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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11530 Someone from NSW thinks vodafone is 3g what 3g at 9 Jan 2011 07:42:48 PM
Should of stuck with Telstra prepaid, or even Optus prepaid.
Thought I'd get my value for money on the infinte plans. Still waiting for customer service to fix the fact that my brandnew phone can't get 3G signal with Vodafone, but it's fine if i put in a Telstra or Optus sim. Oh did i mention the number of times calls drop out, sms not sent or received... *sigh*

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11529 Someone from QLD thinks vodafone is waste-of-time at 9 Jan 2011 07:41:49 PM
I am so sick of trying to get a web page anywhere in Brisbane. The only time it works is when you connect to your home wifi. Also sick of never having strong signal and black spots everywhere.

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11528 Someone from QLD thinks vodafone is EPIC at 9 Jan 2011 07:41:21 PM
New to iPhone, looking forward to having internet access and all I get is 3G symbol with full bars and NO RECEPTION IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CBD!!!!! So frustrated by the lack of reception and quality - everything takes ages to load, which I assume I'm paying for by the second, and then I have to give up!!

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11527 Someone from QLD thinks vodafone is 100 percent at 9 Jan 2011 07:39:05 PM
Vodafail has given me probs with data connection, customer service waiting times excessive, and sms taking to long to recieve.

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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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11525 Someone from QLD thinks vodafone is 100 percent at 9 Jan 2011 07:36:24 PM
I heard Vodafail has released priv info about its customers, i have experienced data connection probs, customer service (failure 2 serve) waiting times excessive, and reception probs. I will be buying a new fone 1st thing 2morrow morn, never 2 return 2 vodafail.

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11524 Someone from NSW thinks vodafone is Shocking at 9 Jan 2011 07:35:59 PM
I have been with Vodafone for 12 months now in a 2 year contract. I am on a 99 uncapped per month. To put it mildly, it was an awesome deal, unlimited SMS dometic and international, free calls. Problem is this:
1/ Call Drop Outs. Amazing how many. Been going on for donkeys this
2/ I drove from sydney to melbourne and back a few times, forget the reception on the open road, dosent work. My wife is with TElstra, she had all bars all the time
3/ Phone goes straight to VM, does not alert me
4/ Picture MMS take donkey's ages to deliver to the receipenent sometimes days
5/ Basically, its a scam Vodafone. I want my moolah back.

My buddie at work, told me 1 year ago Voda was awesome and it was a great deal. I feel like strangling him now.
Surely this will be the end of Voda right?

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11523 Someone from ACT thinks vodafone is Worst carrier I have ever had the misfortune of being associated with at 9 Jan 2011 07:25:40 PM
16 Jan 2011 12:53:21 PM: Contact the TIO.Surely even they can get a contract wiped on a phone you have never received, even if it "was listed as sent". I hope you have a record of that call-where the mistake was admitted. If it's still in your logs, take a photo of your logs.

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11522 Someone from ACT thinks vodafone is Lara is a joke at 9 Jan 2011 07:22:42 PM
Id like to meet Lara and tell her her services are no longer required.
16 Jan 2011 12:54:30 PM: She'd vanish into thin air ten seconds after you finally did meet her.

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11521 Someone from VIC thinks vodafone is ARGH! at 9 Jan 2011 07:18:59 PM
I received a phone call last week from someone with a thick asian accent claiming to be from microsoft customer support on my home phone, they had my name, my address, my date of birth and etc. What they were trying to do was get me to hack the registry on my computer so they could steal all my bank details and such, i believe that this is a direct result of vodofones inability and negligence on the part of keeping out details secret!
9 Jan 2011 07:48:13 PM: I got that too and im a Telstra homephone customer, you cant blame everything on Vodafone.
10 Jan 2011 07:13:09 AM: Vodafone require a home phone number so they can contact you in the event of your mobile not working. I believe this is how they got this number, my details and then tried to hack me... Just for the record i am the 'ARGH!' person above.

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11520 Someone from NSW thinks vodafone is I GOT OUT OF MY CONTRACT! at 9 Jan 2011 07:18:51 PM
I went to the Ombudsmen and successfully got out of my contract after the Ombudsmen contacted Vodafone. I was 12 months through a 24 month contract and just had to pay for the rest of the phone ($350) which I will more than get back when I sell the phone on eBay! (iPhone 3Gs).

GO TO THE OMBUDSMEN!

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11519 Someone from VIC thinks vodafone is very at 9 Jan 2011 07:18:20 PM
Our new Samsung Galaxy Tab cannot send pop3 e-mail. It took 1 hour on the phone to eventually be told it is due to the reported network issues and they gave me a $10 credit. I had previously tried to call but could not get answered in under 20 minutes so gave up. I e-mailed the complaint (obviously not via the samsung!) twice and received no response.

On another occassion seeking to have my password reset for vodafones web site (to check my data usage), it took 1 hour again talking to what appeared to be overseas call centre staff who ultimately failed to be able to reset it. To this day I still cant log in and have to check usage by SMS service only.

For a phone co. it seems answering the phone is not important.

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11517 Someone from QLD thinks vodafone is WHERE IS OUR ACCC WATCHDOG at 9 Jan 2011 07:17:55 PM
HAHAHA WHY DOESN"T VODAFONE JUST GIVE UP!!!

AND WAY DOES OUR GOVERNMENT SET UP A WATCHDOG BODY SUCH AS ACCC TO SIT ON THEIR ARSE AND DO NOTHING ABOUT THE 12,000 PEOPLE COMPLAINING ABOUT A TELCO!

FK our Government is SHT. I'm contacting all TV news stations tomorrow to get this story run against Vodafone and Gvt.
9 Jan 2011 07:23:14 PM: Stephen Conroy has already said he is too busy on the internet filter to bother with your trivial problem.
9 Jan 2011 07:47:55 PM: hHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHA

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11516 Someone from NSW thinks vodafone is All carriers the same at 9 Jan 2011 07:17:18 PM
When the system was converted from analogue to digital years ago, we we assured call quality would be excellent, coverage australia wide, drop out proof service etc etc. The old analogue system was far more stable and had excellent coverage. Australians were sold a pup in the move to digital transmission as it has proved to be inferior to the old analogue system.
10 Jan 2011 02:48:38 AM: There was no Internet on analogue, some people use it from their phones, you know.

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11515 Someone from WA thinks vodafone is Reception at 9 Jan 2011 07:16:04 PM
Very very poor reception on previous occassions, and in specific areas. If i dnt get any compensation i will not be using vodafone services anymore!

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11514 Someone from NSW thinks vodafone is How fail are customers. at 9 Jan 2011 07:15:33 PM
The mess that I am in is how disgusting customers are to us when majority of the employees that work for VHA truly have the best interests of the customer at heart. I don't understand why people think that we live to make our own lives harder by purposely trying to sabotage a customer's experience, when 9 times out of 10, we'd rather not see you again - this demonstrates great customer service, we served all your needs at the initial point of sale.

Yesterday I had a frightening confrontation with a customer that refused to follow company policy with a pre-paid mobile. Instead of complying with company rules, he continued to argue with me and wanted me to prove the policy of which states that I was right in saying that I had to sell him a pre-paid sim with a pre-paid phone REGARDLESS if he was already a Vodafone user. The reason why we do this is so an account is created for the phone in which covers warranty for two years for the handset and when the account is created, it generates an Australian Gov't form in which states that the ID you have given us is correct and current, and to make sure criminal activity with the use of pre-paid sim cards is controlled as much as possible. I had the customer's best interests at heart, yet the customer thought he was right.

He continued to swear at me, raise his fists and threaten me personally all because I wanted to secure an account for the phone incase it was faulty - it was a Nokia after all. He persisted to yell and started to come around the counter to scare me into complying to what he wished. I made the customer by the sim card anyway and strongly advised him to come back into the store when he had calmed down to set up the account or to call pre-paid care. He continued to yell at me and call me offensive names so I left it up to him. I was shaking at that stage because his wife then proceeded to come around the counter also.

If you refuse to read the disclaimer or refuse us the patience for us to explain the disclaimer and you sign it anyway- that's your fault. If you chose to refuse such service which I offered this customer and you lose your receipt - don't come ranting and raving about how you weren't able to gain a proof of purchase of our database because you didn't want to comply. If you still chose to go with a handset even though I have explained its faults that are world known - go right ahead. I am so tired of customers thinking that they know better us when they don't even give the time to consider what they're getting themselves into half the time.

When there is a piece on Vodafone headlining the news reports, the next day is just hell. I'm really getting tired of customers who are trying to use the network problems as a way of getting out of their contracts with a full waiver. Please leave customer care to deal with the customers that have REAL and unfortunate network problems. I'm tired of morons wasting our time and just jumping on the band wagon where there are certain postcodes that are dealing with no network - not just one or two calls that disconnect every few days. No wonder these customers with horrible service can't get through to customer care - some people are just trying to get compensation with no particular newtwork problem.

Sim cards become faulty and corrupt, phones become faulty or are faulty at point of sale without our knowledge and sometimes the traffic is too high to have full signal or recommended speeds. These are out of Vodafone's 'control' and most certainly retail staff.

Honestly, customers have to start taking responsibility for their actions and show a bit more compassion to retail staff. Don't take us saying "I'm sorry but you'll have to call customer care to resolve this issue" as us not caring - this is what we've been told to do. Also, if we tell you that our database is down - it's down okay! It's not that we can't be bothered, it's because we actually can't login to our systems which is just as frustrating for us because we're bored out of our minds. Two weeks ago our database was on fallback for 24 hours and a customer came in that needed a sim swap for a lost sim card. I began to apologise for our database being down and he told me to f off and that I was hopeless before I had time to finish my sentence. I was going to give him a sim card, take his details and perform the sim swap for him when the database was up and running the next morning. Customers don't even give us a chance anymore which is really upsetting.

I have ordered that many customers to leave our stores because of the aggression and disgusting manner in which customers are treating retail staff. Honestly, don't bother telling us at the end of a long rant that it's not "our fault" when you point in our faces and call us hopeless. Remember that we all have phones too and that we're contacted to all different telcos in which we have received poor customer service as well.

This is just as shattering to us as it is to you. I adore working for this company and it's such a shame that this has happened. We don't want customers to be unsatisfied because we're the ones that have to deal with the repercussions. I hope this goes away sooner than later so I can enjoy my job again and give customers great customer service. The same day I was threatened by a customer, I was told by five other customers that they've never received customer service like I gave them. We're not all bad you know. Please remember the more respectful you are to staff, the greater lengths we will go to resolve your issues the best we can.

Also, customers need to realise that 3 and Telstra share networks, as well as Vodafone and Optus share networks. At one point or another, I am certain that you will have poor service at one point or another regardless of what telco you go with.
9 Jan 2011 07:18:55 PM: Havnt you heard? the customer is always right?
9 Jan 2011 07:26:32 PM: The VHA staff member that posted this is a complete idiot. Your company has the WORST customer support line EVER! If VHA wants to offer real support, how about allowing us (your "customers") to be able to solve issues in store, rather then saying "you have to contact customer support" and wait 2 hours on the phone. I pay $80 per month to Vodafone and it is by far the WORST Telco I have ever dealt with. And no the sales people in the store are not sorry, if you were, you would stop signing people up with disclosing your network is having issues, exactly what happened to me.
I joined up 2 weeks before Christmas.

VHA continues to sell these unlimited plans and jam more people on their already broken mobile network. Non-disclosure and misrepresentation is what Vodafone should be sued for. I have joined the class action and will be doing everything in my power to get out of my contract and ensure Vodafone Australia are held accountable.
9 Jan 2011 07:29:06 PM: Lets hope the 12,000 Vodafone customers that are complaining aren't all just wasting hours on the phone to Vodafone's woeful customer support, as in store staff cannot do anything! I urge the entire Australian population who is on Vodafone join the class action law suit!
9 Jan 2011 07:34:34 PM: I am the person that posted the 2nd post, and oh by the way I went in to Brisbane Queen st mall store, spoke to the same customer service representative that signed me up, and I asked what was going on with Vodafone's useless network and he said, and I quote " I know its really shit at the moment, the only thing you can do is contact Customer support via phone, they will tell you to try some tests that obviously won't work, you can then open a case with the TIO, hand your phone and sim back and get out of your contract that way" HAHA FAIL!
9 Jan 2011 07:38:46 PM: Regardless of how angry a customer is, they have no right to threaten physical violence or personally attack a sales associate.
9 Jan 2011 07:39:05 PM: You people that have replied to this poster absolutely disgust me......

