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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12617 Someone from SA thinks vodafone is 3G fail at 14 Jan 2011 12:51:13 PM
No 3G coverage of any sort within my own home for over an hour. This is a common occurrence and when there is coverage it is slow and un usable.

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12610 Someone from SA thinks vodafone is HUGE at 14 Jan 2011 12:09:04 PM
Spent 2 weeks in Prospect SA - 10 mins from the city centre not like it was rural or anything. I had no 3G service the whole time - NADA! In certain parts of Adelaide it was fine but not in Prospect. Talk about frustrating! And there is no point even calling about this. The whole "process" of calling them makes me want to jump off a bridge!! FAIL
15 Jan 2011 01:08:49 AM: I hope interstate people realise how close to the CBD Prospect and Torrensville are.

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12602 Someone from SA thinks vodafone is Useless at 14 Jan 2011 11:14:52 AM
I'm trying to work remotely from home as I'm now working from interstate. I have had to log back in over a dozen times due to constant disconnecting and it's only lunch time. I'm within 4kms of the Adelaide CBD. Vodafone you are a joke!
I'm going to another provider today..
14 Jan 2011 11:27:19 AM: People have reported that the reception is still intermittent in adelaide. Seriously bad.

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12597 Someone from SA thinks vodafone is Hate the Lara!! at 14 Jan 2011 10:36:18 AM
How many different numbers does one need to call, and how many times do the menu options need to change?! The flexi cap etc is somewhat 'confusing'and limmits your choices as to what you need. I made the choice to bail from Voda as soon as the company became headlines on the news. Vodaphone need to sack themselves for breaching all of the privacy Acts!
2 Feb 2011 11:02:33 PM: Sometimes change is for the better. What is 'confusing' about the flexi cap may I ask. Much of the Privacy Act 'breach' was actually incorrectly stated by the media. The actual issue was a staff member giving out a system password, not a product of hacking. The media were incorrect as credit card details were not available and the system could not be accessed from the general internet, only in store's with the program.

The systems were then changed to an incredibly high amount of privacy almost immediately. What more do you want? Telstra run on the EXACT same system so the exact same thing could have happened to them if their staff went around givign out passwords.

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12593 Someone from SA thinks vodafone is More fail than the Australian cricket team (at the moment anyway) at 14 Jan 2011 10:22:08 AM
I live 5 kms outside the Adelaide CBD, I use my phone for work. I go through lengthy periods with no signal available. When I do call someone calls continually drop out. And now anyone who can access the vodafone website can access my personal details. At least the service works well enough so that I can receive my reminder to make sure I pay my bill on time.
14 Jan 2011 11:45:18 AM: touche. i cant recieve texts from my friends but i sure can get that reminder text about my bill is available online. except for the fact i cant log onto my vodafone to check it!

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12591 Someone from SA thinks vodafone is may not make it to 2012 at this rate at 14 Jan 2011 10:15:07 AM
Adelaide, signal for 3G is bad on my mobile. I live south of the city and have experienced slow 3G internet for my mobile broadband. Called Vodafone but been on hold for an hour and dropped. The CEO's 'email' is probably flooded as worse as QLD with complaints, but at least people report that it is working. I never knew it takes all that to get some action. The employees of the call centres are probably too busy focusing on getting rid of customers from the bogged up complaint line, cutting calls to improve their key performance indicators (KPIs) and times. :roll eyes: This telco needs to get a grip because their services have gone downhill in these past few months. At this rate it'll probably take them 'til the end of this year to fix this. People would have left by then. I don't know how many chances we have to give this telco. But enough is enough. By the way, you know how the media are reporting that the world may end in 2012? It actually wont. You are all mistaken. The media were actually refering to Vodafone Australia's impending doom in 2012. Hopefully 3 will survive. I can feel your pain.

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12584 Someone from SA thinks vodafone is Oh dear.. at 14 Jan 2011 09:14:50 AM
i signed up for a 24 month contract with vodafone 3 days ago. trying to port my previous number across. i was told initially it would take 2-3 hours. then i was told 24 hours after it was escalated to management for some reason i could not understand. so after 3 days and approx 4 hours on hold and going around in circles with lara (and calls dropping) i currently am still paying two providers and no closer to having my number ported. what have i got myself in to???
15 Jan 2011 01:15:10 AM: 3 days ago- TO vodafone! What were you thinking! I hope the TIO or someone can help.

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12582 Someone from SA thinks vodafone is at 14 Jan 2011 09:06:03 AM
lowsy services

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12547 Someone from SA thinks vodafone is losing the plot at 13 Jan 2011 10:21:07 PM
I've tried calling Vodafone customer care about concerns of my poor reception and dropping calls. I live in the coverage zone, in the east metro area. When I call I always try to go through Lara's tree branching 'voice menu' options by the keypad. This leads me to a point where my call is ultimately dropped after minutes of broken music. :sigh: Then I tried the other option to speak to Lara using voice recognition. Even worse. I may have an accent but I can still speak audible english that is understandable. When I say an option, Lara monotonously replies along the lines of, "I'm sorry, I don't quite understand you." and "Can you please speak again with a clear voice." She even gave me suggested options to say after she thought I wasn't speaking english. At this rate I won't be reaching customer support. If they don't block you one way, then they'll block you another way. God sakes, Lara just let me through to customer support and fkn shut up for once. Stupid machine should save her breath for those foreigners working at the call centres. Ironically, I bet not even they have the right darn accent to pass her. Perhaps there should be a third option: a fkn translator for Lara and the call centre. Nothing more than pathetic.
14 Jan 2011 05:15:33 AM: Try emailing the CEO. I did this yesterday and had 2 calls backs (one from tech support, and one from a team leader at Tech Support - unfortunately BOTH indian, but easily understandable) within 3 hours, also a follow up text message.. Seems Nigel Dews gets things happening.
But be polite and firm. I told him I wanted this sorted, or I threatened TIO intervention..

(PERSONAL DETAILS REMOVED)
15 Jan 2011 06:05:48 PM: Why threaten with TIO? Just do it.
And before TIO bats you away because you couldn't actually get through to anyone to complain, photograph your call logs,and the log of the details of that call, and then broadcast loudly the facts.

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12543 Someone from SA thinks vodafone is 3G internet at 13 Jan 2011 09:40:55 PM
I am living in the middle of the adelaide city and still the connection is really bad. When i complain about the issue i got an automated message telling me about their coverage and also saying the problem is resolved with in 2 seconds. Thats the biggest bullshit i have ever heard in my life. Still the problem is unanswered.
13 Jan 2011 10:41:22 PM: Guess even the city areas are rife with problems. Vodafone need to sort this out at the speed of light if they are going to keep businesses with their recently degrading service.

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12535 Someone from SA thinks vodafone is at 13 Jan 2011 08:48:06 PM
My phone drops out at least 4-5 times a day. How do i REGISTER WITH THE CLASS ACTION?
Karen
13 Jan 2011 09:03:39 PM: http://www.piperalderman.com.au/vf/
15 Jan 2011 06:08:05 PM: And read THEIR CONTRACT carefully before you sign up, and ask,if successful,how much compensation is possible.

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12513 Someone from SA thinks vodafone is All talk, no action... at 13 Jan 2011 04:43:01 PM
For weeks my data speed is fkn slow with shit signal, probably something wrong with the network tower(s) but Vodafone doesn't act at all. No point talking to a brick wall company with automatic apologetic responses. The company's management and employees probably are already aware of the pathetic network problems. I bet the majority of them are with another carrier, which is why they are problem free to a certain extent. The other scenario is that the Vodafone management are using the Vodafone network for data and calling, which explains the reason why they can't fix our issues; they can't contact each other properly due to their own calls being dropped by their own network. I don't even understand why they are still called 'Vodafone'. After all this trouble you'd think they should not have the right to call themselves Vodafone, since they can't even transmit VOice and DAta across FONEs properly. So fkn retarded.

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12486 Someone from SA thinks vodafone is Mega at 13 Jan 2011 02:23:46 PM
No signal at all down at Moseley Square, Glenelg! Switched my Virgin sim card in and full bars...shameful...

