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 Pain


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 Pain


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20549 Someone from NSW thinks vodafone is delayed sms at 8 Jan 2012 10:03:01 AM
Is anyone else having issues with either not recieving sms until hrs after they have been sent to you, your sms's either sending multiple times or not at all, or you not getting sms's at all??? I'm in NSW, Richmond area.
8 Jan 2012 06:58:13 PM: Its a common problem mate (almost Australia wide from what i read here), it took 40mins to send a sms 3 houses away from mine (between two vodafone services) literally 100m away, it took 40mins to send!
15 Jan 2012 09:30:45 PM: My friend on the NSW Central Coast sends texts and sometimes they come through 7 times for example, and sometimes he receives my texts many times...
6 Feb 2012 06:00:27 PM: I only waited 4 hours sms messages from Murwillumbah to Sydney,(via Telstra to Vodamess.)

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20398 Someone from NSW thinks vodafone is fail again at 22 Dec 2011 10:21:07 AM
I just rang to complain about their shit reception and no internet coverage/delayed sms (2 months into a 24 month contract) and the call dropped out. I rang right back and the message I got was "we cant take your call due to technical difficulties"
OMG you are a joke.
4 Jan 2012 02:22:07 PM: Try ringing 1300365506 - VF Resolution Centre in Tas

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20334 Someone from NSW thinks vodafone is Epic fail at 16 Dec 2011 06:25:21 AM
I have recorded 16 delayed SMS in the past 4 days.
3 were dealyed by 12hrs & 6 others were delayed by 5hrs
This is so frustrating as I use my phone for work & am not being updated when there are issues which is causing issues with my boss :(
17 Dec 2011 11:06:37 AM: I have the exact same problem. Woke up yesterday morning to 20 messages sent the day before. This is causing major issues with my boyfriend, family and friends who think I'm ignoring them...

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19662 Someone from QLD thinks vodafone is UBER FAIL at 12 Oct 2011 01:12:07 PM
I've tried to call my girlfriend who was expecting my call. Could not reach her at all and she couldn't call me either. Land line also failed. No calls, late SMS, #G is a joke!
Seriously considering returning my phone and paying out my contract. ITS THAT BAD!!!

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19647 Someone from VIC thinks vodafone is #epicfail at 11 Oct 2011 03:41:51 AM
1 to 3 drop outs on every single call! (pre-paid) Sometimes i cant even call back for minutes. Delayed SMSs (some received up to 3hrs later). Im not exaggerating this at all. As soon as the new iPhone4S hits very soon im going. Absolutely had enough.

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19185 Someone from ACT thinks vodafone is extreme fail at 18 Aug 2011 02:46:16 PM
Called Vodafail back today (Thursday) to follow up on my complain of delayed SMS on Monday ... they told me that yes the tech specialists had checked it and the problem is resolved. The lazy buggers did this without confirming with me whether the problem is solved -- it is NOT!

Now I am told it is going to take 5 days for them to check it again. 5 days!! When my messages are not coming through.

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19164 Someone from NSW thinks vodafone is delayed sms at 16 Aug 2011 05:36:33 PM
i just got a sms from my friend, i replied to it and my friend said "why are you replying to this, i sent it 5 weeks ago (at the start of uni semester)"
a 5 week delay!!! 5 WEEKS!!
16 Aug 2011 08:12:00 PM: It's scary to think! - And also all the ones you don't get or receive. I've had a couple of close friends ask me why I didn't reply to them, only to realise I never received the text they sent (evidenced by history and I've never deleted texts). Think about all the people that I'm not that close to who think I could have snubbed them!! - Terrible service this! Terrible.

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19062 Someone from ACT thinks vodafone is Continuously at 4 Aug 2011 07:57:27 PM
No reception - on a good day 1 little bar. Dropped calls.
Delayed SMS Messages and worst of all Very poor customer service from people that don't even know that Canberra is the capital of Australia! I am leaving Voda-no-phone and going to another provider this weekend.

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18852 Someone from WA thinks vodafone is reception issues at 20 Jul 2011 11:14:41 PM
missed calls, delayed sms, unable to use my plan to its potential.

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18796 Someone from NSW thinks vodafone is Pits at 20 Jul 2011 12:50:47 PM
Overcharged accounts, patchy reception, delayed sms's and 11 months to go on my contract. Great!

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18756 Someone from VIC thinks vodafone is Useless at 18 Jul 2011 10:32:22 AM
Switched from 3 to VF thinking companies would merge and service would improve, still i have crap data speeds, late sms and poor signal on Mornington Peninsula, i am currently looking to relocate to SE Vic country town where optus & telstra are strong, however NO VF at all, spoke to VF, best they could do is is allow me to unlock ph so at my expense i can swap sims to reliable service providers in the area hmm good business plan VF flood the market with cheap city plans to raise money for infrastructure and invest in the area with most complaints, they must be laughing all the way to the bank !!!!

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18695 Someone from QLD thinks vodafone is Large at 13 Jul 2011 08:45:38 AM
Poor reception, delayed SMS, 3G drop outs, no android updates.
13 Jul 2011 08:47:40 PM: Technically the android updates are up to the mobile phone manufacturer (HTC, Sony Ericsson etc) but still...Boo Vodafone!
20 Jul 2011 12:37:54 PM: Ummm no - I have a nexus one - I applied the vanilla firmware and now get the google updates. My friends still on the VF firmware are WAY behind. Thats not HTC's fault. Thats VF's fault.

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18493 Someone from NSW thinks vodafone is Getting worse on Lwr North Shore at 22 Jun 2011 09:16:54 AM
My partner and I have been with VF for at least 6 years, living on lower north shore that whole time. While I was never overly amazed at their overall service, we never noticed having bad coverage or delayed SMS transmission... Even when the big media blowup about how bad some people were finding it happened, I never found it all that bad. But since they've been blowing their horn about how they're "making big changes and improvements" the service in this area has been getting MUCH worse.

My pet theory: They're removing infrastructure from parts of sydney where there's not too many complaints and installing it in high-complaint regions. That's certainly what it seems to be.

Anyway, goodbye vodafone, I've stuck with you for many years just because it was too much effort to look around and/or change, but I'm not locked into a contract and you're fired.

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18482 Someone from NSW thinks vodafone is sms and msg bank at 21 Jun 2011 02:44:14 PM
I know this may sound un-beliveable but i consistantly get late sms and voicemail is often DAYS late..as for the wireless internet..it works great on a school nite at 2am when others are asleep!
21 Jun 2011 04:06:39 PM: Don't worry it's not unbelievable. Plenty of people are having that issue so it might be best to file a complaint to see if they are planning on fixing it in your area any time soon.

Vodafail.com Moderation Team

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18464 Someone from WA thinks vodafone is at 20 Jun 2011 01:07:23 PM
Poor coverage, delayed sms and delayed voicemail.

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18429 Someone from NSW thinks vodafone is very fail at 17 Jun 2011 08:29:30 PM
Voicemail was reset by munbai call center staff which i didnt ask for and lost 10-15 vmail for my business today (new leads).......this added to the drop out's (innerSydney!!) and late sms-email to my list of complaint.
I will go to optus to get my 5 lines switched over NO MORE Vodaphone

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18401 Someone from VIC thinks vodafone is at 14 Jun 2011 01:38:06 PM
Delayed SMS and vociemail for 3 days. Have missed numerous jobs and shifts because of missed messages. Extremely *#@!-off!

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18200 Someone from NSW thinks vodafone is Very at 30 May 2011 09:46:59 PM
Apart from the continual 'no network' signal in my inner city area of Sydney (infrequent to no reception right in Darlinghurst Sydney if you can believe that ) continual dropouts and inability to use 3G along with late SMS messages, the piece that ticks me off is that Lara never seems to work efficiently and customer service, whilst continually repeating the company polished standard apology for every bloody thing yet not concerned one bit since earning rupees are all they are there for etc etc apart from all that I had my phone service barred THREE times in succession in one week on the back of SMS messages warning this simply because of an unusual spike in phone usage - due to two week overseas work trip where I had to use the phone. All owed monies are debited from my business account. It is a business phone and I have been with voda for 14 years yet as a CEO of a company I had to call and wait for customer care to refer the matter on to the technical dept for reconnection only to be disconnected again - three times around the merry go round I went. And does the Bangalore brigade really care? I think not since negotiating the complicated construct of Lara and getting to the right people makes me believe that every mental effort of the powers to be at VF is being suborned to device a customer call number guaranteeing a high attrition rate amongst callers out of pure frustration.
I really just want to know how I can get out of the current plan if at all possible because of poor service in every way.
31 May 2011 05:57:58 AM: You have tried to resolve the issue and have appeared to be unsuccessful, the next step is the TIO, takes about 10 minutes max to complete their on line form.

The TIO details found on the How To Complain tab at the top of the page.

