zero - there's no way I hit my 1GB it's impossible on theor network!!! They asked me to swap my sim card (another delaying tactic!) in a store which I did but they never called me back as I requested to confirm if that helped - it didn't of course new sim card doesn't fix pathetic network infrastructure...

how much would it have cost vodaphone to get it right the first time?

vodafail is right !

have registered with the Telephone Industry Ombudsman and the saga continues - I am thinking of tracking my time and invoicing vodaphone for the amount wasted - would exceed my 24 mth contract for sure...
5 Jan 2011 09:04:14 AM: its vodafone and sim swaps do help network is helped me and now my network is fine

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10354 Someone from QLD thinks their gain is Fantastic at 4 Jan 2011 03:20:57 PM
there was really no mess to start will i have been with vodafone for three months now with the HTC DESIRE HD and have never had a single issue they always help me when i phone them up even with i cant hear them never had network issues or anything one time i had a problem with my bill they fixed it straight away and have never had a issue with them again sorry to hear all the bad stories but the same thing happened with optus and virgin when they merged together it all worked out great in the end Patients is real handy in these cases
4 Jan 2011 03:32:54 PM: im really happy that u got a working service, but please remember it very very hard to be patient with a company that earns millions on millions and ur a hard working aussie and $300 per month is going to products and services u are not getting, at all. and to make it worse they waste wat time u do have on hold and wont let u find better, so please dont ask people to throw money away and be patient while it happens
5 Jan 2011 09:26:42 PM: Patience is all well and good, but I'm losing customers and dollars trying to run my business while relying on their completely useless infrastructure. Not a chance, I've switched to Telstra.

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10313 Someone from VIC thinks their gain is Contract Waived at 4 Jan 2011 01:32:26 PM
Filed TIO complaint just before christmas stating that I was promised better coverage in the coming months after my contract was signed and that when I complained I was told that it's still being upgraded. Requested that the remaining 6 months of my contract be waived. I got a call this morning stating that the remaining commitment had been waived and that I was free to do what I wanted.
4 Jan 2011 04:13:28 PM: Congratulations :) Always great to hear from someone that got exactly what they wanted out of this terrible situation.

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10295 Someone from VIC thinks their gain is $100 at 4 Jan 2011 12:30:24 PM
I received a text for my next bill (previously these texts were going to someone else's hone! Hello privacy breach! Anyhow, I digress) and nearly fell off my chair I thought I'd call them. After trying to download my bill and their site locking me out (happens ALL the time) I was still on hold. The high bill was due to extortionate roaming charges. Yes I had been OS but their garbage service meant NO WAY was I going to pay full price! $144 for a 20min ph call ( to a bank) is out of control. So once I got through, explained "Hell no, I'm not paying that" they went from "We can't give a discount" to..."I can give a 30% discount, but that's it.." to "ok 50% discount." I decided this was fine. The discount kept going up once I said "I refuse to pay this money for a company that serves up poo in a bucket and calls it service. I don't need this mobile, I have another and can't wait for this contract to be up! You can block my number now, put a note on your end saying 'customer will pay once has a response from the Telco Ombudsman." This is when they coughed up the higher discount.
The hold time might have been out of control (as is the norm!) but the O word works every time where valid.
Happy hunting kids! Never pay full price for crap service!!!

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10287 Someone from QLD thinks their gain is GAIN, WHAT GAIN!?? at 4 Jan 2011 11:58:20 AM
I can't believe Adam has even bothered to create this section. How ridiculous!! There is no GAIN, there is time lost constantly trying to get onto Vodafail to talk to their "Customer Support"
Vodafone is the worse Telco in Australia.

Join the Class action, lets take them down!!
4 Jan 2011 07:01:31 PM: The gain is when you either get to leave vodafone or they give you something else you are happy with. I am also hoping that people post the way in which they achieved their gain so that others will know what steps to take. Thanks Adam
4 Jan 2011 08:12:30 PM: It's also only fair to tell the complete story. A result is a result. Getting out does not mean the network fixed the problems. It did however in the end after getting the TIO involved, free this person, myself and others. Sharing is caring.
The person dealing with my exit was courteous and professional. Listened to what I thought of the situation and I wished them the best sorting the mess out. I also told them to pay up all the income tax unpaid in the UK. The students will stop trashing the stores.

Let this saga stands as a warning to other big corps. We can cause you distress. When you cause us distress and lie.

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10246 Someone from VIC thinks their gain is sweet at 4 Jan 2011 09:46:35 AM
woohoo just got of the phone with vodafone and after being asked why when i was on prepaid do i stay at vodafone i told them that i have been a customer for 12 years and it has only been the last 4mths that i have had prob with them and the fact that most of my family are on vodafone including my kids and the phones are locked into vodafone and have never had a prob with them until the merge with 3 started. I have just been given a new nokia x6 $149 recharge and 8 gig of data for my broadband stick and was only on hold for 5min today

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10212 Someone from NSW thinks their gain is Moderate at 4 Jan 2011 08:18:37 AM
5 Jan 2011 09:56:42 AM: I reckon you must be an employee if you think they are good.
7 Jan 2011 11:24:17 AM: Im not an employee, and they are not good, but they are not the worst either. At least they come to the table so to speak eventually.

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10209 Someone from NSW thinks their gain is Finally at 4 Jan 2011 08:09:38 AM
After lodging a TIO complaint I kept emailing Vodafone screenshots of 'Network Lost', 'Call Failed' and dropouts. Finally got a phone call from the Vodafone TIO Resolution Centre offering to let me out of my contract and reduce the $1177 cancellation fee to $400. Since I wasn't looking to get a free phone out of Vodafone I figured this was fair.
They removed the committment from the contract, so I'm able to use my phone with Vodafone on the usual plan etc until I receive my new SIM and port over.

I didnt confirm if the $400 includes the iPhone 3GS being unlocked, but I have until the 12th Jan to contact the TIO again. I won't be paying extra to have the phone unlocked.
4 Jan 2011 08:22:48 AM: You can unlock the phone free of charge via the vodafone website.

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10141 Someone from VIC thinks their gain is Fantastic at 3 Jan 2011 04:48:39 PM
Lodged a complaint via the TIO after Vodafail ignored my letters and phone calls. Within a week I had been released from contract without penalty and ported over to Telstra on a special plan. WIN.
3 Jan 2011 06:24:54 PM: Just curious, what is the special plan? I am in a similar position.
3 Jan 2011 06:34:35 PM: I'm not the OP but I think Telstra gives people a discount (on cap plans for mobile) if they are switching from another network.

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10132 Someone from ACT thinks their gain is minor at 3 Jan 2011 04:08:47 PM
Do not have to pay my December bill - they are sending me another sim card in case this is the problem (for both my partner and myself after changing handsets...coincidence? I don't think so however they wouldn't let me out of the contract until we did this).
They also told me that when I signed up I was at a different address and although a mobile phone service they cannot provide coverage everywhere. I informed them that I literally moved 1km and I live in Canberra, ACT not the middle of the outback. IDIOTS
4 Jan 2011 01:13:47 PM: I got the same reply... cant make calls, cant receive them... their customer service woman said they are gonna send me a new sim card which I never got.. also lodged an 'Urgent' investigation which even after over one week I havent heard the outcome of...