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12480 Someone from SA thinks vodafone is Absolute FUBAR! at 13 Jan 2011 02:05:27 PM
I went to get a mobile broadband plan with Vodafone in November last year. Service was alright until I had 1 bar 3G signal, incredibly crap speeds, & it has stayed that way since beginning of January 2011. So much for a network maintenance, which some foreign customer service guy claimed would not take longer than a week. Must be some lying generic response, just an Indian version of Lara. The towers seem to be unable to handle the amount of users they are constantly attracting and taking in using their misleading marketing. Vodafone emphasizes their 'good' coverage and 'speed', which is so abysmal that even a snail can travel faster than the data that reaches my usb modem. Im living in a suburb with 3G coverage, but the connection dropouts are just appalling. It happens every few minutes. There is no point in using GPRS mode, since it's even slower than the oldest person alive. These days I seem to be paying monthly fees for nothing. You get several GB of usage and you can't even use it. This is seriously epic fail. It all started with me reading Vodafone's ad clustered site for technical information regarding coverage, speed, & service. They claimed to cover metropolitan areas, which included the suburb I live in. They claimed a reasonable speed range that most other telcos quote and boasted about their service. Then I waited an hour at the store to be served, the dealers seem to rather enjoy chatting with one customer at a time very slowly until their shift is over. To me, it felt like days. Finally I got my plan set up. After sorting out the VMC software problems, the product worked (yes I know strange as it may seem, it actually worked for a few glorious weeks) until it struggled again. Here I am, poor signal for weeks, 0-20Kbps 3G, & almost non-existent service. Even if the network tower is not far away & there is nothing major blocking the signal. Heres where the pain begins that customers have endured. I called Vodafone technical support 35 times, 30 of them were Lara transfer problems leading to call cut offs. WTF is the point of Lara's telemaze if it leads to cut offs. It's like having to solve a f*d up maze only to reach a dead end. The other 5 times led to horrid patchy musical hold up times equivalent to a theatrical length film. Finally I got to a foreign guy who told me these lame responses, which I, a pc expert, would have already tried. He still insisted me to try his troubleshooting even though I told him 10 times I've already done it. Ranging from reinstalling the device & software to deleting browsing history. Lame. Still got crap speed & signal. I really need to 'troubleshoot' someone in the head. Then he rambles on about a network upgrade in my area. Another generic response in their agenda. AND they always say there is no deadline for these upgrades. I hope people don't have to wait a lifetime's journey to get full signal again. Knowing their call centres are foreign these days, I gave up because even maintaining a call with them (that is prone to dropouts) will take blood, sweat, & tears. Now we have 12000+ Australians lobbying for a lawsuit against Vodafone, for reasons similar to my woes. I wouldn't be very surprised. We also have a recent issue involving customer data security breaches over the web. All Vodafone does is tell us that everything is fine. IT IS NOT. Whirlpool forums is packed daily with unheard complaints of Vodafone's services. In fact the threads are so vast it could form a large encyclopedia or a Lord of The Rings novel. As for the Vodafone staff seeking sympathy, think again. You are the cratered face of the company, so you must deal with the aggressive amount of recent customer woes. It is us customers that have all the power in the end. We can choose, in the extreme case, to do a mass exodus rather than put up with Vodafone's recent incompetences. We suffering customers (which seems to be a majority of Vodafone's customers in Australia, looking at how many complaints have plagued across the net) could all leave Vodafone & go to Telstra, Optus, etc. That will leave Vodafone Australia dying out of business, which will mean the Vodafone staff will lose their jobs. But then heres another issue. When customers attempt to cancel their plan & account, the customer service person attempts to hold on to the already dissatified customer for dear life like a leech, offering lame discounts & bartering. We shouldn't have to pay the remaining cost of the plan if we get slow unusable 3G net for weeks on end. We shouldn't have to rely on TIO and other full blown agencies to get our word across. This Vodafail site clearly indicates the last straw for the telco. It's just ridiculous, seeing that 'Vodafone' is an international business. If Vodafone doesn't fix these customer & network services, then too bad for the future. There won't be much for the telco to fix once its over. Not to mention the irony of 'gain sharing', I can barely post this using my Vodafone mobile broadband.
15 Jan 2011 05:13:12 AM: Well you did a pretty good job posting this, if your broadband is slow as you say. Maybe vodafone is better off without you and don't forget Optus had the slowest 3g speeds in australia for quite some time, but no one complained then and there was no website like this, if there was I'm sure there wold've been a few complaints
15 Jan 2011 06:13:08 PM: Voodoofone! what a grasp you have on how much data this website uses- buggerall-and uploading a simple text document-again-buggerall. Could explain a lot of things.
15 Jan 2011 06:20:08 PM: That last one of mine-about 20Kb, so,the original post, being very generous with the figures,:) 20 x 20 =400 Kb.

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12466 Someone from SA thinks vodafone is Wireless Broadband at 13 Jan 2011 12:59:39 PM
My company spends over $500k a year on mobile and wireless internet access with Vodaphone for my staff around the world. It is an absolute joke and I am constantly receiving complaints from travelling salemen and technicans about there phone and wireless internet. Well I have had enough, we will be switching to another carrier, even if it does me more cost, at least it will be reliable.

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12463 Someone from SA thinks vodafone is Internet Sucks at 13 Jan 2011 12:56:44 PM
I recently took up the classic internet special. Ever since then my access has been crap,the intenret constantly fails and I am sick and tired or trying to reconnect. What a joke, never again once this contract is up

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12314 Someone from SA thinks vodafone is calls dropping at 12 Jan 2011 04:26:23 PM
Sent vodafone a mail the 28/12 still waiting on a reply from them regarding dropped calls... sent another e-mail today regarding my plan which is $99 p/m but excludes international calls in my cap not what i signed up for... got a bill to be paid on the 4/1/11 for $150 dollars which has still to be paid for and i got a txt from vodafone that my fone will be cut the 17/11/2010 if its not paid by then... already paid my previous bill last week for 250 which should only be $99.... any suggestions

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12221 Someone from SA thinks vodafone is on a scale of 1 to fail, FAIL at 12 Jan 2011 10:28:55 AM
I want to unlock my handset and i've been trying to do this for almost 6 months, and im currently on hold AGAIN!
12 Jan 2011 11:03:18 AM: Have you tried doing it via the website?

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12169 Someone from SA thinks vodafone is Fail with my mobile Internet at 11 Jan 2011 09:42:16 PM
This is a piece of shit cant even do just a Google search. It takes ages. My advice to every one is done even think about getting a Vodafone internet

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12153 Someone from SA thinks vodafone is Shocking at 11 Jan 2011 07:53:17 PM
Once again have had phone call drop out 3 times on same phone call. Hear crackling noises and then nothing. So much for purchasing a top rated phone only to have it drop calls all the time!

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12139 Someone from SA thinks vodafone is Unbelievably bad at 11 Jan 2011 06:46:22 PM
Have been with Vodafone for just over 12 months and have never had any issues until about 8 weeks ago. Usual stuff - non or late receipt of SMS, signal going from nil to 5 bars even though I was completely stationary. Best bit was rang to complain and was placed on hold for 50 minutes on Sunday afternoon. When I finally got to speak to someone and said I also wanted to complain about the length of time I was on hold I was told "yes, fifteen minutes is a long time to be on hold". I politely pointed out that it was fifty minutes however that failed to elicit any response...I then lost the signal and was cut off..AARRGGGHHHH!!

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12129 Someone from SA thinks vodafone is coverage, what coverage at 11 Jan 2011 05:57:56 PM
coverage in SA is shocking. 2 hrs from our house, we have no coverage. But our friends with the other carriers do!! Why cant they use a universal tower for some country locations.
12 Jan 2011 12:28:58 AM: That would mean the telecommunications companies actually co-operating!! Are you serious? They have locked their phones to their own networks so you can't freely swap between them, why would they co-coperate?
12 Jan 2011 05:24:28 AM: Actually sharing towers happens a lot. Number portability is also a giant cooperation between networks. It's like getting the Herald and the telegraph to share printing presses. Crazy but it happens.
12 Jan 2011 07:59:57 AM: Yet someone I know,on 3,when upgrading to I4 couldn't port her 3 number from her I3 to her I4, also on 3.

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12126 Someone from SA thinks vodafone is at 11 Jan 2011 05:55:06 PM
sms' that a received HOURS later

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12058 Someone from SA thinks vodafone is Very Fail at 11 Jan 2011 01:33:21 PM
Absolutely no signal anywhere in the Adelaide Hills. I'm staying here for a fortnight, so very inconvenient.
12 Jan 2011 08:14:06 AM: You're in the boonies for Vodafone coverage- check the map- they can't even get to the edge of of the metro area down on the plains.

