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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Until next time,

Adam Brimo

Share Your Gain


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17999 Someone from NSW thinks their gain is Great at 17 May 2011 07:56:46 AM
My girlfriend and I were with vodafail from august 2009 to may 2011, a few months shy of the 24 month contracts we signed up for. We'd experienced the same as pretty much everyone else out there; Poor coverage, slow or no data, low call quality. It wasn't until I lost my phone (can't blame them for that) and tried to get an iPhone to replace it I was prepared to put up with it.
During a long weekend trip to melbourne we suffered the SMS failure along with the usual poor coverage along basically the whole freeway from sydney to melbourne. We missed out on some of melbourne's premium sms services like tram info etc because of vodafone. I lost my phone on the way back.
It was quick and easy enough to get my phone barred without long wait times or anything, only complaint is the low audio quality and poor communication skills dealing with international call centres but it got done.
Later, I called to see about getting an Iphone on a payment plan without extending my contract (be damned if I'd sign up for another 24 months), I was told on the phone I could pay off the phone over 6 months on top of the cost of my contract and I could go to a vodafone dealer, get a phone and it was that easy.
It wasn't.
I lost my lunchbreak x1.5 waiting for frendy the sales consultant instore who had rubbish communication skills (not just poor english) to communicate with someone in an international call centre also with rubbish communication skills. I had to wait because both of them had no idea what I was on about with the new phone without extending the contract deal. In the end, they said I couldn't even though someone else just an hour before said I could. The only way to get a new phone (which I needed quickly) was to pay outright for the phone. On top of that, they charged a 2.5% surcharge to use my credit card (this adds up on a $900) phone!
So when I had my new outright phone and I went to activate the sim, frendy said it will be done instantly, someone on the phone said it will take an hour MAX, it took four and a half hours.
With my new phone I was back in business constantly receiving dropouts etc and was at breaking point. I was on the vodafone infinite plan but what is the point if I can't enjoy let alone make calls, can't access data and can't be sure if my messages are getting through?
So how did I get out?
Basically I:
Recounted my story to vodafone as plainly and formally as possible with no embellishements
Stated the reasons why they had failed me as a provider; poor service; not delivering what I was paying for etc.
Asked for what I wanted: to get out of my contract no penalty.
Since I had a series of issues, I sent each issue in a separate email for what I felt would be maximum effect.
3 days later, the good news came. I was off vodafone! I was also sent a final invoice for the month outstanding but I won't be paying that it a hurry, I'll make them chase it a bit, let them see what its like to be on the pursuing end of a conflict. Its funny to think of how a corporation will chase that $50 even if it costs them $500 to pursue it.
My Girlfriend followed suit in a similar fashion and was also let off her contract. She is now on Optus, I am on Telstra. Her reception is a bit better, mine is the best I've ever had. I'm not recommending Telstra because I've heard bad things about them but for now it works and all is well.
Props to Vodafail.com for existing, it was my inspiration to complain my way out of my contract!
18 May 2011 12:02:12 PM: Congratulations on being persistent and honest about your problems, it's great your and your girlfriend are now able to enjoy better mobile service.

Vodafail.com Moderation Team
29 May 2011 02:06:08 PM: Great story... well done.
4 Jun 2011 10:35:58 PM: i hope you get a horrible credit rating and then feel the need to come into one of our stores then we will laugh at you hahahahaha
10 Jun 2011 11:03:06 AM: @ 17 May - good on you mate, happy for you and your gf. You've done the right thing getting out of vodafone, cant wait till my own contract with them is over! ...
@ 4 Jun - what a hater! thats just an evil thing to say to someone who's gone through so much krap. What goes around comes around my friend... so don't be laughing too hard - cos you won't be laughing if karma comes knocking on your door!
16 Jun 2011 11:55:36 PM: @ 5 Jun 2011 12:35:58 AM: Mate, you are a right knob.
27 Oct 2011 08:12:49 PM: Fail to anyone involved with this website

MORONS everywhere