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10125 Someone from WA thinks their gain is Improving at 3 Jan 2011 03:33:29 PM

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10104 Someone from ACT thinks their gain is $$$ at 3 Jan 2011 01:36:45 PM
i got the TIO onto vodaf#&$ers as they charged me 13 TIMES over the limit of my average per month while i was overseas! they are meant to warn you as soon as you go over your limit but i was contacted when i was 10 times over!
so my cap was a $79 + $10 insurance = $89 p.m, so i my bill after 10 days in hawaii was $1250!!! After i stupidly paid, i was listeneing to triple JJJ about a report of voda and other telco's ripping people off and that by going to the TIO it would help you but not being sucked into paying the full amount.
Voda admitted they made the mistake in saying that they should have contacted me and refunded me $700 cash, not credit which was great! but later on thanks to the very bad service and dody iPhone's they kept giving me i cancelled my contract and stupidly signed onto a new 79 contract, oh vodafail! couldnt you have come earlier?!?!

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10083 Someone from NSW thinks their gain is fair at 3 Jan 2011 11:45:47 AM
Rang and explained that my 3 contract was up and was considering alternative companys due to problems with service. Have been with company over 5 years and stated that at this point wanted a deal with no contract but reasonable price. Was offered new phone, more data, free calls, higher cap but need to sign a contract.Told them thank you but no thank you. Then was offered the best deal I have seen anywhere. $17.50 month for 500mg data, $350 included calls,unlimited free calls 3 and vodafone,NO CONTRACT is month to month. Accepted this as whilst having some dropouts and some issues with slow data not enough to port to telstra YET!!! However no contract means I have an out if need be. In my opinion if everyone was month to month then ALL TELCOS would have to pick up their game. Vodafone is having issues but if we give all our business to only a couple of companies GUESS WHAT we ALL will have HIGHER COSTS as we have seen with the supermarkets and petrol stations. We need to get rid of the CONTRACTS not the companies. Only when there is competition will there ever be a decent service. I personally have been to the ombudsman about Telstra due to being billed and having a credit default listed for a phone service I didnt even own. So all those going to Telstra watch out believe me the tears the heartache of fighting them when they do you wrong is not worth the effort. Come on think ahead DO YOU WANT A TELCO Duopoly???????????
3 Jan 2011 12:39:50 PM: You have a good point. But we also need a demanding society. If the society goes with what it has than no competition will ever be in place and no better service will ever be offered. Being the pioneer of fail maybe vodafone takes all the lashes, but this SHOULD BE A SAMPLE TO EVERY SERVICE PROVIDER, THAT WE ARE GOING TO DEMAND GOOD QUALITY AND WHAT'S MORE IMPORTANT - FREEDOM OF CHOICE!!!

FREEDOM OF CHOICE IS THE GLOBALLY ACCEPTED HUMAN RIGHT. SO I MYSELF VOTE AGAINST CONTRACTS.
3 Jan 2011 12:56:48 PM: Can we say it loud enough! we have the same problem with electricity contracts and the stupid loyalty schemes eg frequent flyers, petrol vouchers, Hopefully by starting this site more people will stand up and say enough is enough. we currently operate like a mafia the bigger and stronger a company the more it tramples on the little people. THANK YOU FOR GiVING US A VOICE!!!!!!!!!!!
21 Jan 2011 09:41:57 AM: Don't want to point out the obvious, 3 Jan 2011 02:39:50 PM, but your 'freedom of choice' implies that you are free to enter into contracts of your own choosing.

What you are apparently protesting against is non-performance of the contract on the part of Vodafone.
26 Jan 2011 07:52:19 PM: Haha good twisting 21 Jan. Masterful work.

No contracts = no pain and people paying up front for their devices.

I agree.

Contracts should be one of those items you'll think of as a 00's thing.

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10082 Someone from NSW thinks their gain is $200.00 credit at 3 Jan 2011 11:33:24 AM
I phoned Voda Phone re no coverage at my home address at Kellyville Ridge NSW. The first thing they told me was I had moved since connecting. I informed them I thought I had a mobile phone and addresses don't matter. I was then asked what my home was built from. My reaction to that was I, like most residents in the area have brick walls. I told them I wanted out and they gave me a $200.00 credit. I stayed but the coverage is still non-existant in most of Kellyville Ridge.
16 Jan 2011 08:48:27 AM: i travel from liverpool to Milsons point every day my phone drops out between milsons point and redfern and then again from revesby and holsworthy i rand vodapone and they said all carriers do the same and i told them i was talking aon an optus phone from the wynyard tunnel they hung up

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10073 Someone from NSW thinks their gain is contract cancelled phone sent back at 3 Jan 2011 10:23:38 AM
contact TIO, they put me onto someone at vodafone with a reference number and they let me send my phone back and resign with virgin mobile which are a much better network i am already with them and everything works and are cheaper than voda
3 Jan 2011 08:40:31 PM: good on you :) virgin mobile is where its at, enjoy being treated like a rock star!

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10054 Someone from NSW thinks their gain is At present, Zilch! at 3 Jan 2011 08:42:59 AM
Haven't been able to get out. As an aged pensioner 4 months into a 2 year contract and can get absolutely no response from Vodafone (apart from that stupid bloody Lara). Back to work tomorrow and the first place I visit is the Dept of Fair Trading. I want out without penalty at least. To newbies give Vodafone a big miss, they think we are and treat us like 3rd World communicators. Regardless of any improvement they migh make, I say, Dump 'em permanently!
4 Jan 2011 04:07:41 PM: how is this a gain?
9 Jan 2011 03:51:22 PM: Thats why the op has stated that zilch no gain !

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9997 Someone from NSW thinks their gain is released from the nightmare of Vodafone at 2 Jan 2011 06:04:51 PM
I called vodafone everyday for a week waiting on hold from an hour to having to call them back several times to get through to someone. On my birthday I called and was on the phone to them for three and a half hours. I was in contact with the telecommunication ombudsman and lodged a complaint. I was offered a cheaper plan rate and 20 dollars to take to a prepaid company to change sim cards while the network issues were being resolved. I declined the offer. I was then offered free unlimited calls for the next 2 months. I declined the offer. There was no way I was going to stay with them just because it was free. The service is still bad. So they released my from my contract which had another seven months, I just had to pay out my phone which was fair enough. Im now with Telstra on a new and cheaper contract and have not had any coverage, network or data issues for the past 2 weeks now.

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9979 Someone from VIC thinks their gain is Ended two contracts at 2 Jan 2011 04:28:25 PM
For a few months my partner and I had been experiencing shit service. We would not receive some calls, txts and voice mails. We also could not use the internet service on our iPhones after 6pm every night. We both had called customer service on separate occasions, and after always waiting on hold for at least 30mins we tried all their troubleshooting.
I could honestly write a book on the crap that followed these initial phone calls, but I dont have the time.
I spent the next month on the phone to VODAFAIL every day, call waiting times varied from 30mins to 3 hours. On one occasion I was on hold for 2hours and 40mins to have some idiot pick my call up and then hang up on me.
I had one Australian MORON tell me to go buy a telstra pre paid simcard and use that until VODAFAIL could resolve my problems. When I asked him to unlock my iphone he refused and then further suggested that i buy a prepaid phone too...seriously.
I contacted TIO in the end and finally spoke to someone who could ACTUALLY HELP ME. She cancelled mine and my partners contracts (we both had 13 months to go) for free, and credited our last bill as the service had not even been working properly.
We are now with Telstra and have great service and have had no issues so far.
3 Jan 2011 11:25:24 PM: was this idiots name austin? coz austin hung up on me twice today.....