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12057 Someone from SA thinks vodafone is Real bad at 11 Jan 2011 01:32:36 PM
I run a small business. Switched to VF 4 weeks ago. Now have no reception at home and for most of my drive in to work. For the record, these areas are meant to have standard coverage. I work on my own a lot of the time and rely on my phone for safety as well as being in contact with clients. Have had lots of calls dropping out, and have so far had 4 crossed lines if that is possible with 2011 technology!! Phone usually shows reception until it is picked up - reception falls as soon as screen is swiped or call answered. Have had to take out pre-paid with another carrier in order to keep business going. NOT HAPPY.

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12047 Someone from SA thinks vodafone is Very. at 11 Jan 2011 01:06:11 PM
Originally I was with 3, however, the area which I live in has zero 3 coverage, but the guy who signed me up knew that my area had no coverage, and still suggested that I upgrade to a higher internet quota - which I foolishly did. Then every time my bill came around, I'd be slugged with anywhere between $70-$250 extra for the internet coverage I was supposed to be getting. After phoning up EVERY month complaining about the problem, they switched me to Vodafone. Man, that was probably the worst move of my life. Vodafone has THE WORST coverage of any service provider I've ever dealt with. The internet is slower than an 80-year old in a walking frame. Just a horrible, horrible company. If I had the money to get straight out of this contract, believe me, I would.

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12015 Someone from SA thinks vodafone is tin cans and string at 11 Jan 2011 10:56:06 AM
get two empty tin cans tie a piece of string between the two, one person speaks into one can while the other holds the can to their ear . cheap plan only 50 dollars a year

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12002 Someone from SA thinks vodafone is hang in there we will be there really soon at 11 Jan 2011 10:36:48 AM
really soon is code for 3 hours hope you brought water
15 Jan 2011 06:24:36 PM: And make sure you go to the toilet before you make that phone call to Vodafone!

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12000 Someone from SA thinks vodafone is there is no service at 11 Jan 2011 10:34:17 AM
any other industry and they would be out of business

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11999 Someone from SA thinks vodafone is sack lara at 11 Jan 2011 10:32:17 AM
so glad i dont own shares

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11996 Someone from SA thinks vodafone is do they have anyone answering phones at 11 Jan 2011 10:30:43 AM
is anybody there do they have an office

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11994 Someone from SA thinks vodafone is everywhere at 11 Jan 2011 10:28:43 AM
i have dealt with call drop outs bad reception for years now all i want to do is have them release my number i have been sitting here for three hours with three phones on hold i wonder how they remain in business

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11971 Someone from SA thinks vodafone is Badly at 11 Jan 2011 10:04:03 AM
Vodaphone merged with 3 (via Hutchison) more than a year ago and yet they have not merged their networks. You can drive from Adelaide's northern suburbs on the main highway to Darwin and back and not touch one 3 network. I guess they make too much money with Internet roaming charges. Merge your companies -> MERGE YOUR NETWORKS! Give customers what they are paying for.

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11969 Someone from SA thinks vodafone is Pathetic 3 Coverage at 11 Jan 2011 10:03:20 AM
Vodaphone merged with 3 (via Hutchison) more than a year ago and yet they have not merged their networks. You can drive from Adelaide's northern suburbs on the main highway to Darwin and back and not touch one 3 network. I guess they make too much money with Internet roaming charges. Merge your companies -> MERGE YOUR NETWORKS! Give customers what they are paying for.
12 Jan 2011 09:47:50 AM: You are joking right? 3 roam with Telstra currently, if they were to share networks with Vodafone you'd get far less reception. I was up in Alice over the xmas period and I did get coverage there. No extra roaming charges. Then again I have a BB so roaming BIS (internet and email) is free.

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11870 Someone from SA thinks vodafone is i threw my phone and broke it after they hang up my phone 17th time.thats not fail, thats FUCKED at 10 Jan 2011 10:10:15 PM
got tired. waited for 2.5 hours for my call to be picked up and then they say they have technical difficulties. tried again dint work, after 2 weeks i managed to call them and they picked up after 55 minutes, then they told me they are checking the details and set me on hold for 35 min, and they say i dont know the prob please call us bak, they dont fucken understand that i have ordered my iphone 45 days ago and i badly need it now, my friend got it in a week who ordered after i did but me???? never even think of trying vodafone even if they give u free unlimited credit for ur life. today again i spent a total of 8 hours on phone, and there might have been only 10 min of talking and the rest would be on hold, problem not solved, i get charged for my iphone cap but i still have not received it yet.
11 Jan 2011 08:32:54 AM: This seems to be a more clear cut case of not receiving something you are paying for. Not like the reception issues which can be stalled in waffle and tests, and waffle, and sim card ploys.
Pure and simple- you're paying for something you haven't received.Fraud?
11 Jan 2011 12:40:29 PM: yes, they charge me for a iphone cap, i get charged for that, and its been 1.5 months and i still dont have my iphone. i also have no access to myvodafone online,and on phone. and i had abt 8 hours of talk with them and they just keep on transfering me, they have no idea wats wrong.
11 Jan 2011 12:42:34 PM: suing them and complaining them to ombudsmen

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11791 Someone from SA thinks vodafone is Deader than Dodo... at 10 Jan 2011 04:36:37 PM
Hi,
I was a Microwave satellite communications technician and an Austel licenced telecommunications technician.
When I assisted Vodafone to put their mobile networks together around 15 years ago, they were the place to be.

Telstra had reliable coverage, but at great expense. They never seemed to be there when you really needed the coverage or the customer service.

Optus had lousy coverage with excellent customer service. But in direct competition with LIFELINE, they could counsel the customer to the point of curing mental illness...(if the line didn't drop out first...)

The end result of all this was that about half of all mobile calls were connected, completed and subsequently charged exorbitantly by Telstra.
At least when the other half of calls dropped out, you had someone who you could whinge to at Optus who would say "Yes" quite a lot.

Out of this came the shining beacon that was Vodafone. With their reasonable call rates, customer service and coverage!!! Once the news was out, all the technicians switched to vodafone in a flash.

Yes coverage! Vodafone had their own equipment! Without even resorting to network rental arrangements like all the other carriers had to do - 3, boost, dodo etc.
Because of this I used Vodafone for mobile telephone service for over 10 years, still do unfortunately.
Not for much longer!

Then I bought a prepaid broadband USB modem through Vodafone. After going to numerous Vodafone stores to wait AN HOUR to be served, only to find that the USB unit had "sold out" or was "out of stock". I then arrived at 2 separate Vodafone shop locations actively listed on the Vodafone website that were out of business.

I could have had the USB modem delivered by carrier pigeon by then, or made one myself with a broken digimon and a stick. As a tech I have installed (or failed) 4 of these units now, no two are alike. PC compatibility issues are rife.
The $49 USB modem does not even work in most netbooks, effectively making them underpowered miniature desktops.

Reception is appalling. I can see the tower from my house, it is 30 metres away. Line of sight!
As for the install - It would have taken less time to write the prepaid broadband USB software myself than to install it.
Registering, connecting and doing the initial install was the single most slow, painful and emotionally harrowing process I have had to endure in 20 years of software installation. It must be illegal under some convention somewhere...

Vodafone must have their website powered by underfed anorexic dyslexic hamsters.
These Hamsters are multitasking as the overworked software engineers...
The dead Hamsters in the bottom of the cage used to work customer service...

Mobile Broadband reception still drops out in the slightest breeze like UHF used to. I have tried USB extension cords (with some minor increase in signal strength) and modified broadband antennas. I am now blasting myself with enough RF to create my own personal cancer cluster or reheat a meat pie in three minutes...
At least it keeps my coffee warm while I sit through the install program - AGAIN!!!

Short of putting my PC in a Faraday cage and raising my own antenna mast or installing a parabolic dish on my head I cannot see Vodafone providing anyone with a usable mobile broadband connection.

Let's face it Vodafone, these towers were never designed to carry this amount of data traffic at this bandwidth.
The equipment is 15 years old, outdated, superseded and needs to be able to provide a continuous, consistent, reliable and strong signal. Roaming from tower to tower, 3G to GPRS and back again is painful, costly and disruptive.

Retailers should install "Vodafone" recycling bins at the front of retail premises. The junior work experience kid's arse has been turned into a thrashed USB port by the sheer number of returns this Christmas.