Vodafail.com Moderation Team

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18094 Someone from NSW thinks vodafone is Utterly disgusting at 23 May 2011 09:12:43 AM
Delayed txt messages both receiving and sending. My friend received it 2 hours later!! Can barely send any mms' always fail sending.
Constant dropped calls every day and disgusting reception problems, claim to have 3-4 bars at home but dropped calls on a regular basis? Lies...
Called up to complain and was later informed that they were doing upgrades at my area... Why the fudge did they not inform me earlier!? Annoyed the hell out of me!!
Will try and terminate my contract today...

Oh btw... They also sent me a dud iPhone 4 first and had to wait 2 weeks for another one while my contract was activated... Bull..

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17941 Someone from NSW thinks vodafone is Fail Whale at 13 May 2011 03:55:38 PM
call drop outs, delayed sms, cannot send mms. Cannot load safari searches or use the internet to you tube or play words with friends! Can't sign into my netbank to transfer money when I need it...the list goes on! Called twice about the problem and was advised that network problems will not be fixed until July - therefore implying that I had to put up with it for another 2 months or so. Told me to give them addresses and postcodes of every area that I visit so they can tell me if I can use my phone there or not - Why would I NEED a 'MOBILE' phone that can only be used in selected areas~! Plus I DO NOT KNOW where I'll be going for every day of my future life!

Every single time I'm transferred from one part of India to another they ask me the same questions I told the first - Your name, phone number and PIN. Why on earth do they bother asking you to enter it into the phone in the first place?! Cause the first person to pick up the phone STILL ASKS!

No customer service what so ever. Biggest waste of time!
20 Jul 2011 12:40:10 PM: Its worse when they CALL YOU - and then ask personal questsions like DOB to identify you.

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17860 Someone from VIC thinks vodafone is Voda -GONE at 9 May 2011 03:26:43 PM
I have been with Vodafone for at least 6 years! Up until mid June last year coverage/calls/sms were all fine... Particularly over the last 6 months I have had consistent problems with delayed sms, calls dropping out, broadband coverage both on phone and computer were horrendous. Whilst not on contract I persisted because it was easier however the frustration at paying for a service Im not getting really pisses me off. I swapped to OPTUS today! I can make calls, load pages almost instantly and send and receive sms without any problems.. Enough is enough Good bye vodaFAIL

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17856 Someone from QLD thinks vodafone is Delays and dropouts at 9 May 2011 12:13:04 PM
Delayed SMS's sometimes by days. Have good reception then it drops out requiring a phone restart with good reception again. About 30% of calls seem to drop out. Vodaphone pretending it seems to be an unusual occurance. Good phone coverage and no intenet. Thats all!

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17805 Someone from WA thinks vodafone is Uber-Fail at 6 May 2011 02:34:13 PM
Lack of reception, rude customer service as well as being unhelpful, delayed sms and mms, no internet connection, phone call drop out etc etc etc!!!!! very unhappy!

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17788 Someone from WA thinks vodafone is crazy big fail at 6 May 2011 11:20:05 AM
constantly receiving delayed sms and extremely poor reception in Perth....phone calls are poor quality and constantly dropping out. Well over vodafone and their useless network

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17636 Someone from SA thinks vodafone is Delayed SMS poor 3g at 2 May 2011 08:43:00 PM
Corporate customer 40+ mobiles. SMS have been delayed, #g doesnt work well if at all.

Poor coverage in rural, we're moving users to other companies. I have no faith in 3 as an option to we're going to Telstra for some for coverage.

Will probably retain 8 or so on VF due to their O/S rates are the best around.
I will move the balance once our contract is finished.

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17592 Someone from WA thinks vodafone is Pathetic at 1 May 2011 01:25:38 AM
No service, drop outs constantly, late SMS delivery and response eg 2 days later, voicemail might come within the week if at all if you are lucky. Overall never been with such a poor unorganized company who is meant to deliver a service we pay for and are charge for. Can you imagine if I treated my customers like they do absolutely ridiculous.

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17587 Someone from VIC thinks vodafone is Total Fail at 30 Apr 2011 09:38:03 PM
Dear Vodaphone, you suck. How is it you think it acceptable to offer the absolute cluster f@#* of a service you peddle to your suffering customers. Dropped calls, intermittent web access, delayed SMS delivery, you name it - that is when your "service" is not in a state of meltdown.

How kind it is of you to offer free SMS messages between 8AM and 8PM this Sunday in response to yet another outage shared by all on Easter Sunday.

Thank-you, but with all due respect you can take your free SMS's and shove them. If you really want to impress me, try taking the revenue you plan on forgoing with these useless free SMS's and put it toward FIXING THE BLOODY PROBLEM!
9 May 2011 01:52:38 AM: They are, was announced long ago that they are doing $500 million worth of upgrades now.

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17266 Someone from VIC thinks vodafone is at 26 Apr 2011 07:06:17 PM
I have been having issues with my phone ever since i begun my contract with Vodafone last year. I am constantly facing problems relating to:
1. dropped calls
2. delayed SMS and voicemails
3. dropped coverage consistently during the day
4. slow data and internet
5. phone constantly freezes
6. multiple charges for a single SMS
7. SMS's sending multiple times without my permission (THE LIST GOES ON)

Vodafone assured me that the coverage in my area was being improved over a month ago but all i have noticed is increasing problems and no solutions..Disgraceful!

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17140 Someone from NSW thinks vodafone is Worst Service at 26 Apr 2011 11:08:25 AM
I want to cancel my contract with Vodafone due to delayed SMS messages, delayed voice messages, turtle like internet connection, poor customer service and now not being able to send text's on Easter Sunday.

Vodafone tells me I have to give the phone back or pay equivalent amount before cancelling. I have had the contract for about 12 months. Is this the case?
26 Apr 2011 04:45:03 PM: Give the phone back, of course. Unless you've paid for it or completed a full contract, it's not actually your phone
30 Apr 2011 12:18:11 PM: Contact the Telecommunication Industry Ombudsman. They got me out of my $70 per month contract and I was able to port my number to another telco and also keep the phone. If you have an Iphone, they are easy to unlock. Also the Iphone 5 is due out in a couple of months.

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16797 Someone from WA thinks vodafone is Epic, Epic Fail at 15 Apr 2011 12:03:18 AM
Long story is long.

I only switched to Vodaphone around a month ago. I had started having problems with Three (bad data coverage, late SMS delivery - or no SMS delivery at all, a monthly bill that seemed to be a rip off in comparison to the mobile contracts of my peers etc etc) and after two ranty calls to Three customer care, a nice man from Three called me at seven am on a Saturday, apropos of nothing, to offer me A DEAL.

And because I am a sucker, I took it - despite a chorus of my well informed friends screeching "NO! NO! VODAPHONE IS THE DEVIL!" at me. And despite the fact that I knew, in my heart of hearts, that the problems I was experiencing with three (excluding the rip-off plan I was on) were probably linked to the merge with vodaphone.

They lulled me with their siren song of opting out of my contract, a brand new handset, and zero cancellation fees. And now they have me right where they want me: on a 24 month $45 infinite plan, with $10 handset repayments every bill.

At first it wasn't so bad. I did notice some patchy connectivity, especially with data coverage, but it didn't really cause me any major inconvinience. I am not -terribly- bothered if I can't check into the train station, on foursquare, on my way to work in the morning. Sure, it's a service I am technically paying for - a reliable internet connection of my smartphone - but hey, what's the very occasional outage, right?

Only in the last two weeks, it hasn't been the occasional outage. It's been 'no internet for you!' at least 50% of the time, despite the fact that I live ten minutes from Perth city, work in the CBD, and rarely venture farther afield than the inner suburbs.

And then there are the calls that people apparently made to me, that...I never got. Strangely this seems to mostly happen when other vodaphone customers are trying to call me.

And then yesterday, I experienced exactly the same problem that I was having with three last year. I had arranged to meet a friend for coffee, but a work meeting ran late and I had to text her to cancel (couldn't call as I was in a meeting). I sent her a message and received no reply, but figured maybe she just hadn't seen the need of a response. Around forty minutes later, I got a message from her saying "I'm here...where are you?". I sent her another text reiterating my first message, and adding "...did you not get my first text?".

No reply for awhile, then another twenty minutes later "...um, ok, well I've waited nearly an hour now so I guess we'll catch up another time. Bye."

Vodaphone. This is bad. When I tell my friend, later, "Oh shit I am sorry, I did send you a text! I don't know why you didn't get it!" it is going to sound like a crappy excuse. In fact, it IS a crappy excuse, because I've just wasted forty minutes of my friend's time because of your fucking fail telecommunications. You know the irony? Yup, SHE TOO IS A VODAPHONE CUSTOMER. So, basically, you can't even send text messages between users on your own damn network? Seriously?