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9917 Someone from NSW thinks their gain is 3months free unlimited. at 2 Jan 2011 11:30:19 AM
I called 1555, and waited on hold with billing and accounts for about an hour and hung up... called 1555 again, and decided to press a different button just so i could speak to someone, anyone... so i pressed to activate my new vodafone handset... my call was answered within 5mins, i explained to him how unhappy i was and that i have been with vodafone for a very long time, i didnt shout or scream or demand anything, i just stated that vodafone needs to companstate their customers bills, he agreed with what i had said, he also stated he couldnt do anything about it as he was new and wasnt his department, but what he did do, was put me through to the escollations department, I once again explained that i was extrememly unhappy with vodafone poor service since they have joined the "3" hutchison telecom network, she then stated that as of today i dont have to pay my bill for the next 3 months. and i was happy with that.

things to remember dont shout or abuse them, because its not their fault, they are just spokes people and trying to earn there $2 an hour... get on their good side, tell them that you know its not their fault but vodafones and that you feel for them as they have to deal with everyone calling because the problem is so bad... be stern and frustrated but dont scream or shut or abuse... and I got what i wanted... so even thugh the service is still so shit its not funny, at least im not paying for it. :)

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9903 Someone from NSW thinks their gain is $138 at 2 Jan 2011 09:59:01 AM
Limited & Very Slow 3G data coverage in Sydney CBD area - Various call drop outs, On hold for probably 8 hours in total over a few weeks (no exag) after contacting the TIO and Vodafone on Facebook & Twitter - they agreed to provide me with a 'goodwill' payment of 2 months $69 cap plan for my bothers.
Just hope they sort their data speed, coverage and customer service out in the next few months. I've been a Vodafone customer for over 5 years and my contract ends mid next year. I'm going to change over to Telstra.

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9887 Someone from QLD thinks their gain is $50.... pfft!! at 2 Jan 2011 08:26:01 AM
after not being able to view any data allowance usage for 3 weeks, and with absolutely no help from 1555, I decided to email them via the Vodafone.com.au website

I was ropable, I didn't know how many GB's I had used and was terrified of going over my allowance and didn't want to incur huge fees for excess usage. the email team said they would not be able to reimburse any excess data usage but gave me $50 credit for my trouble... just in case (for this bill and the next)

I don't think I will ever call 1555 again, I mean, they know what the words are that come out of your mouth... but they don't 'know' what you are trying to say.... make sense?

I'm sticking to emailing them, it may take time but a lot less headaches from 1555.

I'm not through with them yet either

data speeds still slow
calls dropped
failed txts
still unable to see data usage

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9874 Someone from NSW thinks their gain is Impressive at 2 Jan 2011 07:47:09 AM
Just over a week ago I finally decided to call Vodafone to complain about the network problems. I was experiencing problems in post codes 2008, 2000 and 2065.
The cancellations team member I spoke to was actually really lovely. She acknowledged that I had been with Vodafone a long time, she acknowledged that Vodafone were having significant network problems, and she entreated me to give them until January to catch up on the network upgrade that was skipped because of the firmware problems they had.
I wasn't expecting her to do anything for me, they can't fix the network or cancel my contract over the phone on a first complaint. So, having exhausted Vodafone's own dispute resolution, I lodged a complaint with the TIO.
With the TIO you dont have to be overly specific, keeping diaries and everything, but you do need to be specific about the problems you personally have been getting and where you have been getting them. They work by post codes, so use them (as I have here). Talk about timeouts and reduced data speeds. Talk about call dropouts and inability to make and receive calls. Talk about what conditions cause the service to be better (being at home) or worse (when using the service at speed). Finally, say what you want from Vodafone to resolve the dispute.

After about a week I got a quick call from Vodafone in response to the TIO complaint offering 4 months free service or the $150 left on my MPP to be released from my contract. Considering I was only 4-5 months into a 24 month contract, I took the latter option!

I'm now in a situation where I have to work out what to do with my new found freedom. Telstra's cap plans are roughly comparable to what I was paying on Vodafone, but it appears as though you can only get them if you're signing a new 24 month contract and getting a cheap included phone. Optus has BYO cap plans, but again you have to sign a 12 month contract - even without getting a new phone.

I won't be signing a contract with another operator. While I'm unhappy that Vodafone let their network get to this point, and I'm apprehensive about how it's going to survive the 3 network merger, I will be returning to Vodafone when their network upgrades are complete. They're a good company, and it took having to consider the alternatives to rediscover this about them.
2 Jan 2011 08:12:08 AM: yeah they are a good company... they are just having a really bad run of major system malfunctions, which they need to get on top of quickly.
4 Jan 2011 01:26:26 PM: Same... I signed up with Optus today until Vodafone gets their house in order, then I am gonna switch over...

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9849 Someone from QLD thinks their gain is Not over yet! at 1 Jan 2011 09:50:07 PM
They tried to take without proof $650.00 from my sons Commonwealth visa card. We showed the bank screen dumps of the vodafone internet interface, that we didn't even use the amount of data, in fact we were well under the 5 meg limit for mobile broadband. That was when we could get it to work properly of course. The bank reversed their debt. What an Almighty sword the bank has given us.

Vodafone was not happy and began a campaign of harassing the disabled and vision impaired with a credit recovery firm NRG. They continue to state their intention to ruin our credit rating and threaten legal action.

Robbers and thieves that's what vodafone are. Stealers from the poor and the disabled.

Vodafone is it illegal not to supply an itemized GST tsx invoice when it is requested of you by the Bank and ourselves.(Debt over $75.)

Who is in breach of contract, law breaker?

As you sow, so shall you reap.

Were with Virgin now, pages load so much quicker, and they guarantee not to steal from the poor and disabled.

Bring it on were ready leviathan!!!!!!!!

2 Jan 2011 05:44:23 AM: wow a 5meg plan no wonder you went over, enuf for 1 song
3 Jan 2011 10:57:37 AM: she probably means on her phone.
6 Jan 2011 11:29:07 PM: so are you suggesting that if I am not "poor and disabled" then its OK for vodafone to rip me off???????????????????
26 Jan 2011 07:55:16 PM: Something not quite right with the approach and this email...she'd be getting a bill surely. 5Mb plan = huh?

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9842 Someone from NSW thinks their gain is great at 1 Jan 2011 08:16:17 PM
I tried calling them but waited on hold for 45 minutes and thought my life is too short to be spending this ridiculous amount of time on the phone....anyway, I regress.....I went to their website and sent an email through their customer ser...vice link....not sure of web address now but I had a reply the next day which was very confusing and ambiguous as to whether I would have to pay or not so I sent another email back for them to confirm a few questions like 'how much will I have to pay to get out of this contract'. The following day the person emailed back and said that if I return the phone to them as per their procedure (which was explained in length in the first email) and the phone was in good condition then I would not have to pay vodaphone anything. So, it is in writing and I just have to let them know my mailing address for them to send me instructins and packaging to return the phone and everything should be cancelled. Is there any chance their service is going to get better in the near future????
2 Jan 2011 09:04:58 AM: good luck getting them to send out that packaging... i traded my 3 service (of course also owned by voda) with them for a vodafone direct service and the bills continued for a further four months! every month i'd call and have the bill recredited as the service hadn't been touched and they'd promise to send the packaging to return the modem... it never arrived but after the 4th month the bills finally stopped coming... the modem is still sitting here beside my computer... i'm too scared to throw it away as i know the day i do they'll want it back and charge me for it cause i won't be able to give it back to them!