I cannot believe how rude and disrespectful the people in this country are getting.
9 Jan 2011 07:39:47 PM: Hi Staff Member,

It's unfortunate that you have to deal with angry and upset customers on a daily basis. As someone who has previously worked in retail and support I can understand just how scary it can be sometimes. However I think your anger should be directed at Vodafone for creating a situation where customers are that angry and support is that hard to come by that they resort to anger out of frustration.

Customers are having network or billing problems and try to contact 1555 repeatedly. They wait on hold for hours, are transfered to different departments and receive little help they have no choice but to go to the only place where they can talk to vodafone staff. Your job might be to sell phones but to the public you are Vodafone. The store says you're Vodafone, the uniform says you are Vodafone and at the moment you are the only person from Vodafone that customers can reach.

Some people are unreasonable and angry but nobody enjoys being that way. I'm sure all customers would rather be happy with their service and thank you for your help. Sadly many people are not and that is a reflection of what Vodafone has done the past few months, the way they have handled their litany of problems and the contempt with which they've treated their customers. Maybe it's time to think about what you actually adore in Vodafone.

We at Vodafail do not condone any violence against Vodafone staff and we have repeatedly reminded people to be respectful in all situations.

Thanks

Adam
9 Jan 2011 07:43:28 PM: Clearly not everything can be solved in store. I applaud the staff member who wrote this! What store are you from, I would love to be served by you!!

Think about this, retail staff are not technicians and cannot fix your network. So clearly there are things you must call customer care for. I also agree with people just wanting to complain and get out of paying money. You are holding up the phone line for a legitimate customer concern, I have no reception at all on my business phone and I HAVE TO WAIT 3 hours on the phone because of you stupid people!!
9 Jan 2011 07:47:29 PM: I too work for VHA, i am agreeing with some things you say - customers do have to remember that we are people too - we may wear a red and white shirt each day, but we know EVERYTHING that is going on too, these problems wont be fixed over night, its a shame there are some slack as all hell staff working with us, but please give some of us the time of day. Also with the whole Vodafone's security breach - funny how they forgot to mention telstra also use the exact same system as us.
Anyone notice alot of this has started from when Vodafone released our $45 cap, Optus immediately took vodafone to court so we couldn't sell them because the offer would destroy them.
I will agree - network isn't great but it wont be fixed over night, we are after all merging an entire network onto another network - and with 11,000 people calling to disconnect you cant expect to get through straight away. The guys in Mumbai are working 6 day rosters at the moment.
We know the problems, and us guys in retail are trying to help, it doesn't help when we get over 100 customers coming in a day immediately saying " im about to join the class action law suit against vodafone if you dont fix my problem" 9 times out of 10 we do.
Come see us in store, we will go to the upmost lengths to help you, just be civil.
9 Jan 2011 07:49:40 PM: Well said Adam!

I do feel for the Staff Member that made the original post, but as a customer facing staff member representing Vodafone, you have to expect customers will take out their frustrations on you when they can't get through to the main people responsible for this whole mess. I do not and will not condone customers getting angry at any forward facing staff member, but unfortunately as Adam pointed out above, you are Vodafone to that customer and everything Vodafone seem to be doing at the moment doesn't seem to be resolving these problems in the short term. So customers are getting angry and the unfortunate bi-product of that is they are taking it out on you.

I hope things do get better for you, and Thanks for dropping by to make your post. I do feel for what you must be going through, but again I think Adam makes a great point that you need to direct your Anger towards Vodafone (ie the people responsible for this mess), and try to maybe sympathise with your customers a little more.

Best of luck.
9 Jan 2011 07:51:57 PM: I'm sorry but maybe if your company actually lived up to the customers expectations and provided the services we pay for people wouldn't benso agitated. I understand it isn't your fault directly but if you're sick of copping abuse why don't you all complain to your employer and maybe they'll get their arse into gear and do something.

Maybe you can also tell your CEO also to take the customer care centre out of India so we can actually speak to someone who we can understand and can understand us.

You also say people are just jumping on the bandwagon to get out of their contracts free of charge and don't really have any real problems like some other customers. It doesn't matter how many times a customers calls drop out per day or week all that matter is that the calls are in fact dropping out and your company cannot support the customers and are in breach of every part of their contracts. We pay for a service which your company does not provide!!!
9 Jan 2011 07:52:02 PM: And Adam, i ask you a question

If you have worked in retail

Then i would love for you too work through this - because of your website i have team members not coming to work because they get threatened by customers, work morale is at an all time low. And people are quiting left right and center.

I wish you had never made this website, you have made me hate my job.
Vodafone was an amazing company too work for, now we get abused, yelled at, every day.
I had a customer THROW his phone at me the other day.

I hope you got what you wanted.
9 Jan 2011 07:53:05 PM: To the above poster, maybe there are SOME (I think small number) of people taking advantage of the situation, but logically, wouldn't you say most people complaining WOULD have legitimate concerns, just like yourself? If people are happy, why would they spent all that time trying to get out of their contract - they would only end up with no contract and have to go with another provider who is likely more expensive than Vodafone. Isn't it more likely that there are just so many people with legitimate concerns that Vodafone's telephone services cannot keep up?

I also do feel sorry for Vodafone staff and some people with violent tendencies are a real disgrace. I hope you stay strong and safe through this, but I agree with Adam in that your company has not supported you properly. I hope it changes, but calling customers 'fail' doesn't help the situation much either.
9 Jan 2011 07:56:50 PM: I dont agree with saying out customers are fail in the slightest. Its just such a shame, us the staff are the face of vodafone and majority of us arent bad people, it really is a huge drainer going into work every day though, we know what to expect but for the first time today i had a customer say he felt sorry for us. I know i personally try to go to the absolute end to help every customer i can, it really is just a shame this has all happened.
9 Jan 2011 07:57:11 PM: What a whining little sook you are (the original poster of this message). You're just a stupid little pawn in this incompetent company who says they love vodafone so much because you want everybody to come in and sign up for your ridiculous plans that aren't even worth half of what they claim. You are dirty on the masses of people who are trying to leave in droves because for every customer you sign up onto a contract that leaves the network....you lose your money from Vodafone. I hope your business goes bankrupt as well as all of Vodafone. For screwing people around you deserve nothing less. Oh and for the record, I have a Telstra mobile for work and I can honestly say I have NEVER seen it drop not even ONE BAR of reception in nearly 18 months of using it. With Vodafone....while I don't need to say anymore.
9 Jan 2011 07:57:25 PM: To the person that posted "because of your website i have team members not coming to work because they get threatened by customers, work morale is at an all time low. And people are quiting left right and center"

Have you ever thought that it may actually be the company that you worked for that has caused this problem? All Adam did in my opinion is show your customers they are not alone. He should be applauded for what he has done, not shot down by some misguided blame game.

My two cents worth.
9 Jan 2011 08:00:54 PM: I feel so sorry for this staff member! People are really rude these days and wont take no for an answer. People think that they are always right and demand whatever they want. All companies have procedures, if this was optus or telstra, the same would happen.


NEWS FLAAAAAAAAAAASH!! ALL TELCO CALL CENTRES ARE OVERSEAS AND VODAFONE ACTUALLY DO HAVE A CALL CENTRE IN AUSTRALIA TOO!!
9 Jan 2011 08:03:10 PM: to "9 Jan 2011 09:57:11 PM". You are the people the original poster is clearly referring to!
9 Jan 2011 08:03:56 PM: How about Vodafone communicates professionally to their customers, instead of waiting for some frustrated person such as Adam create a website to get some recognition from Vodafone that they do actually have MASSIVE problems in both network and customer (phone) service.

I will never threaten a VHA staff member, I realise it is not your fault, it is the directors, project managers, capacity planners that are at fault here.

Also VHA for continuing to sign people up with non-disclosure and misrepresentation that the service Vodafone is "selling" to the customer is not fit for purpose and does not perform to the standard that is stated via Vodafone.

If Vodafone said, we have network issues, our customer phone support is second rate, but we do have cheap plans then I would understand. You provide an excellent product, alongside with excellent customer service and support and yep all for paying $80 each month.

Sell a customer a product or service that doesn't work or continually has issues, ask them to call the customer support line, (not informing them of the wait times and poor phone support) and you will get very angry and frustrated customers, no it may not be an individual staff members fault, but you represent a company that in my eyes should be ordered by the ACCC to cease all new contracts until these ongoing issues are resolved, simple as that.
Get real, this is business, not a "give us a break" because our network is of 3rd world quality.
9 Jan 2011 08:04:25 PM: To 9:52:02pm, I'm sure plenty of people (at Voda) wish Adam didn't make this website, but many many people are glad for it as well. When Adam made this site, he was frustrated at the lack of service he was receiving and was pretty shocked at how Vodafone conducts itself (Not retail staff, not anyone personally, but the management of the company as a whole, and yes, the offshore call centres).

The fact this website caught on is due to so many others experiencing the same problems (and of course, the media exposure).

I hope everyone at Vodafone can at least have the sense and HUMILITY to see that it is the company's decisions and actions that is ultimately making your jobs difficult right now, not Adam making this website.

Also, let's not forget which is the big corporation with lots of money, resources and lawyers, and which is the consumer who up until this website and media attention, had no voice.

- Not Adam, but someone who supports him -
9 Jan 2011 08:04:27 PM: You're just a franchise, you are a nobody. You may have thought you had a great business 5-10 years like many of your shoddy neighbouring associates, but that is all you are. You cannot help a customer if they have a network issue. You cannot do anything. Like the poster at 9:57:11pm wrote, you just hope you keep getting paid your commissions from vodafail.
9 Jan 2011 08:08:24 PM: The CEO made clear the issues and updates the website as networks are updated, checkout www.vodafone.com.au
9 Jan 2011 08:10:53 PM: I work in the member services department of a very large insurance company and I get yelled at and abused for the silliest things like calling an existing member about their current policy and I just happened to call them when they are busy. Sure I don't like it but you take what comes with the job. If my company was providing a shit service then I would accept the fact that I may have to cop some flack for that. Please do not blame the customers for being irritated, blame your employer who is putting you in this situation and not giving you a way to help the customers resolve their issues.