Now obviously in this case, no greater tragedy befell either of us due to this telecommunications glitch. She got forty minutes of her time wasted, and I feel like a dickhead because of it. Nobody got hurt. Nobody died. But what if I'd been trying to make a call to emergency services? Or organise something more pressing and important than a coffee with a university colleague?

I'm not naturally a 'complain-y' kind of person, but I called vodaphone customer care today to chase up these issues (my data coverage, and this issue texting this friend of mine). I made it very clear to 'LARA' that I was making a complaint, and was put swiftly through to a customer service rep (points to vodafail for this one - at least I wasn't on hold forever).

The lady I spoke to was a very good listener, but did not offer me anything in the way of empathy or support. There were lengthy pauses after I'd spoken, and at length, the best she could do was offer to put me through to tech support. Now, to be honest, having called vodafail with a legit complaint, and having made it clear that I don't feel this is a problem on 'my end', and that I am very dissatisfied, I kind of expect to be offered some form of compensation. Obviously I am deluded, in that regard, but anyway...

She put me through to tech support, which seemed a bit pointless since I was pretty damn sure none of this was my problem, but I went along with it anyway, thinking perhaps tech support might enlighten me as to what sort of network issues they were experiencing that would mean someone ON THE SAME NETWORK was unable to receive my messages.

I reiterated the same story to the tech guy, who gave me the knee-jerk response of "Have you tried turning it off then on again". To which I replied "Yes" and reiterated (again) that this was a problem I had previously had when I was on three, that I knew other vodaphone customers had had problems with data coverage and messaging, that I was pretty sure it was an issue on their end, and that I was very displeased with it.

He then proceeded to ask "...what do you want me to do about it?"

Yes.

The customer service/tech guy at vodaphone sullenly demanded WHAT I WANTED HIM TO DO about my problem.

I was pretty dumbfounded by this, to be honest. I replied that I had really only called up to register a complaint, that I was fairly certan he, personally, could not 'fix' my issue, but that I was hoping that by registering it as a problem he could tell me a) whether other people had been experiencing the same issue and b) what VODAPHONE were going to do about fixing it and/or compensating me for a service that I was paying for and not getting the full use of.

He proceeded to ask me for the number that I was calling from. I should note that he had already taken this number down when he first answered my call, so quite why he needed it a second time, I don't know. Then he asked me for the number I was having problems texting (this is after me having to explain, repeatedly, that I was able to successfully call and text SOME numbers, just not this particular one - that I knew of). I had to go into my phonebook to get the number, but I managed to read it out to him.

After he had taken it down, he talked to me for a few more minutes, then said "...so what was the number that you were having problems texting?"

Um. Really? The number I gave you a minute and a half ago? The number you JUST WROTE DOWN (presumably?). THAT number?

When I informed him that it was the number I'd just given him, he mumbled something that I didn't quite catch. I then asked "Sorry, what was that, I didn't quite hear you?"

The line was silent.

"...sorry?" I asked again "I didn't quite hear what you said?"

Nothing.

".....hello?"

At this point I checked to see if the call was still connected. It was, but Mr Vodaphone didn't feel like talking anymore, apparently. I was so sick of the whole 25 minute conversation, at this point, that I just hung up.

I should also note that my first bill, which should (I thought) have been $55 (45 infinite + 10 for handset repayment) was $86. When I called about that, they informed me that as it was my first bill I was charged from the moment I began using the service, and for the subsequent billing period, but honestly I am a bit lost here. Does this mean I'm now paid up for a subsequent month? How does this work? Looking at my bill online, I certainly don't see that I've gone over my data or anything, so it shouldn't be additional fees for going over my cap - they've charged me for a month + the one or two weeks I was using the service before the billing period kicked in? I want to see a itemised explanation of this, but I assume I'm not going to get one...
15 Apr 2011 12:28:33 PM: i have had this exact same problem with the coverage for text messages, except it only sends messages which are less than 1 part in data charges, otherwise the message seems to not get through. if i try and be smart to get around it by sending two separate 1 part messages, neither of them make it through. i don't know whats going on there, i'm not even going to waste my time calling customer service after reading your post, the only option seems to be to ditch this crappy service and go with someone more reliable.
15 Apr 2011 01:02:29 PM: you have to make a complaint here: http://www.tio.com.au/ComplaintForm/ComplaintFormS1.asp

it takes 5 minutes, you'll speak to an Australian (and usually a pretty smart one), and they will actually achknowledge your problems AND issue compensation. PLUS there's the added benefit that when you lodge your complaint, Vodafone actually get fined =)
30 Apr 2011 10:20:24 PM: If you read the contract when you connected with Vodaphone it says (paraphrased) that you will receive two charges in your first bill, the first is a pro-rated amount from the time you start using your new Vodaphone service until the time your billing period starts (appox. ten days from when you sign your contract), the second is your first bill in advance. The pro-rated amount is a case by case basis, however if it transpires that your are already at your first billing period i.e. through a migration or something to that effect, then they will simply charge you the first month as would normally have happened, then the second month in advance. It all works out in the end and you do not get overcharged.

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16663 Someone from QLD thinks vodafone is awesome at 5 Apr 2011 12:41:01 AM
Labrador, QLD.....
5% 3G..........
95% EDGE (hello, 2011!!!)
late txt.....24hrs..!!!!!!!!!!!!!!(WTF!!!!!!!!)
70% Dropped calls.........

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16527 Someone from QLD thinks vodafone is delayed sms, slow internet, shocking reception at 1 Apr 2011 08:21:24 AM
sms sometimes take hours to get through... so difficult when trying to contact children re: pick-up times. Internet speed is a joke! Reception shocking... I will NEVER use Vodafone once my overpriced contract expires.
8 Apr 2011 12:10:55 PM: pity when its an emergency text message...then what will you do?

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16522 Someone from VIC thinks vodafone is Terrible at 1 Apr 2011 07:51:04 AM
I'm a prepay customer however I recharge on both my iphone & have broadband service for my IPad and Imac. Coverage is incredibly poor at the best of times. I called Vodafone Customer Service when I could not log into internet only to be told after been on hold 30 minutes they had extended the expiry date of my broadband service. I asked when the problem would be resolved only to be told there is no ETA. I asked instead of an extension to provide a service I have paid for. Not impressed. Whether Im prepay or contract, Im paying for a service that is simply not working. Why should I have to swap to another provider simply to get coverage. I have been with vodafone for over 5 years and the past year coverage, service, delayed SMS have been consistent.

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16491 Someone from VIC thinks vodafone is 11 at 31 Mar 2011 10:44:50 PM
crap reception, delayed sms' and cannot send photos - recipients get a link - vodafone can get bent as well as crazy johns!

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16461 Someone from NSW thinks vodafone is Mostly, but not entirely at 29 Mar 2011 05:59:39 PM
Call reception is awesome, I've never dropped a call or had a late sms.

However - I can honestly say that in the 6 months i've been with voda, I have not been able to access the 3G part of the network. What is the point of having a smartphone if I can't use the internet or look at emails...?

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16344 Someone from QLD thinks vodafone is Horrible reception at 17 Mar 2011 01:53:01 PM
Constant dropped calls, missed calls and very very delayed sms (2 weeks in one case). The internet seems fine but the phone reception is terrible. I would rather stick a pin in my eye than go to Telstra but the performance of Vodafone lately has had me looking for the sewing box.

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16312 Someone from ACT thinks vodafone is Worst service provider ever! at 15 Mar 2011 05:08:39 PM
Forget delayed sms messages, my messages dont even come to me sometimes!

We were enjoying a week in Qld last week, my lovely cousin had lent me her car for ease, and had said she didn't have any issues driving me from Brisbane to the GC where we were flying back home from. Unfortunately I'm with Vodafone so nothing worked out how it shouldve. I NEVER got the message from my cousin saying I needed to be at hers by 10 for her to give me a lift to the GC airport. I never got this message. I know it was sent correctly because I could view on her Iphone it had been sent to me, and she is with an actual provider Telstra who actually provide the service they charge for.

It ended up costing us over $80 in travel fees to get to the airport, and 4 hours! This is one of a NUMBER of examples of vodafone failing to get calls and message to and from me. I have since called and requested I be able to cancel the service without fee because they are not providing the service I am paying for. After passing me around a few departments they promised someone from cancellations would call me the very next day. This has still not happened and it is over 48 hours since my conversation with them. I am sick and tired of them taking money without providing a proper service. I cant beleive I'm still stuck with them and they wont even bother calling me back. I have spread the word to everyone I know to not join vodafone and will continue to find avenues like this website until I am allowed to leave my contract without further charge.