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9824 Someone from QLD thinks their gain is Excellant at 1 Jan 2011 06:59:06 PM
I left Telstra and went to Vodafone, best move I made!
5 Jan 2011 12:27:46 PM: oh man, you just jumped out of the frying pan and into the fire... best of luck to you, youre gonna need it!

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9773 Someone from QLD thinks their gain is No more Vodafone Contract - I'm gone! at 1 Jan 2011 01:59:36 PM
Had been enduring the pathetic Vodafone network for months. After having my case investigated and network failure in my area confirmed, I negotiated the canceling of my contract. They tried to offer me 3 months free mobile service or to unlock my phone so I could use another service provider.

Yep. That's how bad their network is! They're desperate enough to offer you the competition as a solution. :O

I got the Vodafone call centre operator to admit that the problem wasn't going to be sorted out anytime soon. It's going to take MONTHS for network improvements to roll out. I need reliable phone and broadband service so I got them to agree to knocking off $20 off my final bill and termination of my contract.

Had to send my Android phone back, but I just got the latest Galaxy S on my new contract with my new Telco. So nice to have 4-5 bars reception and internet service again. *BLISS*
2 Jan 2011 05:50:47 AM: So they couldn't offer you coverage and you think it's silly that they recommended someone else....? I'm confused, whats the alternative? What else could they do?
3 Jan 2011 11:00:07 AM: they could of not offered anything and let him go. im so sick of reading comments from people who love vodafone, this isnt a fan page
4 Jan 2011 01:28:22 PM: This page is called "share your gain" so why not say a few positive things about Voda on this page if in fact you've experienced these
26 Jan 2011 07:56:36 PM: I'm with you there 4 Jan!

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9564 Someone from Somewhere else thinks their gain is Fantastic at 31 Dec 2010 01:09:36 PM
Vodafone granted me another month to pay my bill, no questions asked. I'm a recent graduate with no job, and no money. The person I talked to didn't have to ask her supervisor or anything, just said "don't worry about it, its that time of year, have another month."

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9554 Someone from ACT thinks their gain is Satisfactory at 31 Dec 2010 12:52:03 PM
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR ANYONE CONTACTING VODAFONE:

1) BEFORE PICKING UP THE PHONE WRITE DOWN THE DETAILS OF YOUR EXPERIENCE AND PROBLEMS IN FULL, AND THINK OF A FAIR SOLUTION (I DEMANDED 12 GIG OF DATA FOR FREE TO COMPENSATE FOR THE INCONVENIENCE TO MY BROADBAND SERVICE)
2) CALL VODAFAIL
3) ANSWER SECURITY QUESTIONS AND GIVE THEM YOUR DETAILS AS REQUIRED
4) ASK FOR CALL OPERATOR'S DETAILS: NAME, CALL CENTRE LOCATION, EMPLOYEE NUMBER (THIS ENSURES THAT THEY ARE ACCOUNTABLE AND THAT THEY WON'T "ACCIDENTALLY" HANG UP ON YOU IF THINGS GET TRICKY, LET THEM KNOW YOU'LL NOTIFY VODAFAIL SHOULD THE CALL DROP OUT)
5) STATE YOUR PROBLEM IN FULL. DO NOT LET OPERATOR INTERRUPT.
6) (OPERATOR WILL NOW COMMENCE MAKING EXCUSES OR DISMISSING YOUR COMPLAINT) AT THIS STAGE YOU CAN TELL THEM THAT THEIR EXCUSES ARE NOT NECESSARY, AND THAT THEY HAVE 2 CHOICES:
OPTION 1) THEY CAN GIVE YOU COMPENSATION (MAKE A SPECIFIC DEMAND AND STICK TO IT: E.G. 2 FREE MONTH'S PHONE USAGE, OR 12 FREE GIGS OF DATA - THINK OF THIS BEFORE CALLING)
OPTION 2) YOU WILL CONTACTING THE "TELECOMMUNICATIONS INDUSTRY OMBUDSMAN", "THE AUSTRALIAN COMMUNICATIONS AND MEDIA AUTHORITY", "TODAY TONIGHT" AND "YOUR LOCAL NEWS PAPER". YOU WILL JOIN THE CLASS ACTION WITH LAW FIRM "PIPER ALDEMAN" AND SUE VODAFAIL BECAUSE YOU ARE ENTITLED TO COMPENSATION
7) TELL THE OPERATOR TO GO AND TALK TO HIS/HER MANAGER
8) THE OPERATOR WILL COME BACK SAYING THEY CAN GIVE YOU SOMETHING SMALL (E.G $20 OFF YOUR BILL OR 1 GIG FREE DATA). IF THAT IS NOT TO YOUR SATISFACTION TELL THEM THAT THEY ARE FORCING YOU TO TAKE OPTION 2 AND THAT YOU WON'T ACCEPT ANYTHING LESS THAN WHAT YOU STATED IN OPTION 1
9)THEY WILL GO AND TALK TO THEIR MANAGER AGAIN
10) THEY WILL GIVE YOU WHAT YOU ASKED FOR AND TELL YOU THEY JUST WANT TO RETAIN YOU AS A CUSTOMER
11) SAY THANK YOU AND THAT YOU APPRECIATE THEM NEGOTIATING AN AGREEMENT, AND THAT YOU DIDN'T WANT TO BE AN "ANGRY CUSTOMER" BUT THEIR APPAULING SERVICE CAUSED YOU TO HAVE TO CALL THEM. LET THE OPERATOR KNOW THAT YOU HOPE NOT TO HAVE TO MAKE THIS CALL AGAIN

IF THEY DON'T GIVE YOU WHAT YOU ASKED FOR IN OPTION BE PREPARED TO TAKE OPTION TWO AND FOLLOW THROUGH WITH IT.

KEEP IN MIND EVERY SINGLE COMPLAINT TO THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS OMBUDSMAN RESULTS IN VODAFAIL BEING FINDED $190, SO THEY WILL BE HAPPY TO GIVE YOU FREE STUFF TO STOP YOU FROM COMPLAINING. IF YOU RUN A BUSINESS YOUR COSTS COULD BE MUCH HIGHER THROUGH LOST BUSINESS REVENUE - IN THIS CASE DEMAND PROPORTIONAL COMPENSATION, AND IF THEY FAIL TO COMPENSATE YOU ACCORDING TO THE INVONVENIENCE CAUSED THEN JOIN THE CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT THROUGH LAW FIRM PIPER ALDEMAN
31 Dec 2010 01:05:57 PM: To whoever gives out this information, thanks so much.
31 Dec 2010 02:46:11 PM: your writing in capitals has made your post very hard to read...... netequite fail
31 Dec 2010 02:46:12 PM: awesome info, thanks
31 Dec 2010 07:33:34 PM: Just like to point out a few problems with your theory...

1, all Vodafone calls are monitored and screens can be seen, they cannot drop the call without someone knowing about it.