Adam has done nothing wrong by creating this site and quite frankly even if he didn't you'd still have customers coming in upset because they are paying for a service they are not getting. Please see it from our point of view too.
9 Jan 2011 08:11:20 PM: what the hell 10:04:27 PM. All vodafone stores are owned by the company and are not franchised. I suggest that you know your stuff before you comment. Also, VHA employees get barely any commission anyway
9 Jan 2011 08:12:53 PM: I dont think the staff blame the customers for being angry, just maybe take a chill pill before you visit the store and rage at the poor retail assistant for vodafones network
9 Jan 2011 08:13:22 PM: @ 9 Jan 2011 09:52:02 PM: I think there are many other reasons why your colleagues feel the way they do and Adam and vodafail.com are not one of them. Look upon vodafail.com as a conduit for the consumer to have their say, had they not had the chance to vent on vodafail.com things may be considerably worse on the shop floor. Good luck to you and thanks for posting on vodafail.com
9 Jan 2011 08:14:21 PM: 9 Jan 2011 10:11:20 PM ... You might need to get your facts right. To quote a store owner "Most of VHA's store are franchised so im not sure what the implications or possibility of having a system like that are..."

http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum-replies.cfm?t=1614444&p=5#r97
9 Jan 2011 08:14:43 PM: If you must know, we actually dont make the same commission we used too, the people who stayed with vodafone and continue working for them actually enjoyed there job.Our pay structure is ALOT worse. And too say we are no bodys , what ever makes you think people will want to help you with that attitude?
And no we cant go out and climb up a tower and see why its not working but we can help, and speak to people directly in cust care and keep logs on the problems you are facing.
But frankly , people who come in with that exact same attitude you have, its a little hard keeping a smile on our dial and doing those things for you when you think we are doing it all for commission.
9 Jan 2011 08:15:33 PM: The CEO can go stick it. Since when does saying "We apologies for any inconvinience caused" make it alright to offer dismal service and a product that does not work, yet Vodafone continue to advertise and sign up people to a service that is incapable of even loading a simple webpage in a CBD postcode standing outside. FAIL.
9 Jan 2011 08:16:52 PM: 10:11:20 yes you are an idiot too. Mcdonalds stores are owned by the Mcdonalds company. A vodafone store signs up a customer to a 24 month contract. Who gets paid - Vodafone....who else gets a percentage of the profits - the store owner. The customer walks out of his contract, what happens to your monthly percentage payment from Vodafail when they are no longer a customer? You don't get it. Seems like anyone can get a phone business - look at all the dodgy Dago's you see in the shopping centres. I love it when they lose money - wankers!
9 Jan 2011 08:18:20 PM: Yes, even you store owners have been f@*ked over by your masters....cutting your payments down. Wake up, you're being screwed to. They don't care about you or the rest of us.
9 Jan 2011 08:19:17 PM: NO ONE OWNS THE COMPANY OWNED STORES, there is only a manager, they do not own the store! Dealers sell all company's!
9 Jan 2011 08:21:57 PM: 10:16:52 PM, seems like you dont have your facts straight. Do you work for vodafone?
9 Jan 2011 08:22:25 PM: You wanna open a VF store, you do it like every other franchise, you pay the money to set it up and you follow THEIR RULES. You put your stupid posters up they give you and you try and sell plans to customers and hey "you want a shitty leather case with that phone?"
9 Jan 2011 08:23:22 PM: Why the F@*k would I want to work for a stupid company like VF? I am pining to see them go under and all the Dago franchises with them.
9 Jan 2011 08:23:25 PM: actually no
9 Jan 2011 08:24:23 PM: I think, correct me if I'm wrong unemployment is at 5.5% (somewhere like that) and if I was a Vodafone staff member, I'd tell the company to go and stick it and go and work for another company that actually provides a product that I could confidently sell to my customers and back it up with great service. Stop whinging about furious customers, they have a reason to be furious, and quite frankly if I was a sales person for Vodafone, I would encourage all my staff to leave and go and work for an honest company. My two cents worth.
9 Jan 2011 08:24:49 PM: 10:23:22 PM, im not sure why you are even here :/ Stop being so rude. Its people like you that clog up the phone lines for upset customers
9 Jan 2011 08:25:37 PM: 10:24:23 PM- i think a job is a job. money is money.
9 Jan 2011 08:25:57 PM: Don't forget to upsell them a stupid car charger that doesn't work with every sale. If you give it away free, it comes out of your pocket.
9 Jan 2011 08:29:57 PM: Is there an echo in here??? Can everyone just take a deep breath..........hold it..........breath away. Calm down please, it is late we are all feeling tired, let the debate continue but without the name calling please, nice constructive debate please. vodafail mod.
9 Jan 2011 08:34:10 PM: "People like me that clog up the phone lines for upset customers" haha this quote just sums up the intelligence of the person that posted this comment. If I didn't have a problem with my VodaGay service in the CBD! I sure wouldn't waste 3 hours on hold (last call to Vodafone Support)just to "clog" up other complaining customers. Idiot.
9 Jan 2011 08:36:10 PM: I am relly against racism and many people here would be subject to discrimmination here, post 10:29:11 PM should definitely be deleted. He is clearly upset, but critising a racial group does not fix your problem mate.
9 Jan 2011 08:37:02 PM: @ 9 Jan 2011 10:14:21 PM - No whoever that person was is wrong. Vodafone used to contract third party dealer channels to operate the stores on their behalf. Once Hutchins Australia and Vodafone AUS merged to form VHA all these stores were brought from the third party dealers so VHA would have more control over them and customers experience.......yes I work for VHA in their AUS call centre.
9 Jan 2011 08:37:41 PM: 10:34:10, clearly you are not a person who clogs up the line but people who just ring up and want to get out of their contract with a full waiver because they think they get to keep their iphone 4. Idiot.
9 Jan 2011 08:37:47 PM: All some of us is asking - please treat the staff with the respect we deserve.
Thank you.
9 Jan 2011 08:39:02 PM: Thank you all for your input, I have moderated the comment at 10:29:11 PM for racial slurs. Please refrain from racial insults and be sensible in your comments. - Adam
9 Jan 2011 08:39:10 PM: I find it very amusing that there are people who come onto this website who defend Vodafone when 99.9% of the people on this site are against VF, especially this section.
9 Jan 2011 08:40:29 PM: well said.
9 Jan 2011 08:40:39 PM: Sorry Adam.....it's hard not to get angry online just like we all have over the phone. It's obvious how much this network burns people up inside.
9 Jan 2011 08:41:15 PM: thanks ADAM!!
9 Jan 2011 08:44:34 PM: I'll treat Vodafone with the same respect they treat me! Take my money and provide nothing but service trouble, no 3G, non-disclosure of network problems upon signing me up, misrepresentation of your product that doesn't work. Why should I just bare with you? I couldn't care less if Vodafone was merging with God, your product / service that you continue to sell to customers, DOES NOT WORK, and then all you can do is redirect customers to a call centre with dreadful wait times. Vodafone deserves everything it gets!
9 Jan 2011 08:46:44 PM: Vodafone does work in a majority of areas, this is a misrepresentation
9 Jan 2011 08:50:17 PM: HAHA nice comment 10:46:4PM. Thats why you have 12,000 people complaining. Definitely works in "majority of areas" haha FAIL.
9 Jan 2011 08:53:24 PM: I'm not fail, im not locked into vodafone at all. Fail ahahha
9 Jan 2011 08:53:39 PM:
9 Jan 2011 08:59:32 PM: HAHAHA My friend just replied to my SMS I sent yesterday at 9pm.....He just received it now 11:00pm tonight......
9 Jan 2011 09:00:58 PM: How about you TIO staff member get the ACCC involved. This country has 12 THOUSAND people complaining about how a major company is treating them and providing products and services that are not "fit for purpose" If Vodafone was doing such a good job and informing people, providing additional customer support, via the stores that can solve peoples problems, as well as the horrible "customer support" call wait times, then the 12,000 people would not be on this website. You need to understand we (the Australian taxpayer) pay your Govt body to stop companies doing this and we need the ACCC and TIO to step in with force. Until such action, you will get furious and outrageous complaining customers venting their frustration on this site and will continue to argue with VHA staff. Vodafone should instruct all VHA staff not to post on Vodafail.com, it only fuels the fire and pisses more customers off.
9 Jan 2011 09:02:00 PM: @ 9 Jan 2011 10:53:39 PM,

Whilst I am 100% against everything Vodafone as a company does atm, due to the amount of network errors and everything associated with it. I do feel for your position (and the other customer facing staff), and have alot of respect for what you must be having to deal with atm. I know it must be tuff, and one way or the other this will eventually play out. I hope for yours and all of the staffs sake as well as the customers it is sooner rather than later. I still have the utmost respect for this sites creator, whilst I understand this site must be hurting the company you represent, once this site was created your customers realised they are not alone. It annoys me when one of the staff above blame this sites creator for his staff not coming to work, because at the end of the day this site brought everyone together, it is the company you guys represent that caused this fiasco and hopefully they can sort it out really quick. Unfortunately I just can't see that happening and as such feel for what you guys and girls must be having to deal with.

Regards,
Vodafail Moderation Team.
9 Jan 2011 09:05:09 PM: Thank you mr moderator
9 Jan 2011 09:05:27 PM: Everyone should lodge a complaint with the TIO no matter how small it is. This way it costs money for Vodafone.
9 Jan 2011 09:06:47 PM: If I was a VHA staff member, I'd be on seek.com and handing my resume in at Telstra and Optus tomorrow. No way could I sell such an awful service. I'm too honest person for that.
9 Jan 2011 09:10:46 PM: Telstra and optus are just as bad

9 Jan 2011 09:14:11 PM: Do you see a TelstraFail or OptusFail website with 12,000 posts on it? Nope. Class action law suit against them? Nope. 4 million privacy issues breached? Nope. Yeah, seem like they are just as bad. haha FAIL.
9 Jan 2011 09:14:53 PM: 9 Jan 2011 11:10:46 PM ...If you are talking about coverage and network performance I disagree 100% . I have used all 3 all around Australia for a long time, and when it comes to overall coverage and performance Telstra's NextG Network is miles ahead of the competition. However I do agree with most you pay a little more for that service. Second would be the Optus Network, they have almost as good a coverage, but the performance of web browsing can be a little sluggish at times. However the benefit is they are usually a little cheaper than Telstra. Finally you have Vodafone, and whilst they are the cheapest option, I am sure I don't need to repeat the 11,000 posts here that basically tell you the coverage and performance is below par (especially of the last few months).
9 Jan 2011 09:17:52 PM: I wouldn't care if Telstra had monkeys working in customer service as I would never have to ring them about a fault with the service I have a telstra mobile also. I agree on optus being just as bad.
9 Jan 2011 09:18:52 PM: If Vodafone Public Relations had any brains they would have got the CEO to issue a notice to all staff advising them NOT to post on www.vodafail.com! Another Vodafone managment FAIL haha. Keep fuelling the fire VHA staff. Tops! Good work!
9 Jan 2011 09:18:56 PM: Telstra wants to be a monopoly and this site is making the telstra CEO very happy
9 Jan 2011 09:26:01 PM: The sooner Vodafone goes under the better. At least it will teach the staff that maybe signing up customers to a product/service that isn't fit for purpose probably isn't such an honest thing to do and the company that you work for (Vodafone) is the one that is making your life at work hell. Do yourself a favour and jump ship, probably get a pay rise as well :)
9 Jan 2011 09:30:29 PM: Vodafone have 4 million users. Only 12000 have an issue
9 Jan 2011 09:31:56 PM: If vodafone go under, say hello to increased mobile costs!! Optus and telstra can then charge whatever theywant
9 Jan 2011 09:32:17 PM: @ 9 Jan 2011 11:30:29 PM , It is called a sample size. The majority of people do not even know about this site, nor do they post on blogs. A sample size of 11000 people is HUGE to a company with 4-6 million customers.
9 Jan 2011 09:32:37 PM: 9 Jan 2011 11:26:01 PM

There is a big difference between a person that is angry and a person that is rude. An angry person makes you want to help them because they are disappointed in whatever endeavour you are doing. A rude person only makes you realise they are not someone you have respect for.

Just a thought.
9 Jan 2011 09:35:12 PM: Depends on where the anger is directed
9 Jan 2011 09:36:16 PM: Also a majority of people on here complain 5 or so times
9 Jan 2011 09:37:09 PM: I'd much rather pay more for my mobile service that worked! Obviously my $80 per month on my crappy infinite plan is like throwing money down the drain anyway!
9 Jan 2011 09:38:02 PM:
9 Jan 2011 09:39:24 PM: How can a major telco not have 3G service in one of Australia's CBDs haha FAIL. Vodafone suck.
9 Jan 2011 09:39:46 PM: @ 9 Jan 2011 11:36:16 PM, Sorry due to the unique number of IP's that have posted. I will have to disagree with that statement. Regards, Vodafail Moderation Team.
9 Jan 2011 09:40:43 PM: So if someone directs anger at you, do you help them? Ummm NO
9 Jan 2011 09:44:06 PM: Maybe Vodafone customers are angry because staff in the store tell you to ring customer service which has terrible wait times.... That is Vodafone's customer service...
9 Jan 2011 09:49:05 PM: @ 9 Jan 2011 11:40:43 PM
If a drukardn in a pub is angry with my for looking at them funny, do I want to help him? No.