Thanks.
15 Mar 2011 06:44:15 PM: Well I just sent a very damaging letter to the CEO of vodaphone and threatened legal action....I also included one thing they thing everyone has forgotten...when a number of complaints are present...over 16,000 on this site...which are legal complaints....it brings about the right for anyone to question whether or not Vodaphone should retain their Communications Licence....I exercised this right....in a word the licence can when suspended be picked up for $1.00.....so we will see what he does....
16 Mar 2011 11:13:04 AM: he will do nothing or just release u if u are lucky
27 Apr 2011 01:47:41 PM: He will apologise but you gotta pay your bill

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16290 Someone from WA thinks vodafone is Deplorable at 14 Mar 2011 01:27:14 PM
I too have a problem with delayed SMS. It's ridiculous trying to hold a conversation when you have to wait for FOUR HOURS in between replies. I would think that vodafail has some sort of legal obligation to deliver messages within a reasonable time frame providing both handsets are online.

I did some research and have seen numerous attempts by vodafail to defend this problem. They say that message delay occurs when there is excessive load on the message centres. THIS IS BULLSHIT. 1. I'm sure there is not excessive load on the system at 0130 in the morning (I often message during my night shift) and 2. vodafail customers shouldn't be copping the burden of vodafails incompetent network management and underfunded SMSC infrastructure. Perhaps if they spent less money on that useless bloody 'Lara' voice recognition system, which, by the way never works, they might have a bit to spare on their network of God forbid living customer service reps.

AN EPIC VODAFAIL BY ANY STANDARD

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16241 Someone from VIC thinks vodafone is delayed sms's at 10 Mar 2011 12:49:27 PM
For a 48 hour period I received no text messages and then they all came through within an - so my phone was constantly beeping. Messages from friends and colleagues that required quick responses meant that I was very embarassed and had to apologise - friends are understanding, work colleagues not as much - saying 'something is wrong with my phone' is like the modern-day equivalent of 'the dog ate my homework'. I have been a loyal Vodafone custoomer for over five years and have never had any issues (well any that weren't rectified) before now. Disgruntled.

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15714 Someone from ACT thinks vodafone is Highly FAIL at 18 Feb 2011 11:41:49 AM
constant dropped calls - delayed sms messages up to 2 days late-reception issues very very BAD

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15623 Someone from ACT thinks vodafone is total failure at 16 Feb 2011 07:57:12 AM
I would like to share my story with you all in the hope that someone else might also get to escapt this nightmare. Since October last year, my coveage has declined to almost nothing, and I have been dealing the voice mails without the phone ringing, the late SMSs, the time outs on 3G etc. But I did not realise that other people were having the same trouble.
After hearing about this site I decided to stop putting up with the lack of coverage I was experiencing. First I emailed Vodafone with full detials of all the places and times where I could not get cover (I nave no cover during the day and I am nor able to spend hours on hold on the work phone!).
I got an email back from them asking for more info and because of the way it was set up you can only really complain about one location. So I chose my work location as I am within sight of Parliament House in Canberrra but my phone is only useful as an ipod all day.
About a week later I received an SMS giving me a Ref No. and saying that my issues were being investigated.
When I had not hear within another week I then lodged a complaint with the TIO. Yesterday well within the 10 days for response, I received an SMS from Vodafone saying that I can cancel as of today and a letter will follow. I know that there is every chance that the letter will not arrive (given others' experiences) but escape now feels that much closer.
So people don't put up with this dismal excuse for a service provider. Be firm but polite, work through the process and hopefully you too will be able to get out of this VODAHOLE.

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15305 Someone from WA thinks vodafone is at 7 Feb 2011 11:01:02 AM
Poor reception...even in my own house! No reception interstate. (Melbourne) delayed sms by up to 3 days. (xmas time) Signed up for a $69 cap and am charged twice that each month. Barely use ph, as it works out at approx 1.13 per minute. Not at all what I expected. Way too frustrating. Have changed companies now.

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15156 Someone from VIC thinks vodafone is Useless in all areas at 3 Feb 2011 09:11:58 AM
I have been unable to get my account balance or usage details from the Vodafone website for the last 2 days. I have tried numerous times at different times of the day, from several different PCs. They can't seem to do anything right. I have experienced bad reception, non functional website, bad customer service, delayed SMS, people unable to leave a voicemail message for me yesterday. I'm changing to Optus as soon as my contract is up, which is very soon fortunately.

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15127 Someone from NSW thinks vodafone is beyond redemption at 2 Feb 2011 05:17:21 PM
Vodafail's delayed SMS is intentional to optimise the use of voice which create more revenue. Overseas, SMS/text is almost instantaneous and cost is dirt cheap you can even get "free 100 SMS" with minimal recharge without expiration. With today's technology, SMS which is purely digital should be quicker for digital equipment to transfer than voice. My son sent an SMS message to pick him up from the train station. After waiting for an hour assuming his message was received, he decided to come home by himself. Two hours later, I received the message now 3 hours late. A follow up SMS he sent after half an hour waiting was received next morning. Discouraging customers in using SMS brings more revenue by resorting to voice which is charged at a higher rate.

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15097 Someone from Somewhere else thinks vodafone is Slow SMS - NZ at 2 Feb 2011 09:29:18 AM
My parents in an outer Auckland suburb, NZ, have started having problems with delayed SMS, even on 2G phones.

It took all night for some banking alerts to come through.

Maybe Adam Brimo should extend this website to New Zealand (which requires the postcode boxes to be paired up with a country drop-down)?
2 Feb 2011 09:56:18 AM: Hi,

I'm sorry to hear that the vodafone problems extend beyond Australia. Have you spoken with the vodafone customer service in NZ? The network issues are a big reason why I started this site but it was also combined with the fact that we couldn't get any decent customer service. Just wondering what the extent of the issues in NZ are.

Thanks

Adam

Vodafail.com Moderation Team

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14758 Someone from SA thinks vodafone is 100% Fail at 27 Jan 2011 02:56:21 PM
So after experiencing constant dropouts, coverage fails and delayed SMS (great for when you're on call and the alerting uses sms...) I decided to call and lodge a second complaint.

Midway through my phone dropped out, the vodafone customer service rep called back, but because of the coverage dropout it went straight to voicemail. So far they are escalating to their network team, however this has been ongoing since I took up a vodafail service.

I am now looking at a second service with a different provider as I cannot use my phone reliably for work which is 100% the reason I purchased a smart phone with data.

I don't use the data service as it never works, I don't sync my email as it never works (works for all other users on non vodafone), I miss alert SMS's and have call dropouts.

Thanks Vodafone for the quality service!

Next stop will be the TIO and asking vodafone to release me from my contract.
30 Jan 2011 02:44:05 PM: i bypassed vodafone due to their pathetic service and went straight to TIO. they are now letting me out of my contact and waving the cancellation fee.

Good luck
3 Feb 2011 01:19:11 PM: Third complaint has now been lodged and am approaching the TIO today.
I have slight amount owing on the handset so will be pushing Vodafail to let me pay that and to waive the cancellation fee.

The service for the last two days has been dismal in the CBD and in the suburbs where I live.

No more patience for this.

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14595 Someone from VIC thinks vodafone is FAILED!! at 25 Jan 2011 01:08:06 PM
Every time I call Vodafone I'm put on hold... not just for a few minutes either closer to an hour and sometimes over an hour. I don't get reception at home, at work or standing in the middle of the street most of the time! I get delayed sms msgs, as well as voice mails, my calls drop out at least 4 times a week. I call vodafone at least 3 times a week and every time i get a different response. I was told that I can cancel my contract due to not being able to get reception, i was then told I couldnt get out of my contract without paying.Everytime Vodafone has to call me back... I NEVER have reception to take the call, it just goes straight to my voicemail! PATHETIC COMPANY!
16 Feb 2011 02:37:54 AM: Exactly what i was told! Their customer service reps give you al different stories! A woman told me I could upgrade to another phone in an effect to bypass all the problems I've been having and see how that works. She said there would be no extra charge, that my contract would just be sligtly changed to just lapse over and extend longer. The minute I get through to the upgrade department they start telling me I have seven months left so I need to pay $260 to get out and then start another contract. They then thought the offer they made me of getting me to pay $200 for only six months to get out was the greatest offer ever!!! I've been over-paying for months now, and you really think I want to pay more!!! Not to mention the fact you told me I could just extend my contract with no extra fees at the beginning. GET YOUR FACTS STRAIGHT BETWEEN ALL CUSTOMER SERVICE OPERATORS THANKYOU!

Absolutely ridiculous!

I'll be getting out of my contract courtesy of TIO very soon!

Vodafone is just bad service, poor or no network coverage at all and a billion other issues right now!!!

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14522 Someone from WA thinks vodafone is delayed SMS at 24 Jan 2011 10:20:31 PM
1. Sent SMS and only got delivered like few hours later.
2. Timestamp of received sms is based on Eastern state.