2 The operators are actually there to help, not to be abused by you.

3 Your info on the TIO is, in a word, wrong.

4 Vodafone is a company that would only make money through customer service considering that there are quite a few telcos around. There is a known issue and they are trying to resolve it. You will get a way better response by dealing with the situation calmly and remembering that you are dealing with a REAL person on the other side of the phone. How would you feel if every call you took in a day was abusive? Would you be more or less inclined to give said abusive customer what they want? I know that I personally would tell them to go away.

31 Dec 2010 08:54:32 PM: To "31 Dec 2010 09:33:34 PM": Thank you! Staff just want to help out customers without being abused or interrupted when we try to say how we can help the customer. We get some really great customers who understand that the network faults aren't the faults of retail frontline staff and sometimes we get customers who don't realize this and just want someone to vent at - and unfortunately that is us.
31 Dec 2010 09:15:36 PM: to the two vodafone customer service people who just posted here, it is your JOB to take the abuse, that is what you are PAID to do. You agreed to work for a company that has lousy service, thus you take the heat for it, if you don't like it, QUIT. - you big babies.
31 Dec 2010 09:31:57 PM: Uhh... no? Being abused isn't part of any job description that I've seen recently. We're just asking for respect but judging by your post I guess you're saying we don't deserve respect and should be treated like dirt? Right? Would you like me to come to your workplace and hurl abuse and obscenities at you for something that is completely out of your control?
31 Dec 2010 09:51:44 PM: I wouldn't have a problem with you coming into my workplace and abusing me - the products & services that I sell do what they're meant to do & I don't treat my customers like idiots, so I have nothing to fear from you!
31 Dec 2010 11:13:34 PM: to the vodafail employee, if you work in customer service then copping abuse for the failures of you employer is par for the course, regardless of weather or not it is in your job description. So if you don't like it find a new job instead of bitching about the 1 you have.
31 Dec 2010 11:20:49 PM: Nobody should have to put up with verbal abuse. In fact, dishing said abuse out is a CRIME and can in some cases result in the offender being charged and having to face a Magistrate.
Yes, we all get angry (and rightly so in the case of VF), but abusing the retail/call centre staff, who are just trying to put food on their table like the rest of us, is NOT the answer.
1 Jan 2011 08:53:16 AM: Agreed, the only thing that doing so will achieve is to make someone feel upset for something that isn't their fault, and yes it is anyones right to be treated with respect and courtesy, doesn't matter whether your at work or not!
1 Jan 2011 09:23:22 AM: VODAFAIL GETS FINED WHEN YOU LODGE A COMPLAINT TO THE "TELECOMMUNICATIONS INDUSTRY OMBUDSMAN" ... THIS IS HOW MUCH THEY GET FINED(FROM TIO WEBSITE):

Classification fee per complaint (excluding GST)
Level 1 $31
Level 2 $260
Level 3 $475
Level 4 $2,250

IN 2008-9 THE AVERAGE FINE WAS $190
1 Jan 2011 09:24:56 AM: AND THERE IS THE WEBSITE IF YOU DON'T BELIEVE ME (SCROLL DOWN TO TABLE)

http://www.tio.com.au/
1 Jan 2011 10:13:10 AM: To the people that think abusing staff is the way to go, what planet are you living on. How is this going to help any bad situation and make it better? I do not work in customer service, or for this company. But I know that yelling and screaming at someone, is not going to sort things out.
Come on guys, everyone has a job to do & I dare say you will probably get a better result by being nicer. Seems like everyone is ready to stab the knife in, how sad!
1 Jan 2011 12:22:35 PM: To those staff who think that a normal human being, after fighting their way through the Lara crap, being put on hold for literally hours, and probably cut off several times, is going to stay civil when a person with an unintelligible accent tells them outright lies, while reading from a script, then they have another think coming. Of course you will be abused. If you don't like the heat, do yourself a favour and get a job where you can have some self respect, rather than peddling downright lies. You have a choice, unfortunately suckers like me who were sold a shambles, and told it was a working mobile phone system, are stuck with going through hours and hours of pain to get out of fraudulent contracts for a non-service which is worse than useless.
1 Jan 2011 01:08:05 PM: I would just like to point out a post from the creator of this site:

"We understand that this may be a frustrating time for customers however please remember to be calm and respectful to Vodafone employees and each other." ~

I am not a Vodafone Employee but rather a moderator for this site, and no human being deserves to be treated like rubbish just because of the actions of a company. Yes CSR are the frontline staff for that company, but you should treat them like you would your friends & family. Respect is a two way street.
1 Jan 2011 01:33:28 PM: y don u guys change mobile service providers instead of crying ur shit over here :P :D
1 Jan 2011 01:54:11 PM: to the idiot above who said that "why don't you guys change mobile service providers instead of crying your shit over here". have you ever stop to think that people who have vodafone as a mobile service provider are locked into a contract & therefore cannot get out of it withpout paying an early exit fee? obviously you are not with vodafone. how would you like to be put on hold for more than an hour, speak to someone that you can't understand because they don't speak a word of english properly, be put through to two different departmenmts & be hung up on while you are still talking? if this happens to you i'd bet that you would be singing a different tune.
1 Jan 2011 02:14:55 PM: to the idiot who posted above please do math and calculate ur rental and exit fee. if u dont know math get a calculator or even if thats not possible for you call vodafone , coz i don think u can get enough of it :P
1 Jan 2011 02:26:05 PM: and to the comment which said "obviously you are not with vodafone" yes i am not a moron like you :D :P
1 Jan 2011 06:59:08 PM: Whilst the theory behind having call pre-planned and being assertive and not letting the customer service script run you off getting your point across is good, i cannot believe that anyone would think that abusing the person on the other end of the phone because their company has 'issues' is anywhere remotely acceptable. I am not a Vodafone employee, yet i am a VF customer. And yes, one that is also having issues with the telco at the moment. But, this has been resolved to some extent at the moment, and the only way that this has been able to be done is by being polite and understanding of the high number of issues that they are having. Ever heard the saying, 'you catch more flies with honey'. I am in a funny position where i was sent out 2 iPhone 4's, and i called them (numerous times) to ask them to send me a bag to send it back. But back on track, I have come from a call centre environment, and ran a call centre a few years ago. Yes, you are frustrated. Yes, you have a legitimate reason to be upset, as you are paying, or being asked to pay your hard earned money. But, like you, the CSO's need to work, and VF is their job. They are accountable for the level of customer service and support that they give you at the time of the call, but at the end of the day, they are just one person is a very large, multinational company. They are not the decision makers. On the flip side, the CSO's have a responsibility to be polite and courteous back. And as for the hang-ups, i would be very interested to know in what cases they hung up in. Was the caller being rude and abrupt.

Please dont take this as me sticking up for VF. As i mentioned above, i have had my fair share with fustration from their processes and procedures. It just upsets me to see posts where people feel it is okay to be rude to call centre operators just because "its their job to be abused". Let me tell you, it isnt.

Happy New Year everyone! Smile, life is way too short.
1 Jan 2011 07:40:44 PM: and to the moron who wanted 12gb as compensation ..i wonder where is he goin to stick up his 12 gb when he cant use the services ...lol
2 Jan 2011 09:19:20 AM: As far as I can see the original post didn't promote abusing the Vodafone staff.