If a customer with my company which I have spent years of my life working for is angry with us, bloody oath I want to help them.
9 Jan 2011 09:52:18 PM: Ah Vodafone staff, keep trying to defend a useless company that cares about wasting millions on a V8 supercar team and sponsoring the Ashes, rather then investing more infrastructure into their network when doing their capacity planning before rolling out unlimited infinite plans. = FAIL
9 Jan 2011 10:50:25 PM: LMAO at post above. That seem to shut the Vodafone whinging staff up. Good one!
9 Jan 2011 10:54:21 PM: Or it's just that they have lives and went to bed ...
9 Jan 2011 10:57:23 PM: Yeah they need an early night in prep for tomorrow, another day where the staff think.. FML all thanks to VODAFONE!
10 Jan 2011 01:44:04 AM: Hello Vodafone... can you spell I N T E G R I T Y...? Do you know what it means? It means DO WHAT YOU SAY YOU ARE GOING TO DO. That means... provide the service that you contracted to provide to the customer. Your lack of INTEGRITY is the sole reason for all of the flak you are getting on this and other forums.
10 Jan 2011 03:02:36 AM: Out of every hundred customers we sign up, maybe two or three have issues.

That's the bottom line.
10 Jan 2011 07:19:03 AM: Intimidating and abusing staff is really not OK. Not at all.
Anything else that will help you FORCE VODAFONE TO HONOR IT'S MOST BASIC COMMITMENTS is fair game.
Vodafone (the company) uses all sorts of strategies, tricks and straight out lies to abscond from their responsibility. Do not let anybody convince you that it is mean, cruel or immoral to respond in kind.
Although Australian telcos have a poor track record of recognizing that low staff moral (as a result of management failings) is a real problem, there is always a first time.

If you want to abuse somebody you don't know because you are angry - take a long hard look at yourself and chill out.
If you want to insist that Vodafone (the company) must meet it's most basic obligations and the only way to do that is by dealing with tired looking Vodafone staff who wish it would end - go right ahead.
If you work for Vodafone - good luck.
10 Jan 2011 11:49:35 AM: I agree with the original poster, they are people after all and their management is letting them down very badly. Good managers take the heat OFF their employees. Vodafone are not doing that clearly. As for the earlierr comment about only a small number having issues, thats bollocks because I hear more and more everyday. I work for a large organisation and they are coming out of the woodwork. I made this video earlier at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZKZPBr7lYo it demonstrates amongst other things that you can get you issue across without resorting to bad behaviour.
10 Jan 2011 01:03:03 PM: I agree with you 100% i work in retail aswell the staff at my local Voda store have been fantastic infact i have become friends with alot of them only because i am always in the store having to send off a hand set or pick it up to find its still faulty and as i said to the staff i know its not their fault. I personaly find it to be a shame the network is so bad at the moment and with the personal information leak at the moment i am seriously concerned.
10 Jan 2011 02:37:18 PM: Vodafone Management is a disaster! Go the class action law suit. 9000 people lined up so far! I emailed ACCC yesterday as well as Today Tonight and A Current Affair. Vodafone deserves everyting it gets for poor planning, non-disclosure and misrepresentation.
10 Jan 2011 02:44:24 PM: Yes, but the staff don't. That's the whole point of this argument. Good luck guys!
10 Jan 2011 04:10:29 PM: I work for VHA and have 2 phones with vodafone that I've never had any real problem with... why should I feel guilty for selling something that works for me?
10 Jan 2011 05:19:07 PM: Yet, you can see complaint after complaint after complaint here, let alone the people that are apparently going into your stores and abusing you or over the phone and you think the network works?
10 Jan 2011 07:10:58 PM: Today spent wasting my time with voidafone,I have been away for the past week, prior to that I lodged a complaint with the TIO, Voidafone left a message asking me to call them re my complaint or text them, unable to do so as I didnt have coverage however did sent a text from my sons phone telling them this. o today I called the 1555 and decided to be call back within 10-15 mins, this was after being told at least half a dozen times that there was a technical issue and to call back. 2 hours later no response so I called 1555 again this time held on as the wait was 7-12 mins, another 2 hours so called back again, over 35mins was the reported as the wait, this time I did get a customer service person whom noticed I had a complaint and dumped me through to this department, alas they were now closed, ring back tomorrow. All I wanted was my password reset as they claim I had put a wrong one in and had not answered my secret question correctly 3 times,funny thing was I didn't even get a chance to answer the question as coverage was slow. so I called once again spoke to a supervisor, sorry blah blah blah, still waiting for the reset, not going to give them any more payments as I wont pay for nothing
11 Jan 2011 07:19:16 AM: Hmm, this is the wrong post to leave such a reply. This is to do with retail staff dealing with abuse - not customer care waiting times.
11 Jan 2011 02:12:42 PM: Directed to the 2nd poster you sir are the idiot rather then the man telling you that he is just doing his job. If you were a police officer and people give you the crap your giving this retailer wouldnt you feel annoyed as you are only doing your job. Yes i agree that Vodafone is hopeless but the employee is quite obviously a trained proffesional and would rather not be harrased by people like you. No offence to the poster but i wouldnt mind getting my contract ripped up as the converage is horrible but there is seriously nothing you can do about that. Also this employee isnt on the phone when you call up customer support and as it seems i would honestly rather have them to talk to then the people we do recieve. TO ALL FUTURE HARRASERS dont shoot the messanger, as there doing there job, if you intend to hurt voda there is a law suit, just dont harras there workers.
13 Jan 2011 02:42:26 PM: OP, the only reason I would come round the counter is to give you a big hug. I have the utmost admiration for anyone who has to deal face-to-face with the idiotic general public, having spent three of the most hateful years of my life putting up with verbal abuse down the phone because morons don't read the terms and conditions, and refuse to take responsibility for their own actions. Anyone who comes into a store and makes threats and intimidates as the customer is alleged to have done should be reported to the police (who sadly will do nothing no doubt).
13 Jan 2011 10:19:22 PM: VHA its management and staff are working hard to fix the issues at hand and find resolutions for all customers facing issues. Please note that the majority of employees both retail and call centre are not here to make your life hard, we genuinely want to help you, we have friends and family facing the same issue and we do feel your pain. Please give us the chance to do so without being rude or aggressive, it's much easier to go above and beyond for someone who is understanding of where we are coming from than it is for someone who is yelling,screaming and name calling. This is the way bullies behave!
To the girl at the store I understand where you are coming from and you are doing an amazing job.
To the creator of this website, I understand your frustrations and I applaud you for taking action to rectify something that you believed to be wrong.
To all the rational people who have posted on this site, thank you for taking the time and effort to air your grievances.
We are aware that there are issues with the network, and I am not one to make excuses so I won't. We are working to Increase our capacity and the only thing I can say is I hope this is fixed soon.
I myself work for VHA and have done so for many years, our network has never been as good as Telstras- but bare in mind it was you the tax payers who paid for and set up their infrastructure when the network was owned by the government- be that as it may I choose to work for Vodafone for the culture that it encourages throughout the company it is an amazing company to work for.
I am saddened by the comments made about our customer service as this is an area that we are normally complemented on and this issue needs to be adressed along with the network. After all what's the use of having a fantastic network when you dont have fantastic staff to back it up- we are not Telstra after all.
14 Jan 2011 08:52:46 AM: I'd like to see how would you react if you were in our position... The employees made the company, if you think your company is not given the right service SUGGEST other options instead of looking at the customer as if we were rude idiots just for pleasure. YOUR CUSTOMER SERVICE IS BAD now that everybody is telling it to you VODAFAIL do you think you could listen and DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT? sometimes I wonder how is this legal, ACCC where are you?
19 Jan 2011 02:56:20 PM: i have worked for vf and 3 for 5 years and man.... i'm looking to change my job . getting so much shit from ignorant customers has just taken its toll. it's not like we get paid more for getting shouted on. We really try to help you, but if people can't give us a break. idno.. i do understand from customers' POV, but it's just not fair to the workers. Stop "my friend told me..." rah rah rah. If they can do a better job, go to them. Why ask if you can't believe what we say?
20 Jan 2011 06:13:12 PM: There are multipule reasons for network problems. Just a couple are: the 2100mhz signal is banked up because of IPhones (3GS) and upgrades.
If you choose a phone that is 850mhz capable you will have a better experience. 850 is what telstra call the "next G" network, it is not as fast 2100 (but still broadband speed).If you are having trouble suggest to customer care or Vodafone consultants that you would like a I phone 4 or the new Black Berry bold or HTC desire HD. 850 has more then double the frequency range and penetrates buildings, mountains etc.

Telstra had the same "teething" problems 4 years ago.
I am proud that I look after all of my business clients and if our network is really not achieving drsirable results for their business then I go to great lengths to help them out of their commitments. In saying that it is quite rare that I have to go to those lengths.

I am sorry that the company I work for and love is frustrating so many people. But I know it will be fixed.
Customers you may want to leave now but down the track you will experience great coverage at the most competitive prices on the market.

I hope you can stick with Vodafone and support a business that is driving mobile phone prices significatly lower for the Australian Market.

Vodafone will fix their issues they are not new to this. As a brand they are the largest mobile provider in the world, (one in four mobiles are Vodafone mobile).

And I applaud the creator of this website and hope that more people will create wiki sites for companies to hear their complaints ( a insurance flood victim one possibly?)

cheers.
21 Jan 2011 09:03:04 AM: How fail are customers?????????

That just says it all!

It never ceases to amaze me how so called 'customer service' representatives fail to understand the fundamentals of... well, customer service! With 25 years experience dealing with the public, I understand completely the trials and tribulations that dealing with the public present. Indeed, 'Customer Service' jobs are possibly the toughest and most underpaid of jobs, made more difficult by the apparent severe lack of proper training most customer service reps display; either lack of training or simply an innate lack of ability to put training into practice.

I agree, a fair percentage of customers appear to be 'morons'. I agree, customers sometimes do and say things that make it difficult to 'service' them in an appropriate way. I agree, customers can be rude, aggressive, and damn right offensive at times... enough to make even the most proficient customer service rep want to pull out a 44 magnum and do some damage.

Excellent customer service is primarily about relationships. The top 3 'C's' of excellent relationships are; Communication, Communication, and... yep... COMMUNICATION!! Vodafone is a TeleCOMMUNICATIONs company that, from my perspective as a customer, seems to have a huge COMMUNICATION problem. Go figure!

Apart from the CEO apology, which I only found out about via following Vodafail, Vodafone has not once COMMUNICATED with me to acknowledge there are issues with it's network. Why is it left to vodafail to gather all the intelligence about network failure and customer issues? Why isn't Vodafone being more proactive in regard to placating it's customers and solving their issues? If Vodafone is being proactive, why, as a PAYING CUSTOMER, don't I know anything about it?

Poor COMMUNICATION: Strike 1!

To all the Vodafone staff on here venting about angry, moronic, and stupid customers: PAYING CUSTOMERS have the right to be angry, moronic and stupid. It's YOUR JOB to deal with them in a professional way regardless of your personal opinion. I'm sure I speak for almost everyone when I say, I make NO APOLOGY for the diversity of the human condition that makes every HUMAN different and approach situations in different ways; ALL of us PAYING CUSTOMERS have the RIGHT to NOT fit in the BOX that YOU call 'normal', or that YOU are happy to deal with! If you don't know how to deal with an angry customer, go back to skool and get some training! LEARN that angry customers are one of the BEST types of customer to have (Yes you read that right, BEST) and can ultimately be the most rewarding to deal with! Angry customers present you with huge OPPORTUNITIES; You turn an angry customer around and you have a customer that will sing your praises until the next millennium and leave a beaming, satisfied smile of your face for a job well done! It's a shame none of you seem to have a grasp on that! Learn EMPATHY, PATIENCE, LISTENING SKILLS, QUESTIONING SKILLS. Did I mention EMPATHY? If YOU can't be bothered to learn how to deal with all types of people, then get another job! Publically bitching and moaning about the very people who ultimately PAY YOUR WAGES, AND PROVIDE YOU WITH A JOB isn't a very smart move on so many levels, there isn't enough space to discuss them here!

Gross lack of service ability: Strike 2!