It's only 30 metres from my place to the tower. Hmmm... Maybe if I get a long piece of coax and climb up there and hard wire the bastard myself....
Oh sorry! That's called ADSL - YOU MORONS!!!!
10 Jan 2011 04:42:03 PM: I raise my glass to you sir/ma'am. That is beautiful! If that doesnt get a firecracker up their clacker then nothing will
10 Jan 2011 05:02:05 PM: I had the problem and where i live it above my unit and still had shit reciption good luck 30 mtrs away.
10 Jan 2011 05:06:27 PM: Golden post!
10 Jan 2011 05:47:29 PM: Eloquent and precise. Once my USB finally connected it didnt drop out, however, that could of been due to the sudden sluggishness of my laptop after an arduous installation that seems to have swapped all the memory space for programs wanting daily Vodafone updates. Surprisingly my phone connection is the reason I am on this site. Good luck with your plight, something tells me you'll be needing it.
10 Jan 2011 07:14:24 PM: A very articulate, informative and humorous post!!!! Thanks for sharing!!!!
11 Jan 2011 08:57:31 AM: Did you try taking the sim card out and then putting it back in?
11 Jan 2011 08:06:48 PM: I love the history walk. I too have been long standing customer and sang the praises of Vodafone in its early days. All too sad now that the last few years have been so disappointing. At least this year my Christmas and New Years messages to friends arrived on time. Not like the previous 3 years where my messages took up to 3 days to go through. Looks like many people have left Vodafone to allow my messages to get through!
13 Jan 2011 08:14:13 PM: Yeah mostly comedy gold until you call them Morons. Seriously though the only trouble shooting that really needs doing with all the ones I've been helping people set up is to start a new user on the computer. The sticks don't like sharing assets that are already being used. Alternatively the powered up pocket wifi soap on a ropes are brilliant for increased pick up. Like how you plug in a antenna into the ac adapter and sturf for to increase teh receptron on your TEEvee. Sorry my inner moron came out...

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11786 Someone from SA thinks vodafone is MEGA FAIL!!!!! at 10 Jan 2011 04:23:12 PM
How do you contact Vodafone in SA??? Look in the 2010-2011 White Pages, with the exception of a store at Golden Grove, there's no listing for Vodafone, nothing for "3", nothing for Hutchinson Telecom. So how can I get my phone fixed (which went haywire within 2 weeks)? Store I got it from wont exchange it because I dont have the box it came in & the phone's manufacturer arent helpful either. They have no(kia) idea.
10 Jan 2011 04:32:53 PM: Is it an N8?

Of course they won't just exchange the handset - there are policies in place.

How many days from point of sale have you had the handset for?
Do you have a proof of purchase?
Did you buy it from a retailer or dealership?

We need the full sales kit so we can do the exchange - all we swap is the handset unless the accessories are faulty also.

You can call 1555 from your mobile or 1300 650 410, but customer care has been in serious meltdown today so the store is your best option. Please reply so I can help.

Also, whats your postcode? I'll try and find store numbers for you to contact.
10 Jan 2011 04:42:49 PM: @ Jan 2011 06:32:53 PM: I have heard they are in serious meltdown.........what is the problem, any idea/facts?????
10 Jan 2011 04:46:18 PM: It started having problems less than 2 weeks after getting it, i went back to the store with all accessories & pamphlets that came with the pack & receipt. Only thing missing was the box. Already had Vodafone contract, got the phone as an "upgrade". Got it from glenelg store
10 Jan 2011 04:50:43 PM: The issue is that i cant access the social application (facebook, twitter etc). Ive called Nokia & vodafone & all the suggestions/methods have failed. even restoring factory settings doesnt get it working.
10 Jan 2011 04:52:10 PM: BTW it is an N8 phone. On Nokia's website, there's a discussion there about the fail of the social apps, but no mention of any carriers.
10 Jan 2011 04:56:11 PM: Do you have the box though?
All you need is to bring the handset and the box. We put the new handset in your box, and take the old one and place it in the new box for serial validation when we send it back to servicing.

If it is within the 28 day cooling period, which is why I asked for specifics, you have the right to have a new handset of the same model and same colour on the spot.
That is if the store has it in stock. All you will need is the receipt, and if you don't, we can print a proof of purchase to send with the faulty handset.

There really shouldn't be a problem if you have those things. If you send away the handset 3 times back to servicing, you have the right to be authorised for a handset swap to a different handset.

If we cannot see the fault in store, though, we do have to follow policy and send it away for servicing straight away. If it is physically or water damaged, that 28 day cooling period does not cover such faults, and insurance is the only way to get a new handset.

As for customer care:
It's just traffic from my knowledge; they're working overtime and I think the service crashed for a few hours. That's it.
10 Jan 2011 04:57:34 PM: Ps
Customers have great difficulty with the Ovi application with the N8. If this is the only fault, unfortunately you will have to take that up with Nokia.
10 Jan 2011 05:09:18 PM: Box is the one thing I dont have. Learnt my lesson. I took it back within 2 weeks but staff member who served me made no mention of cooling off period. Time to getting on Nokia's case then to fix it or replace handset. Thanks for the info.
10 Jan 2011 05:13:25 PM: Not a problem, hope this helps others too.
Good luck.

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11781 Someone from SA thinks vodafone is Very annoying at 10 Jan 2011 04:03:51 PM
I have had my iPhone for a year now and thought it was something I did that meant I could not send emails. However my iPad which uses Telstra can and now I know why. Not to mention the number of times I have tried to call family and friends only to have the phone not connect. Here I was thinking it was my phone when it was the carrier all along - now if only I could get out of this contract a year early...

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11759 Someone from SA thinks vodafone is extremely bad at 10 Jan 2011 03:08:39 PM
Massive call dropout, sms take forever to send and most of the time I can not access the internet. When I first received my vodafail handset it took 4 calls and numerous transfers to different people just to set up my handset for internet access, which rarely connects.

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11734 Someone from SA thinks vodafone is So painfully slow at 10 Jan 2011 01:18:25 PM
Cant get coverage with this 3G wireless broardband. and when you do its so slow
it actually slows the whole computer, Recently I had to get the Vodafail software upgraded as the whole thing would work and now its worse. Programs not connected to the internet in any way go slower when I am connected. At one stage the whole thing locked up for just over an hour.

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11711 Someone from SA thinks vodafone is 100% does not work in my home at 10 Jan 2011 12:15:53 PM
I used to use Optus, then transferred home plan to AAPT, unfortunately mobile was with Vodaphone. Used to work, now cannot get any reception in SA 5050 despite Vodaphone saying they have good coverage here. I just cannot rely on my mobile. Callers tell me that they get message to say phone is not switched on. I just use my landline. In December, a govt deparment tried phoning while I was in Adelaide city. They rang 8 times in 2 hours. The phone rang once.

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11709 Someone from SA thinks vodafone is Unreliable network at 10 Jan 2011 12:15:26 PM
Unreliable internet data, slow and drops out.
People have to dail my number a few times sometimes because my number sometimes get connected to someone else's mobile phone instead of mine.

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11660 Someone from SA thinks vodafone is Very at 10 Jan 2011 09:41:14 AM
I have Just resigned with vodafone for the 3rd time for another 24mth contract as i have always been a happy customer. UNfortunately since having the new n97mini I have had nothing but trouble with the phone, reception and trying to get any customer service in regards to either of these issue in particular from the tea tree plaza vodafone went in there 3 times waiting over 20min and couldn't even get a staff member to acknowledge me. I live at modbury heights in adelaide and i can't even get reception at my home> i don't have a home phone so this is very inconvient. regardless i am looking at changing companies.

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11637 Someone from SA thinks vodafone is Reception is crap at 10 Jan 2011 08:13:44 AM
I have too signed up for vodafone thinking it would be a better dealer and coverage and reception wise was good as they tell me. Using my 3G to connect at times is shocking and takes long to load or even not load at all. Fase advertisement and if i knew any better i wouldnt have gone with vodafone. Customer service is shocking too, long waits and you get handball around to get a problem solve and you have to repeat yourself 20 times what the issue is and still it doesnt get solved.

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11566 Someone from SA thinks vodafone is Epic at 9 Jan 2011 09:29:52 PM
Even though my coverage shows all bars, often cannot send text messages and the browsing is a joke.