It advised a very direct approach at dealing with the issues we are experiencing with a clear solution which can and should be done in a polite and courteous manner.

Standing your ground and not accepting a poor solution to the problem is not, in itself, abusive behaviour. It is the manner in which you conduct your call that could be.

A clear and direct approach is the exact manner that the TIO uses when mediating between the Telcos and their customers so I don't see a problem with customers using the same approach when dealing with Vodafone direct.
2 Jan 2011 01:44:22 PM: TOo many people saying that this is abusing staff.
It is not abuse, but the only way to get some form of compensation and satisfaction from a faceless company that gives you nothing and takes you nowhere.
The only way to get action is to make someone feel like they are accountable, and if that means the Customer Service Operator, then so be it.
You have to get to a manager somehow, and complaining and taking details is the only way to get to talk to someone that can make an offer.

Well done mate, good info.
2 Jan 2011 01:44:53 PM: I too am a CURRENT VF customer, im facing some issues, but their being handled on a case by case issue - at the moment it's being investigated.
But none the less, I too actually work in customer service myself, and I quite like this job - I like the good and the bad - though, I have the flexibility to do whatever I desire, alike the manager - and im not the manager.
Everyone in the Customer Service business, even down at your local club/pub/restraunt knows what customer service is, and how to preform that Judy.
There is in NO job description in ANY customer service rolls that depict "to happily and willing fully handle ABUSE AND THREATS" - it does however state to handle 'complaints' AND THAT'S IT NOTHING ABOUT ABUSE.

Could we please, please, treat these people (may it be indians or what not) with RESPECT AND PATIENCE - their just putting some food on their table - it's a LUXURY to have a job in their world, and so is food and water - we call it a "necessity" to have food every day - but people last 3-8 days without ANY food - The human body can go over 20 days without food by the way -- MORE THAN TWENTY DAYS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I hate it when my colleagues get hurled abuse, and I hate hurling abuse, or hearing anyone hurl abuse to anyone.

If you GIVE them respect, patience, and not hurl abuse, they will do what they actually can do to keep you happy, even if it means talking to their supervisor.
That way, everyone is happy, the the person goes home feeling like he made someone happy, whilst your actually satisfied with the outcome.


Please be nice :)

Have a good new year everyone :)
2 Jan 2011 08:43:37 PM: D:P Is a coward who gets his rocks off, by putting people down whilst hiding behind his computer.Grow up little man!!!
3 Jan 2011 10:37:09 PM: To all of you who think that abusing the call centre operator who is on minimum wage is a good way to get somewhere, yes you may be right but you obviously have no soul and a whimp when your not behind your computer or phone nor do you have an understanding of how the real world works. If the call centre operator trying to put food on the table for his family could fix the issues with the Vodafone network he would, if the 15year old girl at the supermarket could increase budgets to get more checkouts open at the supermarket she would, if the uni-student petrol attendant could control the prices of petrol she would. I have no doubt that Vodafone has failed it's customers (myself included) but hurling abuse at someone is not the way to go about it. Calmly and politely explain to them your current situation and don't say I know its not you fault but "I'm just going to scream at you anyway" So once you have grown up and spent a day in the real world then call Vodafone. For the record I do not or never have worked for Vodafone or in the telecommunications industry.
3 Jan 2011 11:54:44 PM: To the clowns that are on this blog claiming things like 'being on hold for x hours is not right so it is your god given right to snap it at the poor kid at the end of the phone" or even better, walking into a store and snapping it at the 21 year old uni student that work 2 shifts a week that only wants to work their 8 hours and go home; Or the stooge that claims they should close down - what about those poor people that have careers tied up in that place who have no control over any of these issues? I have mates that work there and they have nothing to do with the network and they are feeling the heat and do feel bad (they admit rightly so) but they shouldn't be the ones held responsible...that should be for the decision makers of the company - but to suggest that a company should close down due for this needs to wake up to themselves - or do we want to go back to the pre-2003 days of $300-$500/month bills for 100 minutes of calls and 200kbs of data (and ill start the clock now for the first idiot to respond with 'id pay that for a service that works' - no you wont so dont insult the intelligence of the people that read this blog

ALSO - rule of exaggeration applies for the princess that write on this site. if someone says they sat on hold for 3 hours, it really means 1 (still not right, but i love reading entries that the fictional authors of vodafail has produced...)
4 Jan 2011 03:47:05 PM: Dear "4 Jan 2011 01:54:44 AM",
what about the people caught in the QLD floods who couldn't call for help?
what about the people who do it tough working shift work in hospitals and cafes and missed out on work because they didn't get the call?
what about people who live far from their families and rely on a small gesture like a timely text message or phone call to bring some cheer into their day during the festive season (but who did not receive that call/text)

everyone with vodafone pays money to vodafone. vodafone takes that money in exchange for a service. they fail to deliver a satisfactory level of service, and have cost people emotionally and financially. it's not the fault of the call-centre operators - you're right - but who else can we speak to?

..if you really feel so passionately about saving the call-centre operators from the brunt of disgruntled consumers, why don't you stop whinging and go and get us the Vodafone CEO Nigel Dews mobile and home phone numbers and post them here... that way it will no longer gurleen, hamash and rajish getting our angry phone calls ;) we can all have a chat to 'Nig' instead ;)
4 Jan 2011 08:01:49 PM: Well, today really is special-to read that it may have cost Vodafone more than $150 more than what I was claiming from them, courtesy of the complaint unavoidably being raised to level 2, in spite of the TIO strongly arguing VF's position. It hasn't ended there. It didn't have to be that way at all. Tonight's dinner is a cold, sweet dish of revenge. That I am sucking up, and I share it with all other Vodafone victims.
5 Jan 2011 12:19:59 AM: Dear "4 Jan 2011 05:47:05 PM".. I hate to say this, but your argument is invalid.

"what about the people caught in the QLD floods who couldn't call for help? " - Ok... so let's say Woolworth's cannot cope with the amount of people buying food due to an expected flood. Does this give me the right to yell at the staff at Woolworths and the Store Manager?

"what about the people who do it tough working shift work in hospitals and cafes and missed out on work because they didn't get the call? " - If we're going to use hospitals in this example... I've been to a QLD hospital in the emergency department before. I've seen first hand the 5 hour wait for something as simple as a broken leg. They're obviously understaffed. But hey, I PAY (note that one also pays for VF services) for a hospital via taxes so I should get first class health care. But because I have no one other than the doctors to speak to, I MUST make my point heard and yell at them. I mean, I can't speak to Anna Bligh, so I'll just dish it out to the Nurse as well.

"what about people who live far from their families and rely on a small gesture like a timely text message or phone call to bring some cheer into their day during the festive season (but who did not receive that call/text)" - Have you ever heard of network traffic delay? Every network gets congested, and in some countries you can't even make calls for a period of time.

It's not whinging, it's just being fair. People on the lower levels of the heirarchy (retail store staff and call center operators) have no say in network investments. They can't say "Oh, Bill is having network coverage issues in Sydney" so I'll just tell Nig to build one there", so then how is it far that we hold them responsible for something out of their control.