Also, angry customers help uncover holes in your product and/or service. It's up to Vodafone (read Vodafone staff) to effectively identify and resolve those holes. It shouldn't be left to fester this much so that Vodafail comes to life or PAYING customers have to invest valuable time and energy to make lots of noise and fuss to force those holes to be filled; It's NOT OUR JOB, but we, as PAYING customers, sure have the RIGHT to make lots of noise and fuss when YOU fail! Unfortunately, as the coal face of Vodafone, it's the role of the customer service rep to face the brunt of customer dissatisfaction in a professional way. If Vodafone management don't have the nous to provide the front line staff with effective mitigation facilities, that's NOT the PAYING CUSTOMERS problem... it's YOURS!

Apparent lack of ACTION: Strike 3!

Fundamentally, it is the PRIVILEGE OF ANY BUSINESS that a customer decides to had over hard earned money for products and services. That's a fact that seems to have been lost on not only Vodafone, but across the consumer sector. Companies like Vodafone that lock customers into contracts, lock phones to the network, etc, make it difficult for dissatisfied customers to switch suppliers. Unlike a high street retailer where, as a customer, I have the choice whether to go back or not at no cost to me, I can't just ditch Vodafone without having to buy a new phone or lose money on the phone I already have. That just adds to the misery and frustration of poor service, be it from Vodafone staff or the network. PAYING CUSTOMERS like me are kind of like caged angry lions. Vodafone has 3 choices. 1) Release the lions: unlock our phones and/or allow us to exit contracts at no cost. 2) Give the lions a better enclosure: FIX the damn network! 3) Make the lions more angry: Keep poking us with the sticks of bad service in exchange for good money and watch what happens... I can assure you, it's not gonna be good!

21 Jan 2011 05:50:40 PM: Some of you clowns should slow down a little on the individual that wrote the original post. Spitting your vitriol and hissing your anger only goes to prove that the point made about abuse from customers must be all too real for the sales people. For s start it's only a phone for heavens sake. From reading the emotion blurted around this web site one could be forgiven for thinking that you all have nowhere to live tonight. I sympathise with your phone issues (although only mildly) and appreciate that you are entitled to expect a certain standard of service. However, that doesn't give any of you the unfettered right to abuse people just because your having a 'tanty' over a phone. I would be horrified if my 8 year old carried on like some of the goons on this site. Far from being subject to a class action, the employees of Vodaphone should prosecute some of the mindless fools roaming (sorry couldn't help the phone pun) around this site. I would gladly represent the person who wrote the first part of this thread. As for the idiot that threw a phone at the dealer he should have been prosecuted for common assault. It's hard to believe that this is modern Australia when we have a few disaffected phone 'freaks' thinking that they have the right to assault and abuse their fellow Australians over such an inconsequential thing as a mobile phone. Grow up the lot of you!
21 Jan 2011 06:02:20 PM: Couldn't have said it any better myself
21 Jan 2011 06:47:44 PM: 21 Jan 2011 11:03:04 AM Comment is full of truth
21 Jan 2011 07:59:59 PM: I love the comments about the fact that vodafone use the same towers as optus/ telstra or whoever, it cracks me up. How can 3 people on 3 different networks in the same 10 metre radius as each other all have varying levels of coverage? Oh yes and all using the same model iphone. No shock to anyone to hear that me on vodafail had the worst coverage and the others had near perfect reception.... Go on, justify that someone
21 Jan 2011 08:05:58 PM: In addition to the above comment, it was not on one occasion, and in different spots around town... hmmmmmmmmm?????!!!
21 Jan 2011 10:05:50 PM: In reply to comment @ 9 Jan 2011 09:47:29 PM:
... Also with the whole Vodafone's security breach - funny how they forgot to mention telstra also use the exact same system as us...

Hmnn .. perhaps Telstra has access restricted to specific IP's and only allow secure VPN access ... bit different than Vodafone's generic password, non VPN, allow connection any IP shonky setup.

Oh .. hang on, I forgot about the non-expiring password.
18 Feb 2011 05:33:45 PM: To the person that posted this:

If you choose a phone that is 850mhz capable you will have a better experience. 850 is what telstra call the "next G" network, it is not as fast 2100 (but still broadband speed).If you are having trouble suggest to customer care or Vodafone consultants that you would like a I phone 4 or the new Black Berry bold or HTC desire HD. 850 has more then double the frequency range and penetrates buildings, mountains etc.

Telstra had the same "teething" problems 4 years ago.
I am proud that I look after all of my business clients and if our network is really not achieving drsirable results for their business then I go to great lengths to help them out of their commitments. In saying that it is quite rare that I have to go to those lengths.

I am sorry that the company I work for and love is frustrating so many people. But I know it will be fixed.
Customers you may want to leave now but down the track you will experience great coverage at the most competitive prices on the market.

I hope you can stick with Vodafone and support a business that is driving mobile phone prices significatly lower for the Australian Market.

Vodafone will fix their issues they are not new to this. As a brand they are the largest mobile provider in the world, (one in four mobiles are Vodafone mobile).

And I applaud the creator of this website and hope that more people will create wiki sites for companies to hear their complaints ( a insurance flood victim one possibly?)

cheers.


You obviously have no idea what you are talking about and it is dangerous Vodafone representatives such as yourselves that is increasing the misconception of the Vodafone network: 2100 is not as fast as Telstras 850 not even close 2100 tops out at max 3.6 MBPS and Telstra's next G is now deploying 20 MBPS. At least educate yourself before you pass yourself off as a so called expert.
12 May 2011 11:25:56 AM: The reason you are abused on a daily basis is because customers have totally lost faith in this companies ability to solve any sort of problem. I work in retail and am immensely grateful that the company that I work for do not have policies that force me to argue and fight with customers. I absolutely hate that I can't go into a Vodafone retail store and get my problems solved. Retail staff need more powers and much more training so that they can deal with these issues instore, rather than telling people to call customer care over the smallest issues. Remember, the number one annoyance for customers are policies and procedures that ruin the customer experience, if you can change/remove these then you are one step closer to success.

Also, curious if there is a legitimate way for employees to pass feedback onto higher ups? Surely being at the frontline of these complaints means they might have some ideas on how to improve the situation?
21 Jun 2011 11:26:09 PM: No matter how infuriated you are with service from any company, that is no excuse to use violence or assault to threaten, intimidate or bully a response. There are channels in place for this sort of thing and as frustrating as it may be, any retail staff member who knows the law and or feels threatened enough can have you put up on assault charges for even 'saying' that you will hit them etc.

Granted, its frustrating, I left Vodafone about a year ago, apparently before all the trouble and went to telstra. Needless to say, I can apply many vodafail stories to my Telstra experience. So much so that I returned to vodafone, only to discover my calls drop out, and my internet is at times unusable. It is frustrating and annoys and irritates me to no end.

I do not however, and will not ever consider going into a retail store and attempting to threaten or intimidate staff in their workplace. I now work in law enforcement and have seen too many people go to jail because of this behaviour. Do not let a phone companies frustrations put you in prison for what could be up to 5 years, longer if second or third offence.

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11513 Someone from NSW thinks vodafone is Lack of Privacy at 9 Jan 2011 07:15:11 PM
This is a ridiculous situation in Australia where to merely do the simple task of accessing a telecommunication system we have to provide all of our personal details including phone numbers, drivers licence, address , DOB etc etc, - all the info that criminals need to assume our identity, and we are asked to take this huge risk just to access the Bl**dy phone system!! what a joke!

Also the lengthy credit checks required to sign up for some poxy monthly plan which just rips money out of our pocket! They should be signing a contract with us not us signing a one way contractual arrangement with them.
9 Jan 2011 07:23:10 PM: Umm that information for the credit check proves that you're not a criminal or involved in activity that includes fraud and that the i.d you've given us is legit. Moron.
9 Jan 2011 07:29:35 PM: hhahahahahahahahahaha
9 Jan 2011 07:35:01 PM: Why does anyone need to know who i am just to access a telephone. No one knows who i am if i just go to a payphone, which i should probably start doing - would get a more reliable service
9 Jan 2011 07:43:26 PM:
9 Jan 2011 07:51:30 PM: lol who the hell started this post?? they are very uneducated
9 Jan 2011 07:59:16 PM: All telcos use siebel.
And you cant access the credit card info it comes up with the first 4 numbers then XXXX-XXX
yeh..thats awkward for people saying they have unexplained purchases
9 Jan 2011 08:22:54 PM: LOL @ 09:59:16 ahahahahhahah you crack me up
10 Jan 2011 04:49:05 AM: OK, if the information must be collected and its so critical to the integrity of the phone subscribers identity, then VODAFONE PLEASE MANAGE AND STORE THE INFORMATION APPROPRIATELY I.E. STORE IT IN YOUR OWN SECURE SYSTEMS!!

My original post was to highlight just how important it is that this information is managed and stored correctly.
10 Jan 2011 05:45:47 AM: A possible solution- a national identity system where all of this information should be stored in a Government data bank, not entrusted to the private sector to manage when they have a business to run. No wonder this sort of thing happens, we are asked everyday for personal info that is squirelled away in a myriad of data bases, all increasing the risk of identity theft. A central data bank that is not accessible by internet may be the way to go, but of course the
negatives are that once compromised, the data is all in one place. The distributed nature of the internet works for and against the maintenance of privacy.

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11511 Someone from VIC thinks vodafone is terrible at 9 Jan 2011 07:11:17 PM
I am a 3 customer and since there merge i have constant call drop outs, i dont recieve mms, my phone freezes and I have poor recpetion in a 3G area. I have complained and all they do is say you have full coverage, there is no issue. My parents both are with 3 and have the same issues, we even have to walk up the street to send a message sometimes! Internet connection is also average. I will be ending my contact early and paying out the rest to go to telstra and actually have coverage, as optus seems to be just as bad as 3/vodafone.

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11510 Someone from NSW thinks vodafone is Complete Failure at 9 Jan 2011 07:10:51 PM
I signed up for a Vodafone Connection on 27th Dec 2010 and my mobile phone signal alternates between 1 bar to "Searching for Signal" or "No Service" at home. I complained immediately after this happened to Vodafone and I've followed up over phone several times. They sent me an SMS 10 days later saying that my complaint has been escalated to the network team. Nothing has changed. I dont want to change mobile service provider. I want the service Vodafone signed me up for. They even showed me a coverage map tool in their store and indicated very good signal in Voice, Data and 3G. The truth is far from what they sign you up for.

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11509 Someone from ACT thinks vodafone is Super fail at 9 Jan 2011 07:10:44 PM
It started in October 2010. I was overseas, with international roaming enabled. 2 big problems:

1. Pre-paid ran out. I went to my online account and tried to top up. I repeatedly got the error "technical problem with the payment system". I tried calling Customer Care to make the payment and complain, but I couldn't: the number was blocked and I got a text saying I couldn't call international numbers.

2. Unable to make international calls while overseas - but I could send international texts! Every time I tried to call an Australian or US number, I got numerous texts of two kinds: "Transaction failed - Insufficient funds" and "Yo'ure not allowed to call this number".

I complained via their extremely unhelpful online enquiry service. Trying to work out which problem I should categorise both complaints under was difficult.

I sent off the complaint on 17 October 2010. I got a reply on 21 October:

Hi Madeleine,

Thank you for your patience.

Vodafone apologises for the delay in responding to your enquiry within our normal time frames, and regret any inconvenience this may have caused. We understand that due to this delay, you may have utilised other avenues to resolve your query.

Please note that Vodafone are unable to assist with handset upgrade or mobile internet technical issues via email. For assistance with these queries, please call Vodafone on 1555 from your Vodafone handset or 1300 650 410 from a landline.

If you still require assistance via email, please advise us within 72 hours, and we will respond as soon as possible. Alternatively the answer to your enquiry may be found by registering and accessing the My Vodafone website.

Not helpful at all. So I responded, advising that no, they had not fixed my complaint. On 27 October, I got another email from them:

We have not heard from you concerning your request for support in the 120 hours since we sent you a response. Consequently, we have changed the status of your question to SOLVED.

At this point, I gave up. Being overseas and completely unable to get help via phone or email, I ended up relying on pay phones.

In December 2010, I had numerous problems - my phone dropping out of service for no reason; not receiving calls or messages; being charged for messages sent, but the recipients not receiving them.