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14515 Someone from NSW thinks vodafone is BAD, BAD, BAD.... at 24 Jan 2011 08:46:06 PM
both my partner and I are vodafail customers and we are counting the days for when our contracts are unincumbered. We have and still do put up with pretty much every topic on this website. Delayed SMS and just fails to send, drop outs at approximately 10 each per day and one of the most frustrating when you work for yourself....delayed voicemail (some by several days). Never good for business followups. Very happy there is a website built for venting. Vodafone is akin to the same service provided by the old analogue 018 numbers (if anyone can remember that long ago!) Pathetic and so 1990's!
25 Jan 2011 11:16:52 AM: I still think the analogue service was much better!!
26 Jan 2011 09:27:32 PM: think we were better off without mobile phones.

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14313 Someone from VIC thinks vodafone is Very Bad at 23 Jan 2011 02:25:00 PM
Very poor reception and dropped calls all the time and delayed sms.
23 Jan 2011 02:59:53 PM: Have you tried to contact Vodafone???

Check out the 'How To Complain' link at the top of the page. You will no doubt have to escalate to the TIO, but they should be able to assist you out of your contract penalty free.

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14311 Someone from QLD thinks vodafone is at 23 Jan 2011 02:21:55 PM
For the past 4 days I have been getting delayed SMS messages and Calls going straight to minder without calling at all.

This is seriously frustrating and bad for business
23 Jan 2011 03:05:38 PM: Agree, not good enough!!

Check out the 'How To Complain' link at the top of the page. You will no doubt have to escalate to the TIO, but they should be able to assist you out of your contract penalty free.

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14287 Someone from ACT thinks vodafone is MEGA at 23 Jan 2011 09:39:43 AM
Originally lived in brisbane, joined vodafone 5years ago. No reception issues however furthest I ever went was sunshine/gold coasts.

Moved to Wagga Wagga for work for 24months where reception was rather pathetic unless I was in the town centre. Since moving back to my wife, in the ACT (12months ago) had similar problems of dropouts, no connections, delayed sms and overall rudeness from the call centre when I queried them about a bill issue.

For these issues to be in the aust capital city..... rather amusing i thought.

However chose to continue using but drop my cap from $99 to a lower one. Spoke to a hard to understand however extremely polite call centre girl. She informed me it was policy that you had to exit the contract, costing around $800 and they would be happy to start me on a new 24month contract. After 'enquiring' with her supervisor, this fee would not be waved for any reason. This was explained to me when i signed the contract....apparently.... i wouldnt have signed if they told me this policy.

All this after my wifes carrier (optus) charged her an admin fee of $33.95 and gladly changed it down with NO extension to time in contract. They did this INSTORE aswell.

Subsequentally I laughed it off, cancelled my contract and am now an optus customer.... Only fault there was choosing the samsung 'tradie phone'.... more fragile than a house of cards but anyway.
23 Jan 2011 09:51:30 AM: PART 2. Didnt cancel my contract on the spot, chose to think about it first.

to cancel my contract I went into vodafone Belconnen, young sales rep sat me down and asked why, told him and he was more than happy to cancel it for me.
Something was wrong with his system and he couldnt do it online, had to ring customer care..... yippee.... Got a rude man that either couldnt comprehend english or wasnt interested in anything other than SALE SALE SALE!!!. REFUSED to acknowledge my cancellation request, issues, resolutions. Further continual offers of different caps for me to sign onto. after 15mins of keeping my cool, I became quite angry and due to what i said, I cited what my griefs were very abruptly and in hindsight quite rudely. I probably cost vodafone the 6 or so customers looking at signing up. LUCKY FOR THEM.

The sales rep took the phone off me after realising we were just going around in circles and he instructed him to cancel my cap immediatelly, after 5-10mins of arguing with him my cap was finally cancelled, alot of apologies came from him, it wasnt his fault though. I do rate the service of the sales rep and the original call centre ladie, however their hands were tied to solve my issue so their employer hindered their customer service ability.... I learnt from my mistakes, no amount of 'research and investment' vodafone make will get me to return.

p.s sorry for the novel.

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14251 Someone from QLD thinks vodafone is No coverage, Dropouts. Delayed SMS. at 23 Jan 2011 07:08:15 AM
(Quoting 14244 Someone from NSW)- Having Same issues...

Me & my wife's mobile coverage, particularly in our home is terrible.
I can rarely have a conversation on the mobile as I cannot hear anything & eventually the line drops out.
Then I have the expense of calling the person back on my land line.

Incoming calls rarely come through & generally go straight to voicemail where thereafter I have the expense of calling my voicemail & then the expense of calling the person back on a land line.

I can receive SMS messages hours after the person has sent them, Similarly when I send SMS messages.

This level of service (or lack of) has been going on for months & I cannot continue like this.

We are now seriously looking at other providers

I live in Beerwah on the Sunshine Coast (4519), Approx 20kms from Maroochydore's CBD.
23 Jan 2011 07:09:13 AM: Check out the 'How To Complain' link at the top of the page. You will no doubt have to escalate to the TIO, but they should be able to assist you out of your contract penalty free.

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14243 Someone from NSW thinks vodafone is Fail at 23 Jan 2011 05:39:50 AM
Phone calls drop out
Delayed SMS
Poor website- could not update my details through their website
Lara is very annoying
When I tried to upgrade my phone (ie spend more money), Vodafone staff had no idea.
I use my phone for business, I am self employed.

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14166 Someone from NSW thinks vodafone is Worst at 22 Jan 2011 01:01:00 PM
Dropped out phone call and delayed SMS
I live on Fairfield East

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14019 Someone from QLD thinks vodafone is delayed SMS & poor coverage at 21 Jan 2011 06:43:16 PM
Maleny Q. 4552 - occasional delay in message delivery in & out.
Patchy reception even when line of sight with tower (N97 mini worse than N95 8G so partly handset issue). Complaint about reception on South side of town more or less brushed off by foreign call centre operator - need records & so on before investigation by tech. Seems to be a volume issue as well as signal - if the tower is busy there is no reception. I am buying a passive induction cradle & 12dB antenna kit to try improving reception at home & parents place

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13929 Someone from SA thinks vodafone is Most of the time at 21 Jan 2011 02:44:19 PM
I have been a customer since their inception. Unfortunately I have been experiencing more frequently in the last 6 months to a year, increase in drop outs, even with four or five bars of signal. Delayed sms, sometimes days and also delayed voice mails with no record of the person actually calling, only finding out when I receive their voice message 4 to 5 days later, great when you are expecting job offer calls! I have also suffered at the hands of their support team trying to contact them is not much fun when they keep you on hold for 45mis to an hour then transfer you to someone else, if you are lucky, and then have to re-explain everything again or they cut you off instead.
24 Jan 2011 01:49:07 AM: But when the cousins of those f**kers calls in the middle of getting dinner or something, no way in the world you can get rid of them. They even call you back if you hang up on them!

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13747 Someone from NSW thinks vodafone is Very bad at 21 Jan 2011 10:47:12 AM
Delayed Sms, voicemail and regular dropped calls. Today I had a phone interview for a job and the call dropped out, they were not able to call back!!

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13680 Someone from NSW thinks vodafone is Billing at 21 Jan 2011 10:05:20 AM
Hi,
My main issue with Vodafone is the difficulty I had trying to set up direct debit facilities to pay my bills automatically. I advised Vodafone of my credit card details and was assured that direct debit had been set up on my account. Approx 2 months later I noticed that I had not been billed. I rang up Vodafone again and again gave them my credit card details. They assured me that on the next billing date my credit card would be charged for the 'overdue' amount and the next bill.

Next month I experienced the same problem. Vodafone did not bill me the outstanding amount nor the current bill. I again rang Vodafone to again give them my credit card details.

Next month I had the same problem, except the way I learnt about it was because Vodafone had disabled my account - due to non-payment.

I again rang Vodafone (please not that EACH time I rang Vodafone I was on hold for an average of 30 mins)and complained. After much back and forth with an extremely unhelpful foreign call centre operator (I do not blame them, they are the frontline to Vodafone's issues and don't deserve the anger they receive). In the end they gave me a $50 credit on my account and assured me that they reversed all 'late payment' fees - I had been charged 1 per month.

The next month I get a rather nasty automated sms from Vodafone telling me that my account wasn't paid and to please pay it or my account would be disabled. I range them back (another long wait on hold) and paid my bill over the phone. At the same time I decided to remove my credit card details from my account and I would pay my bills manually from now on.

I got online some time after this to check and see if my credit card details had been removed from my account. They had not.

For the next 3 months I went to their website and manually removed my credit card details. None of these attempts worked. Finally (last month) I rang them again (another long wait on hold) and had the call centre operator remove my credit card details. They have now been removed.

At the same time I told them that I had had enough of Vodafone and told them that I wanted to break my contract and move to another provider. They told me that they could arrange that for me, however I would be charged an early cancellation fee. I decided to stay as my contract expires on 24 April 2011.

My other issues with Vodafone are the same as those I hear in the media. I have poor coverage, even in my home and I live 5km from Sydney City, delayed SMS's and call drop outs.