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11560 Someone from SA thinks vodafone is Very at 9 Jan 2011 08:50:03 PM
Have been changed from Three to Vodafail three weeks ago. Went camping for a week, my husbands 18month old workman phone also on Vodaphone, perfect coverage, my brand new phone absolutely nothing unless I was on top of a very high mountain

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11548 Someone from SA thinks vodafone is Very at 9 Jan 2011 08:14:11 PM
I bought mobile broadband to use at my school next year, as we just got laptops issued. The coverage guide on the vodafone site said i would get good 3G coverage. I get none, and my school is 10 minutes out of the CBD. epic vodafail

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11526 Someone from SA thinks vodafone is Lara is a pain in the rear.... at 9 Jan 2011 07:37:44 PM
calls dropping... not your average once a month but l mean it will happen once a day. l thought the merger with 3 would improve their coverage and network. Of course on their end... all is good.
Plus try to get through LARA... what a joke. l don't want to talk to a stupid machine to tell me it's going to be 45- 60 min wait.

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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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11476 Someone from SA thinks vodafone is Toughing it out at 9 Jan 2011 05:15:31 PM
I wonder of the attention seeking minister for communications and broadband is paying any attention to this fiasco with Vodafail. Here is his chance to stop posturing about the NBN and putting out press releases about something that may or may not eventuate in our lifetime and tackle an issue that will have an immediate effect on a large number of people. He could tackle the gross failure to provide the contracted services from Vodafail and their continuing efforts to extort money from new unsuspecting suckers.

He could at the same time look to introduce privacy legislation with teeth that forces corporations to contact customers when breaches have occurred. Legislation that has been enacted in the USA.

Perhaps the lobbyists have already been engaged by the big corporations to try to downplay the cost to individuals of loss of personal information.

I find it strange that if public servants access personal medical or tax information held by the government - they can be prosecuted and lose their jobs - yet the breach of the similar personal information held by corporations is a different matter.
9 Jan 2011 05:51:56 PM: Yes, Senator Stephen Conroy, where are you ? The silence is deafening.
9 Jan 2011 06:41:44 PM: Hi, I am Senator Conroy, Just thought I would pop in to say that I don't have enough time to review this case as I am to busy working on the Internet Filter :/
Cheers,
SC.
9 Jan 2011 08:52:03 PM: OP- couldn't agree with you more.
Perhaps you could bring the next 2 posts to the attention of the original Stephen Concroy, the one masquerading as Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy
Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate
10 Jan 2011 09:16:33 AM: Definitely.
- Kevin Rudd

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11458 Someone from SA thinks vodafone is WTF is going on with your coverage??? at 9 Jan 2011 04:21:38 PM
Used to get great coverage and signal strength, over the past 6mths+ it has been shocking, constant drop outs in the CBD and surrounding suburbs of Adelaide!!! Fix it Vodafone!
9 Jan 2011 05:12:29 PM: same boat as you,coverage use to be great and now it has turned to complete shit. Constant cutouts, delayed messages and voicemails. I am really starting to lose my patience!

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11437 Someone from SA thinks vodafone is up to 19 attempts to call at 9 Jan 2011 03:25:14 PM
I have a small business in Victor Harbor and had 4 phones for the company use. We have lost business and consumer faith due to the unability to make calls or take messages when needed. At one stage I had to try 19 times before I could finally dial out. I have now gone to Telstra and welcome the letter from Vodafone about the contract.

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11387 Someone from SA thinks vodafone is majjjjooor FAIL at 9 Jan 2011 12:25:58 PM
this privacy breach....
it explains why i was receiving up to 5 calls a day from a dubai number who wanted to 'be my friend'.
wanting to know how the fuck they got my number. called day in day out for weeks it was only until my husband threatened to hunt them down that they stopped calling.

i researched the number on the internet and it is people trying to scam money and stealing phone numbers from such breaches like this.

going into the vodafone store tomorrow cause we all know if i call LARA will tell me as per usual its a 50 minute wait to speak to someone who doesnt even understand in fucken INDIA!!! hoping they will null and void my contract because of this major major fuck up.

hello optus...done telstra and now i have definitely done with vodafail.
9 Jan 2011 01:13:35 PM: My mum got a call a couple of days ago from someone pretending they were from the RSPCA but you could tell they weren't because he sounded really dodgy. Believe they got our number from vodafones breach
9 Jan 2011 04:31:17 PM: ridiculous

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11348 Someone from SA thinks vodafone is very at 9 Jan 2011 10:16:02 AM
messages are always late or will only send after i make a phone call. i cannot sit in my bedroom and maintain service for more then 30 minutes. having missed appointments and good partys thanks to a crap reception with i think is in breech of contract i am not happy

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11294 Someone from SA thinks vodafone is at 9 Jan 2011 08:05:45 AM
Dropped calls, messages recieved following day, coverage not as promised. Mobile computer tech and business is suffering because "I never return calls or answer my phone"

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11293 Someone from SA thinks vodafone is at 9 Jan 2011 08:03:53 AM
Calls drop out, messages received next day,coverage not as promised. Mobil Computer tech and business suffering because "Idont answer calls and dont return calls"

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11266 Someone from SA thinks vodafone is Chernobyl at 9 Jan 2011 01:14:40 AM
Who knows- who knows now that our records and very private details appear to have been accessed by criminals OUTSIDE of Vodafone.
Not often lost for words..............................



....
9 Jan 2011 04:45:10 AM: The Government should seize the passports of Nigel Dew and the rest of them-stop them leaving the country.
How was such a lax system allowed to operate?
Were there no external bodies auditing their security? What do major consumer credit providers make of this?
How long have they known?
9 Jan 2011 06:47:01 AM: The criminals at vodafone have had access to our details, so why not crims outside vodafone?

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11240 Someone from SA thinks vodafone is EPIC at 8 Jan 2011 05:38:51 PM
My reception is crap 50% of the time even in the city centre.
I send mms and sms that never arrive at the other end.
I try to get my usage details via the sms function and often get nothing.
3G drops out all the time.
I went into a Vodafone/3 store to find out what was going on and they did a hard restart which obviously did nothing. They even made it sound like it wasn't a common problem!
I'm fed up with having a substandard service when I'm paying them $59 ($49 plan + $10 payment for iPhone4 handset) a month for a reliable service.

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11239 Someone from SA thinks vodafone is epic fail at 8 Jan 2011 05:27:13 PM
In December after having countless problems and issues with 3 and never having a working phone or sim i opted to start over (well as over as i could having 3 months left of my contract I migrated to vodafone).
After calling up the designated number 4 days in a row (because their system was down) i finally migrated across and was told that i should keep my 3 sim working until i got my new iphone 4 delivered in the first week of January.
Over the next 2 weeks EVERYDAY i got a nice new sim card in the mail...so as you can imagine after recieving 13 standard sims (not micro sims for the iphone 4) i was getting a little worried about their services.
6 days after putting up with this-and of course smack bang over christmas my 3 service was disconnected and none of my vodafone sims would work- for all those who have suffered over christmas you will know the lovely answering machine you get when you call your desired help section of vodafone customer care- did you know they close over christmas.
SO after spending 2 days being transfered from one person to the next- being told so-and-so would call me back and never did i went into a vodafone store.
They i have to say did not vodafail at the time but helped me out issuing me a new sim stating that my number would be carried over within the next couple of hours.
4 hours later...sim was still not activated.
I go all the way back to the store and to my surprise I see someone carrying out an iphone. After a few more unimportant hours I finally left the store with a new iphone and a sim (working)- very happy might i add too.
However, 2 hours later phone wasn't working.
I went back to the store-the girl i spoke to was no longer there so the guy that was their said 'ok leave it with me and i will sort it out' (and as you can imagine goodbye iphone).
After 3 more days-no phone, no working sim and being on hold, transfered, hung up on or 'disconnected'-as they like to call it, oh and my personal favourite: 'i am sorry but this is not our issue you will have to take it up with 3/ Vodafone' I finally went into a 3 store and poured my anger into what turned out to be a really nice guy at 3 who said he would look into it for me. 2 hours later i was back in the store and a further 3 hours later i had my iphone on a whole new vodafone account- you can imagine to my relief thinking it was all over.
Got home iphone plugged in-set up all fine, activated all fine. Working all night..then....dum dum dum..the next day strikes and no service.
Having already taken multiple days off work to deal with this issue (sorry work) i went to work without a phone. In my lunch break i called the 3 store and told them what had happened 2 minutes later i am told that 'someone' (not me i assure you) activated ANOTHER sim on my account and my micro sim would no longer work.
Options given:
a) i can cut the sim that vodafone has activated-to a size that will fit into my iphone
OR
b) come in and get another sim OR find someone else to come in and get one for me...
OR
c) come in tomorrow (when i am meant to be at work) and get a new sim
OR
d) which i am thinking is the only option: suffer in my jocks without a phone until i can get another day off work.