Now in January 2011, I find out that maybe my privacy has been breached. Maybe, unauthorised people have my details. But maybe not. How would I know - Vodafone hasn't advised me whether or not I'm affected. Instead, they've buried a dismissive blog post on their website.

I've had enough. Are you actively trying to destroy your business?
9 Jan 2011 07:19:51 PM: Your experience with the online assistance (sic) system of Vodafail is not unique. It seems to quote some unrelated boilerplate info then classifies the incident as solved. Should you then respond further to the initial incident further it does the same thing quotes some inane unrelated response then classifies the incident as solved again.
16 Jan 2011 12:57:23 PM: yes- problem solved-you give up. You fight- same thing.

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11508 Someone from VIC thinks vodafone is Scarely bad at 9 Jan 2011 07:10:12 PM
Cannot get/maintain consistent contact with my wifes phone in our area. Vodafone/3 advise that coverage in the area is ok. Something doesn't add up. I was on Vodafone/3 for a while and then went to Telstra. I immediately noticed the remarkable difference with my reception. I'd never recommend anyone go to Vodafone/3.

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11507 Someone from NSW thinks vodafone is iPhone at 9 Jan 2011 07:08:53 PM
Is it possible that VodaFail supplies
to customers cheap 'factory seconds' or
defective phones?

My wife had to waste hours and money on
transport to go to iphone shop to repair
VodaFAIL supplied phone. My VodaFail supplied
iphone is not working properly. I will have
to waste few hours to visit iphone shop for
them to check and repair.

Both 'need-repair' phones were in brand
new sealed boxes (new) and are less than 6
months old.

9 Jan 2011 07:14:36 PM: how many networks do you know that support the iphone
22 Jan 2011 07:14:10 PM: ever thought it was the apple product. oh wait noooooo it couldn't be.
22 Jan 2011 07:24:34 PM: Telstra and Optus networks work fine with the iPhone, only Vodafones crap network doesn't work with the iPhone (or any smartphone).

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11504 Someone from VIC thinks vodafone is Pretty fail at 9 Jan 2011 06:59:00 PM
Not a huge issue like connectivity but I didn't get an email/SMS notification statement for September and then in October I got an SMS saying I owe two months payment. I can understand not getting a notification but not even getting an invoice? Slack!

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11503 Someone from WA thinks vodafone is Vodafone letting me down more every day! at 9 Jan 2011 06:55:29 PM
Reception dropping out, calls dropping out, no reception, calls not connecting, SMS & MMS delayed massively - 3 DAYS! Seriously Vodafone what is the problem? I have a new credit card number, so what did I do - register it with VF to direct debit my Internet Bill and to have it for my prepaid account, just like the old card. Now, I get a nasty bill saying that I haven't paid my Internet for two months! Enough is enough. I'm getting out of Vodafone.

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11502 Someone from NSW thinks vodafone is no reception at 9 Jan 2011 06:54:16 PM
My family has 4 phones with vodaphone & we are always having trouble with reception.

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11501 Someone from QLD thinks vodafone is DEAD at 9 Jan 2011 06:52:44 PM
I phoned customer service only to be put on hold for nearly 3 hours ( which i took photography evidence ) I explained this to the spokesperson only to be told " you will get 25 % of your currant bill " I then asked how much is my " new " bill ? Um sir I have taken of $ 15 .00 that's right fifteen dollars !! Now you do the math - a bill of $ 225.00 at 25 % discount does not equate to $ 15.00 off my total bill , I then asked him again ? his reply -please sir can you tell me how much this total would be ? That is nothing to proud of Vodafail.... Ohhh Vodafail you're done it again

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11500 Someone from NSW thinks vodafone is Unlucky 13 Vodafail at 9 Jan 2011 06:52:27 PM
9 Jan 2011 06:55:53 PM: I have finally contacted the TIO so im waiting for them to get back to me

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11499 Someone from QLD thinks vodafone is DEAD at 9 Jan 2011 06:51:39 PM
I phoned customer service only to be put on hold for nearly 3 hours ( which i took photography evidence ) I explained this to the spokesperson only to be told " you will get 25 % of your currant bill " I then asked how much is my " new " bill ? Um sir I have taken of $ 15 .00 that's right fifteen dollars !! Now you do the math - a bill of $ 225.00 at 25 % discount does not equate to $ 15.00 off my total bill , I then asked him again ? his reply -please sir can you tell me how much this total would be ? That is nothing to proud of Vodafail.... Ohhh Vodafail you're done it again

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11498 Someone from NSW thinks vodafone is 100% at 9 Jan 2011 06:50:52 PM
I had an Internet connection, which I cancelled due to coverage issues but still have three mobile phone accounts with Vodafone (one still under contract). As of three days ago we have had no coverage what so ever and are unable to use our mobile phones to make or receive calls or send and receive text messages. I spent just over two hours on the phone to customer care who told me that they had a software problem and were unable to tell me when we would be able to use our phones again... They did have one solution, go for a drive and see if our phones worked in a different area and they would call me on the landline to see if this worked. I did this and they still have not returned my call!

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11497 Someone from QLD thinks vodafone is secure at 9 Jan 2011 06:48:34 PM
In regards to Vodafone's alleged data breach.. DON'T BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU READ! I've yet to hear of any specific breach but rather for the potential. Vodafone keeps customer info on internal systems that can be accessed via an online web portal called siebel with usernames/passwords that staff are authorised to use, and has done so for many many years. The only way for this to be illegally accessed is for an individual staff member to give out/sell that username/password. The system is secure but is subject to the human element. Vodafone is as secure as Telstra which uses the exact same system and procedure and they have many more customers, or any online system that requires username and password.
9 Jan 2011 07:07:08 PM: Vodafone is not as secure as Telstra the only thing they have in common is Siebel,

1) Tesltra do not allow general passwords/logins to be used
2) Tesltra have VPN's and Smart Cards. Where as any employee that leaks a password for vodafone that can then be used from any Internet connection accessing the webportal.

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11496 Someone from QLD thinks vodafone is Yodafone at 9 Jan 2011 06:44:47 PM
Half way through a conversation approximately 60% of the time the phone call drops out and it sounds like Yoda from Starwars is taking over.
In relation to the latest allegation I checked my credit card today to find 2 transaction not authorised be me 1 rather large both totally unexplained transactions from overseas somewhere, credit card now canceled but can't cancel license plus other details if this is another Vodafail what a mess!

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11495 Someone from NSW thinks vodafone is slow at 9 Jan 2011 06:43:55 PM
I'm on a two years contract on my second year now!! and it's getting slow day by day, connection keep droping and there is not solution that we can feel about it, looks like we had nowhere to go!! any idea!!!

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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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11493 Someone from WA thinks vodafone is ARRGGHHH at 9 Jan 2011 06:34:31 PM
I am suprised I can stay connected to the internet long enough to post this. I have Vodafone internet throught the USB do-lally. If I can connect it is for a maximum of an hour before I get disconnected, it is slow and excruciatingly painful. How can it be so useless? $49 a month, if I wanted to use my 8GB I couldnt as I would never be able to get connected for long enough! Thank you vodafone, you do your job well.

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11492 Someone from NSW thinks vodafone is Extremely! at 9 Jan 2011 06:33:40 PM
Where do I begin with how angry Vodafone makes me?! Anywhere from reception problems to not being able to connect and make phone calls, to delayed msges and voicemails. The issue is that most people rely on their phones in this day and age to do everything. I try to connect to work emails, and I can't due to poor reception. Can't use my safari half the time - due to poor reception. Can't send msges or make phonecalls most of the time, at work at home and at my partners time... My question to Vodafone is why the hell do I even need an iPhone or even a phone when majority of the time I cannot use it?? What if god forbid one day I was in desperte need to make a phonecall or send a MSG to save my life - wouldn't rely on Vodafone that's for sure. Uhhh so frustrating!!!

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11491 Someone from VIC thinks vodafone is FAIL x million at 9 Jan 2011 06:30:11 PM
I have an iphone 3GS and here are the problems experienced with VODAFONE:

1. Internet - constant problems: always states that it is "searching". Connection always drops out.

2. Reception - calls constantly dropping out no matter what suburb I am in (city or country). Also, when trying to make calls it constantly says "FAIL". I sometimes have to dial a number 20 times before it connects.

3. Delayed text messages and voicesmail - I receive SMS's / Voicemails 2 or 3 days after they were sent to me.

4. Phone freezing all the time - especially when the phone is ringing and I'm not able to answer the phone as the phone functions have frozen.

5. Changes / updates made on the Vodafone website and then being incorrectly charged because the systen did not recognise/confirm my updates.

6. Customer service is appalling, being on hold for too long, calls being disconnected whilst on the phone is a vodaphone customer service rep.

I am EXTREMELY unhappy with VODAFONE and will support this site and do my part in order for VODAFONE to pull their heads in and get their act together.

I have plenty of more stories to list but I will be here all night.

Thank you,

Belinda



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11490 Someone from NSW thinks vodafone is worst in the world? at 9 Jan 2011 06:29:08 PM
3G and 2G dropouts, missed calls, no service where previously we had full service. All up about 50% of the time our phones have no reception at all, particularly during business hours, where previously I had full coverage at my desk.
Since the merger of 3 and Vodafone, service coverage has declined markedly - previously we had full coverage at home, now we are lucky to get 1 bar for both phone and wireless internet. Both drop out with annoying regularity. Service in Westfield Miranda used to be full coverage; it is n ow 50% no service.
My partner's phone, also with 3/Vodafone, can be on the coffee table next to mine, and hers shows reception while mine has none, whilst at other times the reverse can apply. There is no consistency.
As a committee member of a 4WD Club, I need access to my phone 24/7, in case of a search and rescue emergency.
3 says the problem lies with Vodafone; Vodafone says it because we are with 3. Both then blame the fact that we each have an iPhone 3GS (despite my having upgraded both phones to O/S 4.02), saying the phone has known reception problems.
Vodafone will not release either of us from our contracts - they say we have to go to 3 to deal with anything ; they have nothing to do with 3. 3 say all their contracts are now Vodafone property, and only they can release us.
3 want $585 each to change us from our contracts and onto new Vodafone contracts and a new phone each. This new contract will cost us each another $35.00 each per month (which we can't afford). They refuse to release us from our contracts and allow us to switch to another carrier.
Neither carrier is interested in my need for access to my phone 24/7.
9 Jan 2011 06:47:15 PM: In addition the biggest fail was I couldn't contact any of my 5 family members in the UK on Christmas day, due to the famous connection error'. Thanks Voda for disappointing all my family, and still charging me for the privilege. (Yes I did get charged for 1 minute and flagfall - how is that right?)

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11489 Someone from QLD thinks vodafone is Stinks at 9 Jan 2011 06:26:50 PM
iPhone 4 on vodafone/3 would be great but gets no signal at home and variable signal everywhere else expect under a phone tower. iPad on Telstra prepaid and perfect signal. Why oh Why did I ever leave Telstra.

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11488 Someone from NSW thinks vodafone is very FAIL at 9 Jan 2011 05:52:40 PM
my broadband is absolutely crap, cant do nothing on it, slow as, pathetic, utter crap, vodaphone are so BAD, worth absolutely nothing never go to vodafone.

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11487 Someone from NSW thinks vodafone is Not fail at all at 9 Jan 2011 05:52:30 PM
DID YOU KNOW VODAFONE AND TELSTRA USE THE EXACT SAME SYSTEMS, SO IF PEOPLE CAN VIEW VODAFONE CUSTOMERS ONLINE, TELSTRA CUSTOMERS CAN ALSO BE AT A BREACH OF PRIVACY!!!!!