I am completely over Vodafone and will NEVER sign up with them again.

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13679 Someone from NSW thinks vodafone is terrible at 21 Jan 2011 10:04:55 AM
poor coverage and slow data for months, delayed voicemail and delayed sms (this caused me lotgs of heaqdaches for my work)services limited even though bill paid and still limited, cant log on to website anymore. not going to be bother ringing customer service. As soon as my contract is over in a few months I am outta there and NEVER to be back again. Best way to complain.

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13559 Someone from VIC thinks vodafone is Delayed SMS at 21 Jan 2011 09:04:00 AM
I got an SMS this morning that was sent to me 48 hours ago. It was supposed to arrive before a job interview I had 2 days ago! Thanks Vodafone.

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13464 Someone from NSW thinks vodafone is CRAPTASTIC! at 21 Jan 2011 08:29:02 AM
Im on pre-paid so i count myself as one of the lucky ones

Constant call drop outs, delayed sms's (once by 24hrs! almost cost me my girlfriend), very poor reception. you all know the rest

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13444 Someone from NSW thinks vodafone is Lack of Coverage and Dropoutsand Late Messages at 21 Jan 2011 08:19:57 AM
Both my wife and myself have Vodafail unlimited mobile accounts and are sick of late sms messages,Voice messages arriving days after they are left for us then you have to eat humble pie when you call back the person who left the message for you. This service has cost myself clientel and is unexceptable.When we finally got through to the service area and spoke to human not LARA the robot run around girl we were told what it would cost to leave Vodafail to which i asked is that dolars or Indian Rubles. Fix your problems Vodafoe or release people with realistic termination fees.

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13440 Someone from NSW thinks vodafone is Vodafone=fail at 21 Jan 2011 08:18:39 AM
We had prepaid with Vodafone, and over the last 6 months period suffered poor reception, network dropouts and delayed SMS messages. Tried replacing the SIM, and the phone without success. Finally changed network provider and have been pain-free ever since.
I would not recommend Vodafone to anyone.

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13363 Someone from ACT thinks vodafone is Delayed SMS Message at 21 Jan 2011 07:52:56 AM
I often have delayed SMS messages that I send to firends, particulary if I send the message group text messages. Sometimes the dealy is upto 12 from when the message is sent. There are also occiasions when I do not recieve text messages at all from fiends. It is in their history of being sent nut i never receive the messages

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13327 Someone from NSW thinks vodafone is Delayed SMS messages at 21 Jan 2011 07:38:38 AM
Weekly I will send texts to people who won't receive them until two days or so later. Pain in the ass if you are organising anything.

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13311 Someone from QLD thinks vodafone is Fed up at 21 Jan 2011 07:33:16 AM
Been using Vodafone for about 9 years I moved from Brisbane to just outside Toowoomba thought it was just my old phone because it was pre 3G bought a new phone last year on contract it has all bells and whistles ,still had problems so then thought it may just be because of where I lived but others on different networks had reception. I called vodafone a few months ago and was put on hold for ages as well. I complained about the constant drop outs and delayed SMS messages that remain in the outbox and are not sent unless I physically resend. Reception can be shocking, no service it comes and goes all the time. I make 1 call and then the network is unavailable. Its crazy. You call and you can't even talk to an Aussie. They told me the same as they have been telling everyone else. It was my phone. There is nothing wrong with my phone. I used to be proud of being with vodafone and now I am embarrassed. I have not bothered to call back because what is the point they don't give a damn about their customers anymore.

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13309 Someone from NSW thinks vodafone is dropped calls, delayed sms, reception issues and poor customer service at 21 Jan 2011 07:32:28 AM
Disgruntled 9 year verten of Vodafail! (mind you only the last say... 2 years has been terrible)
*my sms's are delayed just yesterday one was delayed 6 hours, NOT cool
*A bucket load of "call failed" at least 10 a day!, NOT cool
*Consistently getting bull*#@! reception, NOT cool
*And dont even start me with the customer service. OMG after on average 30 minutes on hold everytime i get someone who not only cannot speak english very well, they dont understand me and its obvious they are not in the great land down under due to the silence when they are not talking, crackly sounds and massive delays when they are talking! I tried the 'go to the bloody store and talk to someone there' tactic and wow they apparently cannot help you at all ... out of the 7 different stores i have been to all but one told me to " call 1555 customer service" the other one asked if i'd like to know i could get out of my contract and in his words 'sign up to a better provider".... hmm EPIC VODAFAIL!
21 Jan 2011 07:36:53 AM: oops veteran*

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13260 Someone from SA thinks vodafone is FAILURE FAILURE FAILURE at 21 Jan 2011 07:21:49 AM
Where do I start: Signed up Aug 09 with a Blackberry 9500

Firstly moving to Adelaide city about 1 1/2 years ago, then moving only 20 minutes away from the city to the hills, I only get one bar and majority of the time SOS coverage. I have missed so many phone calls, had so many drop outs in conversations, delayed sms's, internet is not possible. Its ridiculous.

Secondly - back in October 10, I woke up with my phone screen 'App Err 523' and it didn't do anything. Went to the vodafone shop who told me that they will send it away for repairs and provide me a loan phone in the interim. The loan phone was not charged and was given a wall charger only, thus I had to go a day without a phone, as I was on the road driving. A week later I received an sms that my phone had come back. Went to the store to pick it up. It was a brand new phone. I questioned where my phone was, they had no answer. There was no note, no details, no information what had happened to my original phone. I still had important information left on my original phone - which was now gone. My new phone returned to me - had barely enough battery power and when I wanted to send an sms, it would open the internet. When I wanted to make a call, I couldn't dial any of the numbers correctly. When I pressed 0, it would press 3. I returned back to the store. They couldn't fix my phone and said 'we will send this away for repairs'. Another loan phone, another week later. The same new phone returned. This time they gave it to me with no battery power. This 'new' phone would not lock, I couldn't scroll on the screen and I was having the same problems as before. I decided to go into another vodafone store, with all my repair paperwork, they said 'we will have to send this away for repair's'. I said not again - this is the third time. I cant do this anymore. I cant use this phone to it's full capacity and same with the loan phones. I said I believe I shouldn't have to pay for my account this month. I want to cancel my account and I want to speak to a supervisor. She wasn't available and I was yet left with ANOTHER loan phone. A few days later, I received an sms to pick up my phone, yet again. They were unable to cancel my contract as it was still up until August 2011. In regards to my account I had to call a number. She then proceeded to open a brand new Blackberry 9500 box and give me another brand new mobile. They had no answers for me in regards to the previous phone.
I called the number for my account - 6 times. Lara is pathetic and I was on hold too long. I gave up. I still ended up paying my full amount. I was mentally tired by the end of this whole saga which ended up being the whole month of October 09. The amount of time I had wasted, still gets to me.

Thirdly - their set up in there stores is pathetic when you go in there for questions. You wait for a long time, there is hardly enough staff in the stores around Adelaide I have attended. And you stand where ever you can get a spot and risk having other customers who don't take notice of others who had been waiting, pushing in. It's poor service full stop.

Bring on Aug 11 - I cant wait till the end of my 2 year contract, I never will go with Vodafone again and I will be recommending to anyone who will listen - STAY AWAY FROM VODAFONE.
21 Jan 2011 08:23:48 AM: Dude, call the TIO immediately. Theres a pretty good chance they'll override vodafone and get you out of your contract early... I had a similar problem to you with the blackberry,only they gave me secondhand reconditioned replacements instead of brand new ones.

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13170 Someone from QLD thinks vodafone is Really bad at 21 Jan 2011 06:26:19 AM
New customer on 24 month contract. Continual dropped calls. Having to stand in certain spots in the house to make or receive a call so I can actually hear the person. And the worst of all, delayed SMS messages that remain in the outbox and are not sent unless I physically resend. Reception can be shocking, can hardly hear what is being said so I am required to use loudspeaker. Thanks for this website.

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13157 Someone from NSW thinks vodafone is pathetic at 21 Jan 2011 06:11:06 AM
havent been able to send or receive MMS for months, delayed sms, call drop outs. no service. just fed up with it. 55 minutes waiting to talk to customer service who after three return calls over 5 days still couldnt fix the problem.
Even the company I work work for are now getting out of their contract with Vodafone. my personal contract expires in one month. cant wait for that.
NEVER AGAIN VODAFDONE. This is appalling service. They have clearley failed to deliver their end of the contract.