4 hours later- i get home from work, find the sim (double checking the sim code) and put it into my old phone hey presto it works..with a catch though-no signal

I have to say being a vodafone customer for only a month and having dealt with this much s*** i don't know how people can last their contract. I will let you know this- on the way home i purchased a prepaid optus sim (and guess what i got full bars of service when it was activated- hows that for service)

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11203 Someone from SA thinks vodafone is Incredibly at 8 Jan 2011 12:09:57 PM
No reception. Like none. Sitting in the middle of a Capital City in Australia you should have no problems with reception, yet Vodafone can't seem to manage to get reception in the NT. I switched, but still had to pay out my contract, even though I was leaving due to the lack of service I was receiving.

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11190 Someone from SA thinks vodafone is Need To Urgently Setup An Australian Call Centre at 8 Jan 2011 08:59:30 AM
The current fault reporting systems are in a worse state than the network, if that is possible. Vodafone need to IMMEDIATELY setup call centres in each state in THIS country to handle the appalling wait times that people are experiencing. Implementing working parties to examine strategies for network changes is a medium to long term process, but Vodafone have an immediate crisis that needs attention NOW.

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11188 Someone from SA thinks vodafone is Need To Speak To Someone in Australia at 8 Jan 2011 08:42:08 AM
I have just taken a call from an operator at the Indian call centre in response to a complaint about poor network performance. It was on behalf of my son who has given my number as a backup contact. They said they had been trying to contact him for the past two days but have been unsuccessful. No surprises, I haven't been able to contact him on his mobile either. Fortunately he is with a friend who is with Telstra, and I can call him to make contact with my son. I asked for a phone number of someone to speak to in Australia, but all I was given as contact numbers were 1555 (constantly drops out, if it answers at all), 1300 650 410 (Indian call centre who don't seem to be aware that a problem exists in Australia) and 1300 111 111 (apparently this also goes to a call centre in India). I have just tried to call my son on his phone, and guess what, I am unable to get through. Looks like another call to his friend on Telstra. Given that my son can't get through to anyone at Vodafone, despite numerous unsuccessful attempts, does this qualify as reasonable grounds to lodge a TIO complaint.
8 Jan 2011 09:30:19 AM: As long as you feel you have a complaint, you can contact the TIO. They will give you a reference number and ask Vodafone to contact you to resolve the issue. So at some point, Vodafone will have to get through you your son/yourself for anything to be resolved. Getting the TIO involved will increase your son's chances of getting the outcome he is after.

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11167 Someone from SA thinks vodafone is very fail at 8 Jan 2011 12:32:18 AM
a once very satisfied vodafone customer that is now becomming impatient, since the big fail of saturday the 7th of december 2010 when I lost all reception, email ability a subsequently no contacyt with anyone for half a day I now condstantly get very limited reception in my house, constant drop out calls where I cannot connect with other people or it goes through to a silent void, numerous drop outs in conversation that do connect, a delay of about 3/4 hours in sending and recieving messages, calls and missed calls simply not ringing and registering and voicemail messages not getting through for hours. I am now getting very impatient and fed up of vodafone and wish I didnt renew my contract only 4 months ago.
8 Jan 2011 06:54:45 AM: No need to wish, check out the 'how to complain' page and you might find a way to get out of your contract without charge. You are paying for a service and vodafone is having difficulty delivering it.

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11120 Someone from SA thinks vodafone is FAILED FAILED FAILED at 7 Jan 2011 04:19:38 PM
I CANT SEEM TO GET THRU CUSTOMER SERVICE AT ALL LONGEST WAITING TIME B4 I HUNG UP WAS 35 MINS AND MANY NUMEROUS AMOUNT OF CALLING 1555 .... GO TO A VODASTORE AND THEY CANT HELP ME THERE EITHER!!!! WATS GOIN ON??? THEY ARE THE WORST EVER MOBILE PHONE COMPANY IVE BEEN SUCKED IN WITH! IM STUCK IN CONTRACT FOR 23 MONTHS, MY NEW PHONE STUFFED UP ALREADY AFTER 4 WEEKS GOT IT BACK AND ITS MORE STUFFED! I GIVE UP!! MY BLOOD IS BOILING!
7 Jan 2011 04:22:23 PM: When in doubt give the TIO a shout :)

In other words, check out the how to complain link at the top of this page :D

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11108 Someone from SA thinks vodafone is No One there? at 7 Jan 2011 03:29:49 PM
Ring the help line, but they have had technical difficulties. So have I that's why I'm calling them.
7 Jan 2011 06:36:37 PM: I've had this at least twice.

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11068 Someone from SA thinks vodafone is Utter useless at 7 Jan 2011 11:48:01 AM
Just tried to cancel my contract, they hung up on me and disconnected my number! I want to scream!!!!
7 Jan 2011 01:27:23 PM: When in doubt give the TIO a shout :)

In other words, check out the how to complain link at the top of this page :D
7 Jan 2011 03:16:22 PM: too late now, i have a new number and a new phone vodafone can shove it up their asses! not happy at all!

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11052 Someone from SA thinks vodafone is I am going insane at 7 Jan 2011 10:32:47 AM
I have days where my mobile phone will have no reception for the majority of the time. Then when I have full reception and am on a call it will drop out for no reason. Perhaps a fly went by.

When I am using the mobile broadband, (which has improved somewhat over the last couple of months), it will suddenly drop down to zero transmission rate. However, even when it is supposed to be giving excellent transmission, I can't send or receive an email that is only 44kb.

It took me two hours two get mobile phone reception so that I could call Vodafone to complain and then it dropped out mid-call.

Now there is the smpt server fail which went on for weeks and I couldn't send one freaking email. Then when it seems to be resolved it pops up again and macafee keeps telling me the emails aren't going through.

I am in the stages of setting up a home based business where phone and internet are 100% vital. For this reason I asked Crazy Johns for Vodafone coverage in my area before I took on the contract - they said it was standard quality - it wasn't. I checked Voadafone's website, (when I had reception), and it told me I had good coverage - but I don't.

Vodafone's call centre staff said that the website isn't giving enough detailed or accurate info as far as coverage because they told me coverage for my area in intermittent at best.

People have left voice mail for me as my phone is constantly without reception and they take hours to come through, and some of them have never been received at all.

Vodafone has made me lose time, money, sanity and hair. I am completely out of patience and want this resolved.

Matt Johnston

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11044 Someone from SA thinks vodafone is poor form at 7 Jan 2011 09:59:16 AM
Have a disabled child and couldnt get coverage when i really needed it. Unacceptable. I'm moving to Telstra, no matter how much it costs me and i sure could be spending the money in other ways... i hate this

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11031 Someone from SA thinks vodafone is 100% at 7 Jan 2011 08:43:21 AM
Had to make multiple call backs to clients this morning because of poor signal at Cumberland Park 8 km from CBD. Have dialled 1555 and gone through the process 2 times but dropped out both times while on hold.
I will try the other national number. I just want a payout figure so I can get out of my contract. If Vodafone had even one gram of customer service nouse they would let us know what the fcuk is going on !!!

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11029 Someone from SA thinks vodafone is shocking at 7 Jan 2011 08:35:49 AM
doesnt matter where i am.i could be down in the valley or on top of a hill i am forever having trouble getting a decent reception with vodafone. i have a new iphone and only ever get barely 1 or 2 bars or just "searching". my hubbys mobile never has less than 4 bars even if hes out in the middle of nowhere. i wont mention who hes with because i want my pain shared with as many vodafone users as possible. despite being a new phone it drops out continuously....not happy!! get you act together after all you are a multi-million dollar company. i am on a plan and will be for the next 12 months otherwise i would just switch to you know who grrrr
7 Jan 2011 08:40:18 AM: Funny thing is, my phone says it is getting 5 out of 5 reception, although I still get the dropouts, static, and reception issues. It isn't my phone, as my partners works perfectly here at the same location.

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11022 Someone from SA thinks vodafone is PREPAID ACTIVATION at 7 Jan 2011 07:58:24 AM
I work for a retailer and have been trying to activate a prepaid service for a customer for 3 days now and have still had no luck whatsoever we've tried numerous sim cards both online and over the phone and they won't let us activate them at all at the moment. Both methods keep erroring out. So far I've been on hold for 15 minutes now and the F$#@ING Call just got disconnected.

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11005 Someone from SA thinks vodafone is Ultamate Fail!! at 6 Jan 2011 11:21:49 PM
There has been no signal for me ALL DAY. I have been at a friends and i needed to contact my mum but i obviously couldnt because there was not coverage. What if someone was in an emergency and they needed to call 000 and they had no reception?? This is quite dangerous!!