(And for the record, I'm actually a high school teacher. I've found the best way to deal with VF in their call centers is peacefully and with respect.)
5 Jan 2011 11:41:04 AM: 5 Jan 2011 02:19:59 AM,

Yes, if you are unhappy about any product/service then respectfully informing the managers is an excellent way of giving customer feedback, and any company interested in the long term interests of the company would undoubtedly have a procedure in place to handle feedback and act on it. By giving the company this information you are actually helping them to make money (because they can then improve their service), which is why they exist in the first place. Yes, that's the same for any good/service: if you weren't happy with the hotel service, respectfully inform the manager etc etc. If employees, or indeed executives (in Vodafone's case) are behaving poorly, people deserve to know.

Now that this website exists shareholders in vodafone are all well aware of the terrible job vodafone executives have been doing over the last 12 months: spending big $$$$ on advertising at airports and the cricket when their core services (telephone and internet) are in shambles, and their secondary service (customer assistance) is, too, a disgrace.

Ripped-off customers deserve their money back, and get the distinct impression that Vodafone is trying to give them the run-around by making it as difficult as possible for them to speak to customer service and voice their anguish (lengthy waits to speak to customer service, langauge difficulties, rude operators, denial of problems even existing etc etc).
5 Jan 2011 08:52:14 PM: Any of you who think being irate to customer service will help fix your problems quicker are complete morons. Irate and abusive customers cause employees to hate going to work and increases absenteeism and turnover of employees. As a result call centre numbers will be down and hence increases call waiting times, causing more morons to get angry and yelling abuse and this cycle goes on and on.....(this is from personal experience in a call centre)
9 Jan 2011 04:34:50 PM: losing your temper with call center staff straight off the bat isnt the thing to do of course, but in my case, being on the phone for 1 and a half hours, passed around 7 different " useless" operators I am afraid the second last guy copped it from me when he said it was my fault( long story) finally the last person managed to sort it out, even though it wasnt in her department. then after offically writing a complaint I get a piss weak response from a customer service rep, and when told I was changing to another provider he said, thats up to you. the most important thing to do is take notes on every conversation you have, ( I was taking notes on the computer while on the phone then emailed it to myself after) get their employee number ( names normally are fake) and also get the conversation number and dont give up,
11 Jan 2011 10:48:12 AM: Vodafone employees are dirt. Abuse is the only way I've ever gotten what I wanted out of a 1555 call. If you don't like being abused, get out of there. You, unlike myself and other contract customers, can leave Vodafail anytime you like.
11 Jan 2011 04:17:06 PM:
16 Jan 2011 06:23:46 PM: Funny, if the customer service person is being abused then they know little about the job they are paid to do! A person who knows their product/service/customer service will turn the abuse around quite quickly and both will have a positive outcome(what can be done/what they cannot do). As with all VF staff that I have spoken to they are incompetent and know nothing about customer service or their product.
See their trouble shooting blog for an example of their staff replies.
I am someone who has been with vf since day one, have never received anything free from them and have just spent 3 hours on hold on the 13/1/11 to get hung up on, only to spend another 3.5 hours on hold to be told it will take them 72hours to fix. Only to be told after 72 hours that it will take a least a week. MY problem? Cannot log onto my VF.
They are a bad joke!
21 Jan 2011 03:14:09 PM: How many times has your call been accidently cut off mine are too numerous to mention and I am one who believed in attracting more with honey that abuse. They dont give a shit....
21 Jan 2011 03:40:53 PM: i hate assholes but i hate being put on hold for 35 minutes and counting EVEN MORE!! WTF IS GOING ON?? since when is it ok to make people wait for this long??
why was i transferred?? this is not an iphone issue. i have colleagues, friends and relatives with various types of mobiles with vodafone and they all have the fn data issues plus voice coverage issues.
i was promised coverage in my area but i am instead getting nothing for my $69pm
i dont make calls from my mobile but i browse a lot. that for me was the selling point so if my data coverage sucks then i am paying through my ass for NOTHING!!! i am still on hold after 40 minutes and i am getting angry. you people are turning a usually level headed person into a raging angry pms bitch now pick up the phone and stop reading the fn stories on the fn internet!!! i would get fired if i were stuffing around!
22 Jan 2011 05:31:07 PM: It's nobodies JOB to be ABUSED regardless Of your line of work. Period
Get real people
26 Jan 2011 05:58:43 PM: @22 Jan 2011 07:31:07 PM Unless somebody has paid for an argument and ddn't get one,then they can find someone who has "Abuse Me" on the door.
Otherwise, if you didn't like being treated like sh!t by Vodafone the company, then you have no excuse whatsoever for treating a Vodafone employee (or anyone else like sh!t.
7 Feb 2011 08:05:19 AM: I think I might just come down to your work and abuse you for the hell of it, cause I feel like it, and then I'll send 20 of my mates to abuse you
6 May 2011 04:27:00 PM: i m a VHA staff member and have one simple thing to say: show respect to gain it. we are not paid to listen to your abuses just becuase you are not getting what you are paying for. a golden rule for sane people: a patient customer will always get what he deserves. i don't want your 'responses' as i know it will be flaming and nothing less.
6 May 2011 09:54:01 PM: pfffttt please vodafone is the worst company i have ever been all they like to do is rip people off
26 Sep 2011 05:13:39 PM: i think we need an ombudsman for reporting abusive customers. Just because its over the phone doesn't mean its not scary and upsetting. I always go out of my way to manipulate the system for the benefit of the customer and i still cop personal attacks and abuse every now and then. Today for example i had someone get my name and employee number, tell me that they would get a friend that works for my company (not vodafail) to get more info on me so that they could hunt me down and make me pay. If this occured in the street or in a retail store i could call the police and report them for harassment and threatening behaviour. I see colleagues in tears daily due to the abuse received by customers. Fair enough some of them are crackheads and just venting their surplus testosterone but that makes it more scary, they dont know when to stop and if they hold on to your details and decide to be vengeful what can i do? carry on looking over my shoulder all for a bottom of the line minimum pay job? Fair enough i should get another job, but its a scary time to change jobs isn't it?
I wish we could report customers just like customers can report us. These people should be named and shamed. I think their friends and family would be shocked to hear the way they treat and threaten staff that have not caused their problem. The majority of people cannot be bothered complaining through the right channels and just want to yell at someone, and the personal attacks would take your breath away if you heard them. It's insane.
Think if it is your daughter/mother/son/brother on the phone taking this abuse. Maybe then you would rethink.
I really am going to do everything i can to implement a complaint register for industry staff. We need to get a record of these people and send a message that it is not tolerable.
11 Jan 2012 09:27:36 AM: Late last year, my family and I went on a holiday to Japan. Before going, I'd read somewhere on the 'net that International mobile calls from Japan only go through the 3G network (or, something like that). Not being sure of the accuracy of the info, I took my 2G phone to a VF store, showed it to a CSO and told her the info I'd read about 3G. I said, "Will this phone work in Japan, will my Japanese friends be able to call me and will I be able to call Aussie?" Yes! I was told ... no problems.

FAIL! No reception anywhere. I sent emails to VF and was initially told that they couldn't understand why we weren't getting reception. Eventually they came back and said that our model of phone wouldn't work in Japan (the 'net info was obviously correct).

I told them that, when I returned to Aus., I'd be changing providers as we'd distriibuted our ph. no. widely to contacts in Japan and this was a major inconvenience now. No response from VF.