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13134 Someone from NSW thinks vodafone is Ordinary at best at 21 Jan 2011 05:49:14 AM
Lots of black spots where I get no reception, including the beach (a big wide open space right next to the Newcastle CBD). Delayed SMS and voicemail, up to a day. Very slow data speeds in most areas, I usually don't bother. Haven't had many calls dropped, but quite often I can't understand the user on the other end and vice versa. Hate calling customer service, they don't seem to give a rats. Can't wait to leave if I can't get out of my contract before it ends. I've complained through the facebook page as I'm not wasting MY time on hold for over an hour, I've had a response and am now waiting for more info. I don't know what they'll suggest next but I only have one option for me, I want out!!!
21 Jan 2011 06:08:14 AM: I feel your pain, how can any of the beaches around Newcastle have no service, I even have no service at Charlestown Square, how is that possible???? Feel the same as you, cant wait for my ordeal with vodafone to finish so I can leave them in my past!
21 Jan 2011 06:34:37 AM: Ring the TIO (1800 062 058) & lodge a complaint with them ~ thats what i did. I lodged a complaint with the TIO on Monday 17/01 & received a text from the vodafone resolutions team on Wednesday 19/01 informing me that "i have been released from my contract & i could port my number out from 19/01, also there is a letter with full details to follow." Good Luck

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13126 Someone from QLD thinks vodafone is very fail at 21 Jan 2011 05:43:09 AM
Continuous drop outs, NO reception and delayed sms up to 12 hrs later is an absolute disgrace. I have had enough of these daily problems!

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13095 Someone from VIC thinks vodafone is at 21 Jan 2011 04:46:00 AM
I have a nokia e63. I am averaging 4 call dropouts per week, delayed sms and mms. Internet tends to run real slow at times and sometimes i cannot get onto the internet. I have also found that when the phone has full coverage at times and try to make a call it keeps saying connection error. Also when others try to ring the phone has full coverage but does not ring but goes to messagebank. I have to switch the phone off and on.
21 Jan 2011 05:46:26 AM: Sounds to me like the mobile tower in your area is conjested your mobile can get the signal but there is no capacity in the system to make or receive a call.

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12917 Someone from NSW thinks vodafone is at 18 Jan 2011 01:25:48 PM
I was blaming the regular dropouts and delayed sms's on my old Nokia and was patiently waiting for my 2 yr contract to end to upgrade.
I've been to my local Vodafone store. The guy was pleasant but claimed any existing reception problems have been sorted and showed me phones I could upgrade to when the time came.
I'm in business and have spoken with clients (before all the issues came to light) who independently complained of their dropout experiences so now I know I'm not alone. Most disappointing as I've been very happy with Vodafone and have been a loyal customer for year. Not as from next month though...

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12848 Someone from NSW thinks vodafone is Atrocious failure at 17 Jan 2011 03:56:54 PM
Dropped calls as a vodaFAIL customer, delayed SMS which arrives a few days later after sending, Reception issues in CBD, long waiting hours to get to an operator, you name all the faults that can happen to a telecomms provider.. VodaFail has it all in one company...

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12843 Someone from VIC thinks vodafone is Its so hard to get in contact with anyone at 17 Jan 2011 03:17:23 PM
Ok so me and my partner are both with Vodafone ATM and we both have problems with out recption, delayed sms's, voicemails coming in like 30 min or more after they were left via person trying to contact us, problems with loading internet pages and over estimated bills, where do i stop.
My biggest concern is im 38 weeks pregnant and if i go into labour and cant get in contact with my parnter let alone anyone else (we dont use a house phone) well im kinda stuck arnt I. Not one bit happy with the service.

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12550 Someone from WA thinks vodafone is at 13 Jan 2011 10:54:35 PM
Call drop-out and missed sms messages

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12534 Someone from NSW thinks vodafone is fail even in 2G at 13 Jan 2011 08:42:16 PM
i have GSM phone and have many many delayed sms. Had to start tracking delivery just to see if contacts had recieved. Reciept has been up to 3 days late

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12467 Someone from NSW thinks vodafone is bad at 13 Jan 2011 01:01:54 PM
I am a doctor and need to be connected to the mobile for providing on call services to critical patients . I also need to be in touch with my fellow clinicans . I find it difficult to get reception at the John Hunter Hospital , Mater Hospital and Maitland Hospital.
I get late SMS messages too. I hope this website allows Vodafone to look into the matter and help us.

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12335 Someone from QLD thinks vodafone is very fail at 12 Jan 2011 05:31:02 PM
no reception, dropped calls, delayed sms, delayed voicemail

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12286 Someone from NSW thinks vodafone is BIG FAIL at 12 Jan 2011 03:02:41 PM
Calls dropping out, delayed txt msg's. Constantly having to make 2 to 3 calls before both parties can hear each other. My contract finishes in march & it will be goodbye Vodafone.

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11933 Someone from NSW thinks vodafone is ridiculously so at 11 Jan 2011 09:09:33 AM

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11850 Someone from QLD thinks vodafone is Delayed TXT and Voice Mail at 10 Jan 2011 08:12:01 PM
I frequently receive TXT and Voice Mails hours and sometimes days after they have been sent or left.

Completely unacceptable.

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11837 Someone from WA thinks vodafone is delayed sms at 10 Jan 2011 07:35:20 PM
arrrrgh, getting so sick of the delayed sms's!! and the most annoying part is i can simply just make a phone call or send another text to prompt them to come through.. seems kind of stupid to me! shouldn't they just automatically come through :(
10 Jan 2011 11:33:04 PM: The symptoms you describe are common and relate to the phone handset and the network failing to maintain contact with each other. Your handset generally stays in contact with multiple cells and they cells track your phone so they know the best cell to route your calls/sms/data through. It would seem that your reception is so poor that the network loses track of you and doesn't know where to route the traffic until you make a call and tell the network where you are. When you hang up the backlog of undelivered email and SMS are delivered.
In my technical opinion this is clearly related to poor coverage and poor network management.
11 Jan 2011 05:53:39 PM: either way all these problems are because vodafone's nextwork sucks! go with optus or telstra. i just changed to optus and i'm never looking back. GOODBYE VODAFAIL!

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11494 Someone from SA thinks vodafone is at 9 Jan 2011 06:34:53 PM
Reception issues. Calls drop out continually. Delayed SMS messages.

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11119 Someone from QLD thinks vodafone is Disgraceful at 7 Jan 2011 04:13:24 PM
I am (was) a very long term Vodafone Customer who up until approximately 12 months ago was reasonably content with their service. I accepted poor coverage in regional areas and was constantly assured every time I took out another contract that 'the network was undergoing upgrades and would continue to improve'. It has since got progressively worse and is now completely unreliable and for the most part, unusable.
Living near the Brisbane CBD I now suffer continuous dropped calls, 1 bar of 3G (if I'm lucky), sporadic and poor data downloads, late SMS or voicemails, poor battery life due to continual network searching and an Iphone that works wonderfully as an Ipod and media device. It certainly doesn't run up a huge phone bill as it is spectacularly useless as a phone.
I also have a 3G mobile broadband USB device that has failed to work at all in terms of receiving my supposed 3Gig of free data per month. After numerous complaints and the standard 'technical investigations' Vodafone agreed to reduce my account by $10 per month after it admitted I lived in a poor reception area (7 kms from the CBD on a hill????).
So now I have a 3G USB device that serves nicely as a paperweight and an Iphone that I can listen to music on.
I now have to rely on a Telstra prepaid (a common theme from others on your website) to make calls. My constant complaints to Vodafone in relation to my phone reception was constantly met with the advice 'Switch your phone to 2G'.
If I wanted a 2G phone I would have damn well bought one. I paid for a 3G service and I don't have it. However their complaints system is so poor, wait times are so long, and requests are met with vague and generic 'investigations' or 'transfers to another team' that their expertise in bureacracy and spin rivals that of 'Yes Minister'or a team of spin doctors on Red Bull.
I contacted Vodafone last night (3 separate calls with an average 40 minute wait time) and advised I was cancelling my service. I was offered the same...wait for it...'technical investigation' (read stalling tactic)and advised I would have to pay the rest of my 18 months of payments (nearly $1200) to be released.
I am now working in direct support of the Queensland Floods in a senior planning position and my phone is critical to my work. I now have the phone switched off and transferred to another phone in order to ensure I am contactable.
I intend to pay the full amount as I am sick to death of dealing with customer service and their mythical 'technical investigations' (you don't need to be a communications engineer to determine that the network simply can't cope with so many smartphones competing for bandwidth)and leave in absolute disgust. Evidence will suggest that a bad customer experience generally results in advising at least ten of your friends of your experience. I intend to tell as many as I can to steer clear of this network as it continues to offer cheap deals and handsets with minimal or no reception.
I have contacted Australia's largest Telco who are very happy to match Vodafones price and guarantee the quality of their network. They also offered an incentive to transfer (they must be doing a roaring trade) and expressed they are dealing with many Vodafone customers who have given up in sheer frustration.
I am now nearly $1200 out of pocket and disgruntled with exceptionally poor serice and coverage. Quite simply I have had enough and will never go back to Vodafone.
I sincerely hope many others are released from their contracts, I have chosen to give up rather than spend my valuable time battling a huge corporation.
Incidentally I am more than happy for anyone from Vodafone to assess the veracity of my complaints and view for themselves the poor state of reception in and around Brisbane (not forgetting the national highway system, regional areas, inside buildings and in full view of Vodafone towers). I doubt however, that they will and fully expect the customer service offer of a 'callback; in 24 to 48 hrs (again a familiar theme on your website)will fail to eventuate, as will my 3G reception.