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10988 Someone from SA thinks vodafone is customer support isn't at 6 Jan 2011 08:20:10 PM
35 mins on two attempts to reach them about this. Gave up.

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10987 Someone from SA thinks vodafone is Unreliable when important at 6 Jan 2011 08:19:12 PM
6 hours for emails to reach me from iphone to my iphone, both on same Vodafone plan.

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10920 Someone from SA thinks vodafone is "from stupid to ridiculous" at 6 Jan 2011 01:59:33 PM
Kafka-esque is a word that keeps springing into what's left of my mind when the memory resurfaces of the horror of dealing with Vodafone and the TIO.Resurfaces easily, because the situation is ongoing- first complaint(on this issue) lodged with Vodafone exactly one year ago today.
And, I'm wondering, if it's ever resolved before I die (or give up) will I then suffer incurable Post Traumatic Stress Disorder for the rest of my life?Sitting huddled in a corner of a darkened room, weeping Vodafone logo tears.
Posting here has been quite therapeutic- thank you,Vodafail
6 Jan 2011 02:26:49 PM: Postscript:Venting without resolving the underlying problem is not the therapeutic part.
Venting and not being all chewed up with the rage/emotion and then being more able to actually deal with the problem can be therapeutic.
And realising here that I'm not alone, and it's not a dirty little secret I have to keep quiet about, as if somehow it's my fault, THAT'S therapeutic!
6 Jan 2011 02:38:01 PM: Postscript 2. And no longer believing I am powerless- that is therapeutic.
And anticipating a bunch of Vodafone trolls being paid to flame my post is one symptom of a bit of healing.
Bring it on, Vodafone! Let's see if you can disgrace yourself any further!
*laughter* is therapeutic
6 Jan 2011 11:53:43 PM: Seek help.








Quickly.
7 Jan 2011 12:15:34 AM: What worked for you?

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10887 Someone from SA thinks vodafone is No Coverage!! FAIL! at 6 Jan 2011 11:59:05 AM
I have been a vodafone cusatomer for countless years and was quite happy with the service, however the coverage is going down hill... FAST! And they dont care! i have missed work due to my phone being oyut of coverage and not recieving voicemail messages. I rely on my phone for work and have clients in my care that i need to look after however am not able to get reception in important situations. I rang vodafone a couple of months ago and they said they will look into it. Never got back to me. I call and call and am constantlty on hold or cut off due to "technical difficulites". I was fortunate to get throuygh thus morning and after quoting my name was cut off again. Go in store and you are told to ring the number.. What a joke!

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10802 Someone from SA thinks vodafone is Very, very fail at 6 Jan 2011 06:05:17 AM
6 Jan 2011 10:50:03 AM: The ultimate device is crazy. It is as fast as most broadband connections!

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10790 Someone from SA thinks vodafone is vodafone is dead to me... at 6 Jan 2011 12:01:23 AM
usual rant here....been a loyal customer for 5+ years...now they were great in the old days but those days are long gone....could not call in or out over Chrissy no txt no mms almost zero data for almost two weeks....thats bullshit before that it was dropped calls almost every day (have the call records to prove it)laggy txt and shitty speed data all the time...had to pay my bill over the chrissy break...couldnt use the website (tried telstra 3g and vodafail) to log on...no dice.....couldnt call them (remember couldnt call in or out with either of my voda phones) so sorry vodafone your shit outa luck for my cash untill i feel like trying again...oh how i could go on......

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10784 Someone from SA thinks vodafone is Disgustingly slow "Broadband Coverage" at 5 Jan 2011 10:02:37 PM
I live in the Adelaide metropolitan area and have been with Vodafone (Mobile Broadband) for 6 months. When I checked the coverage calculator on the Vodafone website before signing up for the contract they showed my house was in "Standard Coverage Area". Their standards speeds are pretty slow on the ocassions when it connects. Other networks work well and at good speeds from my house.
I have been trying to contact Vodafone to disconnect the connection but have been kept on hold for extended periods (more than an hour at times).
I have finally sent them an email and requested that they discontinue the service and decided to hold payments to Vodafone till they respond to my request.

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10730 Someone from SA thinks vodafone is EPIC FAIL at 5 Jan 2011 06:37:15 PM
I stupidly joined vodafone because my girlfriend was with them and I was enticed by the free calls. now having ended that relationship i am stuck with a contract (9months old) that delivers poorer than poor service. almost everyday my calls drop out, even when i have full 3G reception it will very rarely open my web pages or update facebook, even when i turn it off and on or swap with airoplane mode. my longest wait for a voicemail was 2 days.....

in short, dont join vodafone.. EPIC FAIL
5 Jan 2011 06:42:56 PM: Epic Fail..........so true!!!!! Check out the TIO details in the How To Complain tab at the top of the page. Good luck and let us know how you get on!!!!
11 Jan 2011 09:56:27 AM: i feel for you as i joined for the same reason and im now stuck with these a**holes!!! Atleast we have one less tool to deal with :oP

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10725 Someone from SA thinks vodafone is The whole company! at 5 Jan 2011 06:13:29 PM
Our company has about 50 phones with the muppets at vodaphone. We are I'm retail, and the december fiasco withmthem dropping out, has caused huge problems in what should a a simple process. Just phones dropping out, urgent phone calls straight to message bank. No idea you have a message until you ring 121. Just a bloody joke, we have decided to move our business to the big t. Just a joke, and best yet no one to complain to, there all on holiday or our account manager is until the 10th. Md globalize pty ltd
5 Jan 2011 06:33:58 PM: Vodafone is in a shambles!!!! Please take your issue immediately to the TIO the details can be found in the How To Complain tab at the top of the page. 50 phones is a significant number!!! Good luck and let us know how you get on!!!!

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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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10686 Someone from SA thinks vodafone is poor at 5 Jan 2011 03:34:30 PM
During the last month I'm unable to make overseas calls to land-line phones, only can make overseas calls to mobile phones.
Couple months ago I was able to do both. Sure the problem in Voda network.
All good with Three SIM though.

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10679 Someone from SA thinks vodafone is Very much so!!! at 5 Jan 2011 03:17:51 PM
By the sounds of it, i`m not alone with my problem. My sister, my brother in-law, my nephew and myself all joined vodafone intentionally so that we could contact each other in an emergency free of charge. For my 11 yr old nephew, this service is vital for his independence. Unfortunantly, i get absolutly no reception the majority of the time, and if i have any its one, or two (if i`m really lucky) bars of reception. My partner works away from home and is unable to contact me from a satelitte phone, due to Vodafones lack of reception. My phone turns itself off in the middle of conversations, as does my sisters. I`ve been with vodaphone ( pre-paid) for atleast 3 yrs now, but i will not hesitate to sign a contract with Telstra asap. No matter what vodaphone offers me, it will never make up for the absolutly shocking service i have received from them. You`ve done you dash vodaphone, and i`ve had enough!!!

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10627 Someone from SA thinks vodafone is Very at 5 Jan 2011 01:39:36 PM
After being with Optus for several years our company was convinced to switch over to Vodafone in Feb last year. The service was poor - lack of coverage in suburban areas and frequent dropouts. We lost business and it caused so much stress to our Managing Director that in March he had a heart attack and was hospitalised! We are now back with Optus. We continue to receive calls from Vodafone's call centre asking for us to change. Needless to say we decline.
6 Jan 2011 07:58:44 AM: By the way we contacted the TIO about our issues and they were extremely helpful. It's a pain to go through the process, but worth the effort.

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10471 Someone from SA thinks vodafone is Death Defying at 5 Jan 2011 07:39:52 AM
Family were sending me SMS to advise that my Grandmother was sick and dying, after 6 hours later I got the F*#$ SMS. All I can say Vodaphone CEO....I hope that you F*#$ Rot in Hell

TP
5 Jan 2011 07:47:05 AM: It sadly is a common experience that loved ones of the sick and needy are unable to be contacted using Vodafail. Take your comment to TIO located at the top of the page in the How To Complain tab. By my own experiences........I really feel your pain and I hope your Grandmother is feeling better.