TELSTRA HAS MANY MORE CUSTOMERS!!
9 Jan 2011 05:56:19 PM: Can you provide the information or link to information confirming your assertions?
9 Jan 2011 05:57:43 PM: I know that when I have been in both Vodafone and Telstra they use the same system as a form of data entry
9 Jan 2011 06:04:00 PM: They use the same Siebel system, difference is they do use a web portal accessible from any internet connection, additionally they have individual log on's and I believe smart cards. Unlike vodafail who allow web portal access, and general passwords to be shared. Sigh at the Voda Employees trying to pass the buck for their companies mistakes.
9 Jan 2011 06:04:40 PM: 'dont use a web portal'
9 Jan 2011 06:05:43 PM: Do you have evidence to say passwords are shared?
9 Jan 2011 06:06:59 PM: Sure, read the replies from Vodafone Store managers on Whirlpool ( http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum-replies.cfm?t=1614444&p=1 ) or read any of the numerous news articles that have already pointed it out.
9 Jan 2011 06:08:40 PM: There's more to this than the data entry. All is database. Security is the question.
9 Jan 2011 06:13:07 PM: There are also comments on there about telstra employees looking up people they know. Whats the diff?
9 Jan 2011 06:16:01 PM: Sigh, read the whole thread. That was posted by a Vodafone employee trying to pass the buck (just as this entire thread is). Sure Telstra employees can look information up, but as they have individual log in's, and as they have smart card access it is all traceable. Additionally that information cannot be accessed by Tesltra staff outside of their shop. Where as Vodafone employees have a web portal to access it from anywhere at anytime with general logins and passwords making it untraceable to one person.
9 Jan 2011 06:16:13 PM: two wrongs don't make a right but the Voda breach is massive and dangerous in the hands of criminals who have purchased the information
9 Jan 2011 06:17:41 PM: Two wrongs don't make a right? The only company that has made a wrong is Vodafone. Every other company that uses Siebel has it set up correctly and traceable.
9 Jan 2011 06:19:52 PM: that is true, but why is only vodafone under scrutiny for this?
9 Jan 2011 06:20:30 PM: do you work for every other company?
9 Jan 2011 06:23:58 PM: All will be scrutinised now!!!!
9 Jan 2011 06:24:31 PM: The reason Vodafone are under scruitiny, is because they allow web portal acces, because they allow generic log ins, because a non vodafone employee accessed the network yesterday and showed that anyone can access their network.

Do I work for every other company? No unlike others in this thread, I don't profess to work for every other company. However I do know enough about their security set ups with siebel to know they are not run like Vodafones (or is that Vodafaiiiiillllll)!
9 Jan 2011 06:26:55 PM: Either way, any company can fall subject to leaking of passwords
9 Jan 2011 06:29:41 PM: Yep and with Vodafone you can use that password anywhere you have a net connection. With other companies you would have to be in their store at their Terminals, or have a VPN with the correct 8 (or 9) digit code that changes everytime you access the network. ie, near impossible. You would have more chance of winning lotto :)
10 Jan 2011 11:50:35 AM: thats not true at all
12 Feb 2011 08:49:53 PM: Even a dumb ass like me can see that Vodafails system can be accessed anywhere in the world with the password which doesnt expire, and the person accessing the system can be untraceable. Telstra has a system that requires a password that is changing constantly and anyone accessing the system is traceable. So how on earth could some brainiac be defending vodacrap, by insistin telstra is as slack and as negligent and as irresponsible?

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11486 Someone from ACT thinks vodafone is bad at 9 Jan 2011 05:51:40 PM
We live in North Canberra - coverage is next to nothing (although has got better in the last week or so). I run a small business and use my mobile constantly between September-December last year I experienced probably close to 100 dropped calls or calls that just didn't connect.

I have been with Vodafone for close on 15 years (Digicall as they were when I started) and this is the worst I have ever experienced. I still have 18 months to run on my contract and I am just about over it all.
9 Jan 2011 06:03:45 PM: forgot to add - in March last year I changed my dongle (broadband) to a USB stick. They rang me said my plan was just about up - did I want to upgrade, as I had no problems I said yes. They did it all, cancelled the other plan, swapped my direct debit etc --- or so I thought. 4 months later I get a collection notice for my new account. They had still been taking the direct debit so I didn't understand. Well, the person who had done the upgrade hadn't changed the DD details - I was still paying for an account that had been closed!!! I have for the past 6 months been getting an account for a credit of $25 - I rang, asked for it to be refunded. The operator said they would just move the credit over to one of my other accounts, I said okay. 3 months on and I am still getting an account for $25 credit. Vodafone get your act together!!!
11 Jan 2011 11:03:22 AM: Yesterday - my husband who is also on Vodafail rang me and left a message, it was about picking him up because he didn't have bus fare - I finally got the voicemail message 2 hours later!!!

Also since posting this I have experience another 6 dropped calls!
25 Jan 2011 06:57:14 PM: Since posting these I have gotten out of my contract with Vodafail. There were no penalties, I just had to return my phone which I was still paying off. No problems there. I have now switched to another TelCo and have fantastic reception, no call dropout. So happy.

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11485 Someone from VIC thinks vodafone is shonky and sus devices? at 9 Jan 2011 05:48:27 PM
Shonky,because the company breached duty of care to contracted customers.
Sus, because I wonder if anyone else has "thoughts" about their devices?
My phone seems almost like a "second".

9 Jan 2011 05:53:31 PM: your phone is not made by vodafone, therefore the manufacturer is at fault
9 Jan 2011 06:02:56 PM: I knew that :) but just phone staff say my phone is fine and was wondering if, whith the number of problems Vphone buys phones that might be less than purrrrfict?
9 Jan 2011 06:06:29 PM: but how do they know if they are faulty when in a box?
9 Jan 2011 06:20:27 PM: cheaper?

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11484 Someone from NSW thinks vodafone is bad at 9 Jan 2011 05:33:09 PM
I wanted to top up my prepaid mobile with my new debit card. First their system made me go round in a loop entering the last 4 digits. No option given to add a new card. Called them over and over again, reception intermittent. Explained situation to someone in India, call dropped out. Left on hold for 10 minutes over again. Tried their website, it would not accept my password or security question. Tried calling them for help, never got a person on the line. All this trouble just to pay them. Their coverage is terrible, and they seem to keep sucking money out of my prepaid I don't understand for what.

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11483 Someone from NSW thinks vodafone is appalling rip off at 9 Jan 2011 05:32:38 PM
well..when i can actually get a signal, or the line doesnt drop out the service is good. lol! as for access to browsing..well that's a total joke. Hardly Ever happens

Now the latest is the privacy breach. I just saw the CEO on the news. Clearly he is someone with no authoriy and in whom none of us can trust or rely on. Where did they dig him up from? Business failure school?

I sympathise with everyone out their who wants to break their contracts or keep their handsets as compensation. Remember though, Vodaphone has the power because they have your credit card details and we have all signed a contract.

I say we all support the class action against the company which os ripping us off and cant protect our privacy.

The CEO is a disgusting idiot: he was blaming it on an employee as if this wasn't the company's responsibility.

Well we should shw them what corporate liability means

9 Jan 2011 05:40:57 PM: It prob was an employee!! Its not the CEOs fault, there is only so much they can do at this point until the AFP investigate.
9 Jan 2011 05:48:49 PM: It IS the CEO's fault.Damn right it is ! He has to take responsibility. If he had an ounce of shame he would fall on his sword and hand over control of the company to someone who can maintain privacy of its customer base.
9 Jan 2011 05:58:17 PM: he didnt give the details out :/
9 Jan 2011 06:07:50 PM: No but the policies and culture within the company to emphasize sales over customer service and data security which allowed the breach to occur can be directly attributed to the management of Vodafone.
9 Jan 2011 06:14:14 PM: how do you know this is the culture?
9 Jan 2011 06:24:08 PM: LOL, sounds like we have a Vodafone employee here, maybe it is the CEO ?
9 Jan 2011 06:28:29 PM: no, just customer that has never experienced this so called "culture"
20 Jan 2011 01:23:02 AM: yeah right. Even came back to answer, unless it was someone who stole his identity.LOL

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11482 Someone from QLD thinks vodafone is Epic at 9 Jan 2011 05:32:13 PM
I received a text with necessary information on Friday. Problem is that the text was sent to me on Tuesday!
Not happy with reception from home. Others in my house on Telstra and they are crystal clear. Contract handset packed up after first year so now using another that I didn't get from Vodafone. Six months left on this contract if I can't get out of it. Never again Vodafone....never again. going to investigate the breach of privacy now. Not good

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11481 Someone from NSW thinks vodafone is FAIL at 9 Jan 2011 05:28:15 PM
I am currently on a vodafone $69 cap, that allows me $650 worth of calls, 2 gig of data and unlimited pics and normal texts, i can barely use my data because of their S**T 3g coverage and if i want that to be decent i have to switch to optus or telstra!! I have to go outside if i wish to make a phone call because reception inside is so crappy it wont even connect, I live on the far north coast where reception is supposed to be great!! NOT HAPPY!!

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11479 Someone from NSW thinks vodafone is Reception Issue at 9 Jan 2011 05:27:41 PM
Since purchasing A iphone specifically for the data service, I constantly experience a virtually useless 3G network, would be described as FailG Network drops out, times out, waiting for ever for data to load.

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11478 Someone from VIC thinks vodafone is 100% at 9 Jan 2011 05:25:52 PM
My husband and I regularly lost Vodafone reception, often for days at a time. We would call to complain and be left on hold for up to 40 minutes at a time, only to have someone at an overseas call centre tell us there was no problem (really?!).
the final straw came in september 2010 when we had no reception for THREE WEEKS. At the time i was 8 months pregnant. Not a good time to be unreachable by phone. My huusband's business also ran from his phone. We called Voda a number of times only to be told the towers were fine (again, really?!) Finally someone at an overseas call centre insisted on telling us we had to visit a voda store to get our SIMS checked. The nearest store is 4 hours drive away.
He kept repeating his spiel over and over, not listening to the fact a heavily pregnant woman couldn't drive 4 hours to check a sim when i knew the sim wasn't the problem.
We switched providers and had to wear the loss of business, time and energy.

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11477 Someone from VIC thinks vodafone is Useless at 9 Jan 2011 05:21:04 PM
5 calls for 1 conversation day after day completely useless

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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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11475 Someone from NSW thinks vodafone is very bad at 9 Jan 2011 05:12:48 PM
get texts late often. sometimes 5 + hours later

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11474 Someone from VIC thinks vodafone is 80% at 9 Jan 2011 05:09:02 PM
I live in suburban Melbourne and can not rely on mobile phone or internet service to be consistent. One moment I will have full reception on phone and then phone drops out. Battery has been replaced twice by Epping store, just before Christmas the whole phone died on me, when I approached the store about problems the store manager (who tells me she has been there for 3 years and I've never seen her before)is only interested in trying to get me to tell her that the employee who replaced the batteries when they failed was Indian as she had a problem with him and it is against policy to replace battery if they don't work - even on a brand new phone. I now use my old phone and pay Vodafone for absolutely nothing.

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11473 Someone from VIC thinks vodafone is Epic Fail at 9 Jan 2011 05:04:31 PM
Just Paid an $1000 Phone Bill which they failed to notify me untill i was $800 over they should notify you as soon as you go over not $800 over then i paid the bill and they didnt take off the phone barring for 5 days after i paid it i had to ring up i think thats a bit average also and went to Mallacotta and had no reception for 10 days as well which they told me that i would be in there coverage zone.

Just really annoyed at them there an evil organisation and i hope that someone does something bout it

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11472 Someone from NSW thinks vodafone is Breach off contract at 9 Jan 2011 05:00:52 PM
Rubish reception, crap network, vodacrap
9 Jan 2011 05:06:59 PM: uhuh. I feel your pain. They must be in breach. Do they have to pay us back?
9 Jan 2011 07:10:54 PM:

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11471 Someone from VIC thinks vodafone is swapping providers... at 9 Jan 2011 04:54:10 PM
agreed vodafone is terrible. who is good??? anyone??? I've had poor experiences with virgin & optus as well and we all know telstras reputations is less than stellar so who is the lesser of the evil to swap too once we're free to go???
9 Jan 2011 05:01:55 PM: It depends what you are looking for?