11 Nov 2011 06:57:27 PM: I had the very same problem and i went to the tio and i ported my number to telstra and i even ported my iPad number from optus to telstra the iPad number was a usb modem number and now i got rid of the optus modem and desposed it into a mobile phone recicabale bin but i would like to see how the vodafone 850 mhz band works and i can get the vodafone 850 mhz in my area but i can't get 2.1 ghz umts 3g on vodafone or optus at leased they are upgrading there towers to 850 mhz and 900 mhz and lte 1.8 ghz and lte is alot more robust then 3g umts 2.1 ghz

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10709 Someone from SA thinks vodafone is Very Very Poor at 5 Jan 2011 05:02:18 PM
Late SMS & MMS, MMS not sending thru, Facebook not loading up in full 3G coverage areas. No coverage when I am so called in a "good" coverage area! Calls always drop out, I dont even get calls and then I get Voicemails from calls I have apparently misses when the iPhone hasnt rang. Vodaf0ne needs to get there act together!!! Worst company ever, Will be going back to Telstra.
5 Jan 2011 06:26:53 PM: Please enter your postcode on the Your Coverage tab above, the more data we have the more information/evidence we can provide. Then take your case to the TIO found in the How To Complain tab. Good luck and let us know how you get on!!!!

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10636 Someone from VIC thinks vodafone is Very UG! at 5 Jan 2011 02:02:10 PM
- Recieving late SMS
- Reception is very poor. Sometimes I get no reception for a whole day.

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10511 Someone from NSW thinks vodafone is so 90's at 5 Jan 2011 10:23:47 AM
dropped calls, delayed sms, poor reception, mysterious voicemails days later with no explanation. it's like using a mobile phone in 1995. Oh, and I HATE Lara.

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10333 Someone from WA thinks vodafone is Not at 4 Jan 2011 02:22:23 PM
Changed from 3 to Vodafone a month ago so as to get an iphone 4 and have had absolutely no problems at all it has been fantastic. No dropped calls, no missed txt msgs, excellent reception and download speeds, immediate reply from txts sent locally and to family in Europe and the UAE. Spoke to the customer service section once as the guy at the store entered my email address incorrectly in my account details and they were friendly, helpful and efficient. Seems very strange after reading all the problems others seem to be having. Feeling quite put out that my experience has been excellent!
11 Jan 2011 02:17:28 PM: Give it some time...

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10331 Someone from ACT thinks vodafone is 1/10 at 4 Jan 2011 02:15:55 PM
HD DESIRE - 65 unlimited plan.

Vodaphone discovered a new way to limit my unlimited plan - give crap coverage, call dropouts, delayed voicemail, delayed sms, patchy internet speeds.

My bars go from 3 down to 2 down to 1 and then no service - wihtout changing postion in a matter of 4 seconds - WTF.

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10268 Someone from NSW thinks vodafone is can't believe they are a phone provider at 4 Jan 2011 11:02:33 AM
I like everyone else is having the "drop out,poor reception,delayed txt & no Internet".
I have had a problem getting through to customer service....why? because me phone call drops out.oh the irony.
don't bother trying to make sense of the staff locatedin India.they have no idea what is going on. don't expect them to admit to their network having problems.the down-low on it.all of this has stemmed from a programming code that wasn't done correctly the first place.
don't expect it to be fixed anytime soon either.
essentially,either get your account credited or get out of your contract.
if you don't get anywhere go to the telecommunications ombudsman.
vodafone should be harshley reprimanded for the so called "service" they provide.
WHAT A JOKE VODAFONE!!!!!
4 Jan 2011 11:08:11 AM: Check out the 'How To Complain' tab at the top of the page, take it to the TIO, let us know how you get on!!

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9866 Someone from ACT thinks vodafone is Telstra was worse this time at 2 Jan 2011 06:16:38 AM
Several weeks ago when we had all the rain and storms here in Canberra, it meant my Iinet connection got cut and TELSTRA had to fix the line, a week went by waiting for this to be done by them, then they confirmed that it was fixed via TXT, but it wasn't! After ringing again to point this out they sent out techs to my house, it was discovered that TELSTRA had got lines mixed up and connected me to someone else, and someone else to me, nothing worked cause none of it would sync, another 2 weeks went by and finally it was fixed!

In this entire time I used my Vodafone phone to tether, managed to use up 2gb which is the most I've used on my phone account so far! OoooH Yeaaah!

In this case voda-fail was truly a voda-fix for Telstras' woeful fix! And my Vodafone works fine only had a few issues here and there, had a few delayed txt on NYE but i though that always happened, used to with my OPTUS prepay, and i never thought anything really of it just would except the fact that surely the network would be congested.
2 Jan 2011 06:33:03 AM: Fawlty Towers- Basil was shocked when he came accross his first and only satisfied customer. Didnt know what to do, didnt he want to stuff the customer and mount on the wall?
2 Jan 2011 08:23:09 AM: Have vodafone mounted you yet?
2 Jan 2011 11:18:18 AM: A REAL SATISFIED CUSTOMER???

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9132 Someone from NSW thinks vodafone is delayed SMS delivery at 30 Dec 2010 02:19:34 PM
A few weeks ago I SMS my colleague at about 9pm. The next morning he asked me why I SMS at about 3am midnight. It was then I realised that the delivery was delayed so much. Lucky it was my colleague. Imagine if it was a customer I would be very embarrassed and could lose my business.

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9076 Someone from ACT thinks vodafone is disappointing service at 30 Dec 2010 12:44:09 PM
Delayed SMS messages are my biggest issue along with poor coverage in NSW when I travel

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8910 Someone from NSW thinks vodafone is EPIC FAIL at 30 Dec 2010 08:19:38 AM
I have been a pre-paid customer for many years. Up until about 3 months ago, i was happy. But now i face delayed txt and voice messages, poor signal, drop-outs and everytime i try and talk to customer service, i am placed on hold on passed from 1 department to another for hours. I am on a infinate contract now, but still being charged wrong, and they cannot tell me why. VERY DISAPPOINTED

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8831 Someone from VIC thinks vodafone is MASSIVE at 30 Dec 2010 02:48:10 AM
Just like everyone else I get the regular call drop-outs, distorted/chopped up calls and late SMSs. Damn annoying.
But what has COMPLETELY undermined my confidence in Vodafail in the last few months is the BILLING BUGS on MyVodafone.com.au. If Vodafail cant correctly calculate my simple mobile bill, how the hell can I trust them. Its not rocket science!
- "Recent Bills" page and the "Account Summary" often display different amounts owing. Sometimes I get a different amount again when I click "Pay My Bill".
- The Account Summary tells me I owe money for a bill that hasnt been produced yet (its not available online and calls for that period still appear as "Unbilled" category in "Usage Details")
- Vodafail seem to have changed my billing period without notification, and call details downloaded from the "Usage Details" tab no longer align with the billing period. Downloading call details is important for business/tax claims, so this is damn annoying.
- Vodafail wouldnt accept my credit card on the month of its expiry date. Cards expired at the END of the expiry month imbeciles. Of course I just didnt pay the bill.
- MyVodafail website is useless. Slow and bug ridden at best, unusable normally. Once I complained and the girls response was "set up a direct debit rather than paying online". As if I would give those idiots access to my bank account.
30 Dec 2010 02:59:52 AM: BTW..forgot to add. Seems like MyVodafail works better in IE than Firefox. Just an observation not a scientifically rigourous analysis!

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8751 Someone from QLD thinks vodafone is at 29 Dec 2010 08:24:55 PM
I have had it all. From dropouts to crossed lines to network busy messages, delayed SMS messages by up to two days and no service in an area that is normally fine. I gave up trying to ring the help line as I don't have time to sit on hold or go around in circles issuing voice commands, sit in a ques for 40 mins then get disconnected and have to go through it all again only to hear we are addressing it? Get it together vodafone. I have been a loyal user for a lot of years with 9 numbers with your company. You have been getting your fair share of income from me, it's time I got my fair share of service.

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8463 Someone from NSW thinks vodafone is Very at 29 Dec 2010 02:01:01 PM
Delay in receiving voice mail to my iphone has resulted in issues at work as I use the phone for business purposes. Sometimes voicemail can take two days, at other times 2-3 hours, sometimes I never get them. My calls drop out and sms can take several hours before they are received. My family are all with vodafone, two kids on pre-paids and 2 x adults on contract. We have all had problems with delayed sms & "No Service" As soon as the contracts are up, we are leaving vodafone.