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10470 Someone from SA thinks vodafone is the crappiest at 5 Jan 2011 07:22:15 AM
Just got off the phone with vodafail because I cant send any emails and they tell me that the problem wont be fixed until the 15th January.. WHAT A JOKE!!! I'm sick of the crap this company has put me through! They also said that after i get my email service back that i can call up and they will put credit on my service.. may aswell not bother as the time it will take to do that will cost about as much as they will give me!
5 Jan 2011 08:02:09 AM: Celebrations!!!!!!!!!! You managed to talk to someone at Vodafone?!?!?! A coup in itself!!!! Agree the whole company is a complete joke, may be worth visiting the TIO the details can be found in the How To Complain tab at the top of the page.

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10454 Someone from SA thinks vodafone is not happy at all at 5 Jan 2011 01:25:29 AM
my calls keep dropping out too, at times my sms's dont get sent, when i ring customer service and i start telling them abt my problem they hang up on me or dont return my calls as they say they will. my cap plan is missing sum credits which i havent used, i dont receive my bill via email, or got a copy sent out. I cant seem to find some one from a vodafone store to help me out with my enquiries and im losing patience. Also i bought a new phone and within 2 months had to go in service. Not good enuff.

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10451 Someone from SA thinks vodafone is Not Going to Find Out at 5 Jan 2011 12:23:44 AM
My Family Business was looking into switching to Vodaphail from Telstra as a cost saving measure. We currently have a corparate account with just over 80 handsets nationaly. The Vodaphail representive is coming tomorrow thinking he is going to sign us up, but after I have showed my Dad this great site, there is NO way we are switching, although we will use the Vodaphail contract offer as leverage to get a better deal from Telsta!

So Thankyou vodafail.com for the big heads up, and saving us from what seems to be like a Carousel From Hell! :)
5 Jan 2011 12:47:24 AM: Business and Vodafone dont mix
5 Jan 2011 07:04:34 AM: Great business acumen, play one against the other for a better deal!!! Avoid Vodafone at all costs but..............I really would be interested to know how you get on and also what nonsensical yarns the Vodafone salesperson spins to try to get the business!!! Please let us know!!!

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10442 Someone from SA thinks vodafone is Extremely at 4 Jan 2011 09:55:16 PM
They keep on sending me in circles when I call them. Right now, I'm meant to meet my brother in town. Trying to call him for the last half hour. Calls fail. I'm annoyed. I'm stuck in the city cos of vodafone. Almost lost my new job cos my phone dropped out three times on my new boss last week!!

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10436 Someone from SA thinks vodafone is im not joining at 4 Jan 2011 09:19:55 PM
Im with 3, Port to vodaphone they say, HA!!!!!!!!! mate is with them, nothing but strife....says Voda is useless, totally unreliable...

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10428 Someone from SA thinks vodafone is bad at 4 Jan 2011 08:30:23 PM
We have signed up for Vodafone mobile broadband service and some days can not connect - error message stating no service available yet their coverage map well and truely covers the areas we have tried. When we do connect we are often connected at dial up modem speeds, very frustrating. Vodafone are taking our money yet not providing the service we have paid for. Don't bother contacting their call centre, you'll only get the run around and more frustrated. Appears to be a deliberate ploy by Vodafone to use over seas call centres where english is spoken poorly. The govt should take action against Vodafone.

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10383 Someone from SA thinks vodafone is 80% at 4 Jan 2011 04:57:55 PM
Delayed Voicemail and SMS. Internet works when it wants. I only joined 3 months ago and still have 21 months remaining. Just calling for a general billing enq takes 30 mins on the phone

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10342 Someone from SA thinks vodafone is vodafail at 4 Jan 2011 02:46:40 PM
customer service waiting 66mins no answer.3 have transferred me over to vodafail as there reception was terrible now i have none at all as both opertations and technicians have no idea,i call on all to cancel there direct debit cards and payments to them and let them fight for there money which surely they should be intitled to none.call the ombusdman.4 days on phone and driving in circles and nothing resoloved

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10314 Someone from SA thinks vodafone is at 4 Jan 2011 01:37:42 PM
Hi I have moved to South Australia in October and I have no coverage for my Phone, I have tried calling many times, but I was put on hold for hours and I once happened to speak to someone in India and he said if there is no coverage they will cancel the account, but they also asked me a exit fee.I have 2 mobile number with Vodafone and the other number is with one of family member who leaves in ACT and we signed up with Vodafone as it was free call between us. Vodafone coudn't provide any solution to me and I have lost lot of my business contacts as they were calling on my Mobile and also I am unable to speak to my family member which is very important for me daily. I have been trying to find a solution for more than 2 months nothing much has happened. I had go with another provide and transfer my number.


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10290 Someone from SA thinks vodafone is There is no answer.... at 4 Jan 2011 12:09:02 PM
There is no 'best' network. A good network to one person may be the worst for another. It depends on where you live and the type of service you demand.

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10289 Someone from SA thinks vodafone is service down, but not out. at 4 Jan 2011 12:04:07 PM
It's a good thing we live in a civilised country other most of the people here would be locked up.

Time for some balance to the discussion.

I have been on Vodafone pretty much since they started in Australia, using both voice and data, travelled overseas, and used vodafone in my business, as well for my family - (corporate and private).

Overall - i find them good - but not great - but honestly are the others any better??

So - first -The good.

1. 99% of the time i can make a call or use data when i need to.

2. Vodafone Business Support (and we only have six handsets - so we are not corporate by any stretch) - has never let me down. 'Consumer' assistance - 'Lara' is useful, but the rest is - in a word - a frustration.

I will also assume for the best part that Vodafone in Australia - unlike Telstra - have been able to optimally locate their Cell tower locations, unlike Telstra who needed to make use of their analog locations - which where sub-optimal for GSM.


But the not so Good.

1. i don't think i have ever - in more than 15 years - had good reception in any of the homes i have lived in - and others have shared similar stories - conclusion: Vodafone need to increase their output power somewhat.

2. Cell handover issues - as a regular - hands free whilst driving - user I can say that Vodafone have issues (and other may also) when a cell handover occurrs from 2G to 3G - with the result - dropped call.

3. Data on my phone - in some situations has been - just like the Telstra advert describes for 'other' networks.... hopeless.

Of late:

4. i have experienced the - delayed time to start call issues - that other have described.

5. Bitsy data - with my phone switching from HSDPA to 3G and back constantly - for some reason, and in most cases no traffic on 3G, only on the HSDPA - ??? Why did it need to change!


So in balance, i am not entirely happy with Vodafone, but choosing to stay with them out of loyalty, and better the devil you know that the one you don't. The comments of other Vodafail respondents having ill considered rants - are not helping - unless they are fact based, and constructive (having said that, i understand and relate to the frustration - but then changing providers is probably what you need to do.)

So, this has only made me less loyal, but not enough to change - yet! Who knows once everyone leaves vodafone, and they fix the network - they'll be the best network in Australia with very few using it.... food for thought.
6 Jan 2011 10:26:15 AM: haha your kidding me right...man your so very loyal with your money maybe you have so much you can spare me some ,,but lets not do any electronic transfers or any other telecomunications deals whilst using anything vodaphone is connected too ...haha bloody ha

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10288 Someone from SA thinks vodafone is INCREDIFAIL at 4 Jan 2011 12:03:35 PM
I work for a retailer and am expected to be able to sell Vodafone along with other networks and have been having all sorts of bizarre issues like calling to activate a sim card and even after 3 days it not being activated.
I find it hard to even get decent service myself I have been with Vodafone and about 3 years ago switched to Virgin and their service is almost as bad, random outages, customer service treating me like the issues are my fault, not being able to send or receive SMS.

I see this happening with every one of the networks.
What the hell is going on with the Telco's in Australia I pay my bill every month how hard is it to provide me the service to send messages and to be able to make calls.

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10274 Someone from SA thinks vodafone is terrible at 4 Jan 2011 11:20:16 AM
outgoing calls regularly failing to connect. very frustration trying multiply times to make an outgoing call.
4 Jan 2011 11:35:03 AM: ..........and I bet you are being charged for each and every failed call.........take it to the TIO simply not good enough.

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10264 Someone from SA thinks vodafone is internet and mobile at 4 Jan 2011 10:57:39 AM
wireless internet drops out many times a day, only hope I have it long enought to complete this email.
My phone is with crazyjohns which uses vodaphone as its carrier, the phone just drops out several times a week, always have to dial again, and I live 3kms from cbd as the crow flies
4 Jan 2011 11:16:23 AM: Each time you dial again........so the costs increase through no fault of your own..........seems like TIO could be the answer for you!! Check out the 'How To Complain' tab at the top of the page, take it to the TIO and let us know how you get on!!

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