When I got back, I did change ... just going through it now. However, I've just had a 'run-in' with them over a phone (un)locking fee. I was NOT on a plan with VF, bought the phone outright (a replacement for the original) and had owned it for more than 2 years. When I bought it, it was a straight, walk-in, point at it, pay by card, take the receipt and walk out - just like any retail transaction. I was NEVER told the phone was locked to VF. I would NOT have bought it if I had been told.

This is, pretty much a brief summary of my VF experience. I tried real hard to stay calm with the CSO's and, I think I did. They would have known I VERY annoyed though!

Apart from all of the above, I'd never had an issue with VF. If they'd got the Japan advice right in the first place, I'd probably be still with them now, using a 3G handset.

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9521 Someone from NSW thinks their gain is Nothing lost, nothing gained at 31 Dec 2010 11:36:56 AM
Been with Voda for about 10 years, hardly any issues with my Nokia on a pre paid plan. Makes me wonder am I just one of the "lucky" few or are other users just hopeless when it comes to their phone setup.

I really feel for the employees in Voda's call centre, they must be copping it badly! As a former call centre employee in an ISP, I can sympathise.
31 Dec 2010 03:11:16 PM: you really think nearly 10,000 people are just hopeless using their phones?
my business uses vodafone, theyeve had bad service, my personal service is vodafone, weve had the same bad service......
31 Dec 2010 07:36:09 PM: Considering that around 80% of people upgrade to iPhones and iPhones have known coverage issues it's not surprising that people have had coverage issues. The fact that they are using an iPhone just makes it worse.
1 Jan 2011 01:25:02 PM: just lettin you know i am using a blackberry on a plan with 2 other blackberrys and my phone is the only one out of the 3 with the problem so its not just iphones...also there are around about 6 people at work with blackberrys having the sam problem
1 Jan 2011 05:11:35 PM: I have just updated to an android phone in the last few months - and it seems that mojority of these problems are on the more modern style phones (3G)
Maybe we need to go back to basics sometimes and use the simple things
1 Jan 2011 05:32:42 PM: I have an android and a windows 7 phone with Vodafone....neither work as they should!
2 Jan 2011 05:54:47 AM: can you please provide the website or information that states that 80% of people are having problems?
3 Jan 2011 05:37:13 AM: I have 2 old nokia phones (6110 & 6210) with the same issue, don't blame the handset, it's the service
4 Jan 2011 11:15:48 AM: i have a nokia also, im doubting it has anything to do with the iphone...

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9457 Someone from QLD thinks their gain is 100 at 31 Dec 2010 09:08:57 AM
My thanks & congratulation to Adam Brimo for setting up this excellent webpage, it's brilliant! The stats page is excellent - Methinks the folks at VF will be in major damage control mode, I'd love to be a fly on the wall in the VF CEO's office.....
Thanks again, MB in Cairns
1 Jan 2011 06:15:28 PM: Thanks I'm glad you like it :) I've spent many nights working on this site and adding new features so feel free to send me any feedback you might have. All the best. Adam
2 Jan 2011 08:52:51 PM: Thanx Adam, while my problems with vodafone are slightly different to most I have read (most painful 5338) I really appreciate the opportunity to read other peoples experiences and I hope that this site may have given me the opportunity to get my message across to hierachy at vodafone.
I.F.
3 Jan 2011 07:20:26 AM: Fly on the wall... Its taken them this long to acknowledge the elephant in the room!
3 Jan 2011 08:16:21 PM: I don't think it's that big of a deal to them, Vodafone would have in excesss of what 8 million customers, and just over 9000 hits on here, do the sums !!! Bit like a needle in a haystack really.

Goodluck anyways!!!
10 Jan 2011 07:41:22 PM: Don't discount the needle in the haystack!!In my many years of sales experience & training, it has been proven that individuals will tell maybe at most 1 or 2 people about great service they have received.On the other hand if you have received poor service you're more than likely to tell 5 - 10 others. So 9000 x 5 + the many who haven't heard of this site (I was unaware until today)+ my 1000+ friends on facebook + their friends.....give yourself some more cred - this is a significant needle!!
11 Jan 2011 07:51:11 PM: great info - great site
really it does come down to reasonable expectations and communicating them
hissy fits won't do you any good
availing yourself of the facts, planning and calmly discussing the problem and your expectations will get you a lot further but you are 100% correct in advising that it is worth getting the name of each person you speak to.
all the best
can't wait for the world where we share these resources in a much more equitable, resourceful and conservative manner rather than pillaging, over cunsuming and rorting to our hearts discontent.
13 Jan 2011 01:31:08 PM: hi umm your all sad, can you please tell someone who cares or get some more money so you can pay termination fees, oh and also your all losers. ahahaha yessssssssssssssss yes you are
23 Jan 2011 03:37:33 PM: Not sad at all, got out of 2 contracts, now with a great network, actually someone did care, voda sent me $6000 and 7 iphones, no termination fees to pay.
Have a look in the mirror Portnoy
10 Jun 2011 11:07:25 AM: bahhahaha i wish vodafail had like buttons! cos i'd likie 23 Jan's response to 13 Jan! ohh SNAP! lol

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9395 Someone from VIC thinks their gain is MAGIC at 31 Dec 2010 06:16:46 AM
I was on a "Vodafony" prepaid (only calls, no data - ok coverage) for years and then tried to get on a Iphone plan, but they were useless in giving me any committment on when I could get an Iphone. Then I heard about their poor CBD in-building coverage with iphones. So thanks to their crap loyalty I now have a Iphone with a real provider with excellant coverage and data speed. Thanks Vodafony!! MAGIC!!!

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9353 Someone from QLD thinks their gain is 100 percent at 30 Dec 2010 10:14:35 PM
Got rid of dodgey Iphone, replaced it with a nokia!
Never had Issues with voda per Iphone, perhaps you people with issues should step back and look at your own setups before trying to make vodafone look like idiots!
Voda private customer for the past 8 years, 3 Mobile Buisness for the past 2 years, 3 drops out constantly, voda always gets me out of trouble.
BTW, I travel roughly 280km's per day on average around Brisbane
Thanks
Me
31 Dec 2010 09:30:48 AM: OK - so everyone's problems here are due to iPhones are they. Will that fix their customer service and all the other problems? Why did the CEO make a number of apologies then. You sound like a vodafail employee. And by the way, we don't need to make Vodafail look like idiots - they are doing a good enough job of it themselves!!!
31 Dec 2010 09:35:34 AM: Try living in country Victoria with a Vodafone mobile. No chance of being able to make or receive calls. They definitely do not have the coverage they claim.
31 Dec 2010 01:25:00 PM: Thanks for the advice. I indeed looked at the setup on my own phone and realised that you're the idiot.

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9213 Someone from NSW thinks their gain is poor at 30 Dec 2010 04:54:44 PM
I went with the advertisement for VodaFone coverage for the Warners Bay area, but it was all lies. They do not have the coverage they claim, I am getting poor to very poor reception on mobile broadband. I even had one of their engineers admit that that the eqipment was not up to the job, but would they let me out of the 2 year contract, of course not.

As soon as my contract is up I sm giving them the short shrift and telling them to stuff it. Does anyone know of a company that provides a reasonable download in the Newcastle area?

Peter
1 Jan 2011 12:20:26 PM: Telstra their cap plans are now better than vf and 100% coverage

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