1) If you are after the best coverage and performance and don't mind paying that little bit extra, Then the NextG network (aka Telstra) is who you want to be with
2) If you don't need the best performance (ie web browsing can be sluggish at times) but you are after a coverage that is almost as good as Telstra's, then Optus or any Optus reseller (such as iiNet, Virgin, Internode, TPG etc) at a slightly cheaper price than Telstra.
3) If you want no coverage, calls dropping all of the time, sms and mms arriving hours to days later and a company that has bugger all security in place, Well then Vodafone is who you want to be with.
9 Jan 2011 05:10:40 PM: tpg, bahhhhhha u got to be joking, i got a contact for internet and home phone and it is as bad as vodafone. trust me i am with two of the worst companys vodaFAIL and tpg- Typical Problems Genarated
9 Jan 2011 05:18:05 PM: It is not the TPG Network, it is a resold Optus Network product ;) ...however whilst I have never used TPG, they certainly couldn't be any worse than Vodafone ;)
9 Jan 2011 05:19:06 PM: Comparing ADSL Broadband TPG vs a Resold Wireless Optus 3G TPG is pointless, they are nothing the same

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11470 Someone from NSW thinks vodafone is 100% at 9 Jan 2011 04:53:47 PM
I need my phone for work and basically I can't. Poor reception, dropped calls to clients etc, sub par internet speed and coverage as well as sometimes not even connecting. Even when I call someone and they are not on a call it fails. This has been going on for around 6 months and it is not becoming any better. Im paying $99 a month for nothing...NOTHING.

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11469 Someone from NSW thinks vodafone is ridiculous at 9 Jan 2011 04:46:25 PM
I am sick of seeing the two words 'connection error' on my phone as I try and try to unsuccessfully make phone calls.

I am glad to see our monthly fees are going towards runniong such an efficient and productive company.

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11468 Someone from VIC thinks vodafone is pathetic at 9 Jan 2011 04:37:27 PM
Signed up on a 24 month contract in September 2009 after deflecting from 3 due to poor reception in my area. Vodafone actually had the gall to boast about how much better their reception was than 3, and that in my area the service was being upgraded by December 2009.

The first couple of months the reception was OK at best, now I am lucky to have a 5 minute conversation without it dropping out, and even then I have to stay in the one place - how is that MOBILE reception?? I am lucky I have Telstra WI-FI at home because the data loading is nothing short of disgraceful, and to top it off all of a sudden my wife's bills are now being direct debited WITHOUT her consent - how is this possible??

I have 8 months rmaining on my contract @ $88/month, will I have to pay over $700 to terminate my contract, or if I complain enough will I be able to get out of it at a cheaper fee??
9 Jan 2011 05:03:03 PM: My "contract" has five months remaining. Since Vodaphone appear to have breached their contract ( see privacy content)do we have a legal remedy?
9 Jan 2011 05:03:25 PM: Check out the 'How To Complain' link at the top of the page, you will no doubt end up at the TIO, but they should be able to assist you out of your contract penalty free. Best of luck and report back with how you get on :)

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11467 Someone from QLD thinks vodafone is VERY at 9 Jan 2011 04:36:43 PM
My son moved from the gold coast to karratha W.A. in October 2010 with his 3/vodafone phone - he was told he would get reception there. Drop outs were huge and he had no alternative but change to Telsra because he was chasing work and could not be contacted. He was told by 3/vodafone they would only take out his repayments monthly because he was still under contract for the phone and no charges would apply for phone calls. He has just been slugged almost $600 from his bank account which now leaves him with almost nothing. He had no prior warning this would happen and has only worked 3 weeks since 9/10. On contacting vodafone, they were no help. Their website shows you get cover in Karratha but that is untrue. That is the reason he had to change.

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11466 Someone from QLD thinks vodafone is crippling at 9 Jan 2011 04:36:16 PM
Reading reports online about how Vodaphone has breached its privacy policy with the access of customer personal and financial details outside of authorised personnel. As a Three mobile customer (using Vodafone network) I contacted both Three and Vodafone. Both state that Three accounts and Vodafone accounts are different (although reports on whirlpool suggest it is planned to merge them in future). Does this mean Three mobile customers are unaffected?
9 Jan 2011 06:53:04 PM: yeah this has nothing to do with three customers.
9 Jan 2011 09:30:28 PM: vodafone is using seibel to store customer's details while 3 is using 3 central. VHA is planning to convert all 3 central customers into seibel, so just dont get converted until you have to..or just change to another carrier if your contract is up

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11465 Someone from NT thinks vodafone is Extreme fail- constantly dropping out and data hardly works at 9 Jan 2011 04:35:49 PM
Can't use my phone at the office or at home as there is no reception. I have to go outside to take phone calls and I'm in sales. Data rarely works and when it does it's very slow.

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11463 Someone from VIC thinks vodafone is where do I start??? at 9 Jan 2011 04:24:31 PM
just yesterday I recieved a MSM from my brother-in-law - who sent it to me on 27 Dec(yesterday was the 7th of Jan!!!!)!!! it can take up to 1 minute to connect to calls (and a good quarter of the time I get a 'call failed' and have to go again and again and...). if this isn't enough I have at least 1 out of 10 voicemails takes hours (if not days) to come thru - not good when I use this as my work phone!!! and I thought virgin was bad... I'd ring & complain but I don't have half a day to waste on hold for absoultly nothing to be resolved. less than 6 months left on my contract & I look forward to telling them to p*ss off!!!!!!!!!

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11462 Someone from NSW thinks vodafone is classic vodaphone at 9 Jan 2011 04:24:20 PM
bonus bank which was started by vodaphone still owes sixty dollars from this program any advice have complained to them but got nothing except we will get back to you
10 Jan 2011 03:12:41 AM: Buy a phone at their online store.

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11461 Someone from VIC thinks vodafone is a joke of a company at 9 Jan 2011 04:24:01 PM
same problems as everyone else. constant drop outs in calls, text messages taking ages to send through, and i'm better off getting a mobile dial-up account cos it's faster than my current internet speeds. i'm lucky if i can talk for 2 minutes on the phone. and customer service is a joke. i cancelled my contract after days of talking on the phone to vodafone and am now with optus' $59 cap. it might be more than $45 and i don't have unlimited (aside from text) but at least i have a solid, constant 3G reception (emphasis on the 3G). i'm pretty happy and i hope it stays that way.

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11460 Someone from NSW thinks vodafone is Poor service overall at 9 Jan 2011 04:23:32 PM
Just joined September last year and thought could bare the bad service but with today's privacy breach, this is the last straw for me.
I am glad a website has been set up and i am going ahead to loge complaint and action against Vodafone.

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11459 Someone from NSW thinks vodafone is sunk in arrogance at 9 Jan 2011 04:22:10 PM
Not going to complain, my nerves are far too important for this to remember again, but hey after all what has happened no authority at Vodafone has come forward with a public speech over any media, to personally explain
- what are the issues,
- how they are going to solve them,
- how long will it take
- how they will compensate for their customers' losses
- how people can seek compensations, what are the policies
- do I need to continue this list? Really...

No one has publicly apologised for all the caused distress just as a matter of courtesy to the customers that
- PAY THEIR IDIOTIC, PUMPED UP WAGES
- KEEP THEIR RIDICULOUS BUSINESS RUNNING

9 Jan 2011 04:27:10 PM: To be fair, the CEO apologised publicly many times to the customers (official statements, interviews), and they have attempted to give some answers. Granted, they are not exactly very clear answers. In the mean time, people can go to the 'How to complain' page for information on getting issues resolved.
9 Jan 2011 04:37:10 PM: Why is it that it is so easy for a company to take action against a single customer who may not have paid a bill - either due to gross errors in the bill or catastrophic failure of the company to provide the services, yet it simply takes ages to get the company to do anything.

Isn't it really strange that it is the customers responsibility to get a bill corrected where the company is in error.

Consumers should be able to bill for their time.

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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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11457 Someone from VIC thinks vodafone is 11 out of 10 on the fail scale! at 9 Jan 2011 04:21:30 PM

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11456 Someone from NSW thinks vodafone is Its own category of Fail at 9 Jan 2011 04:20:07 PM
Before I changed to Vodafone, I checked to make sure I had reception at home and work (Im a train driver so having a phone is pretty important). Looked good according to their maps.

What a load of Bull. If I stand on one leg facing east and pray to the phone gods I might be lucky to get 1 bar of reception, and if I want to use mobile data at Central then I am dreaming, takes FOREVER and constantly drops out. What phone company doesnt have phone call reception in the centre of the city.

I needed to phone our security team up last night to get urgent help for an unconscious passenger, and behold the phone took 3 attempts to get connected and then, when it finally did without dropping out I only got 2 words out.

This has got to be the worst phone company for reception. Pretty sure Vodafone must work on the idea that everyone doesnt move more then 20cm from a reception tower!

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11455 Someone from NSW thinks vodafone is at 9 Jan 2011 04:18:59 PM
voda phone want me to pay 2000 dollars on a phone i cant use because it gets no reception,they cut my calls off and still expect me to pay when i cant use the sim for anything its a dead set joke i tried reason with them and i wait for hours and once i get a hold all they say is i have to pay 200 a fortnight....i just turned 18 i am willing to pay it just not 200 a fortnight but thats all i can do....really need help if some1 can please
9 Jan 2011 05:34:23 PM: If you use the service, you must pay. Sorry dude
9 Jan 2011 06:54:12 PM: Yeah man... its a contract which you agree to

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11454 Someone from QLD thinks vodafone is at 9 Jan 2011 04:18:11 PM
I have been a customer of Vodafone since 1999. For approximately the last two years, the customer service has been appalling. I have one year remaining on my current contract and I am looking to cancel this contract. I travel a lot to see my family in New South Wales. A majority of my trip, I do not have coverage, despite being told by Vodafone for several years that "it will be up and running by....". I had an incident with a snake this week on my return trip home. Had anyone been bitten, one of us would be dead. I spoke with Vodafone about this on Friday and they apologised for the "issues I have in my life". I now have to speak with the "Network Team" for them to confirm that there is no coverage in the area where I travel before I can cancel my contract without incurring any cancellation fee - funny that, considering I can't get through to this Network Team. I have today attempted to send an email but the "email form is currently out of order".

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11453 Someone from QLD thinks vodafone is very fail at 9 Jan 2011 04:17:54 PM
im currently un employed and if had three call from employes last week which droped out which make me look bad it makes it hard to run my life

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11452 Someone from VIC thinks vodafone is 100% Fail at 9 Jan 2011 04:12:53 PM
I have been with Vodafone now for about 16 months and have grit my teeth and tried to bare the horrendous coverage and non-existence of service. I have 8 months left on my contract.

My coverage is constantly terrible and drops our or does not work at all. I live in a built up area in Melbourne which is where the coverage should be very good, but still there is issues with phones calls and especially data use.

Vodafone should give all it's users a free month of use to pay back for the problems that it has caused everybody. If that sends the business broke, so be it, maybe that's what needs to happen.

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11451 Someone from NSW thinks vodafone is bad at 9 Jan 2011 04:12:23 PM
no Iphone not even a call to say it wasnt coming

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11450 Someone from NSW thinks vodafone is sunk in ignorance at 9 Jan 2011 04:06:49 PM
I can't believe I am reading the security breach news. My first reaction was "... you've got to be kidding me ...".

I will simply not complain.

Can anyone who is knowledgeable please explain what symptoms shall we seek to figure out if a personal account has been broke into?

If I realise that my account has been breached, I will simply demand cease of contract with reimbursement of any monetary damage.
Moreover, I will simply NOT RETURN THE MOBILE DEVICE as a measure of punishment...

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!!!...
9 Jan 2011 05:35:51 PM: they will not cancel the contract until the device is returned.
20 Jan 2011 01:26:14 AM: Get someone to log in and mark it as having been returned.

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11449 Someone from NSW thinks vodafone is F%#KING REDICULOUS! at 9 Jan 2011 04:05:12 PM
9 Jan 2011 05:12:22 PM: Did you have to give the phone back
9 Jan 2011 05:42:39 PM: vodafone will not cancel a conract until they have recieved the device.
9 Jan 2011 06:19:28 PM: It's an iPhone, and I told they can keep the piece of S%#T!
Bare in mind I did spend about 4hrs doing it as I was on hold for most of the time and my phone kept 'call failing'.... (not surprised) took about 5mins once I finally got through to the cancelations department.
Returning the phone is besides the point, you'll end up with a better phone signing with another provider and porting your old number. That's what I did.
Getting an X10 on Telstra Next G delivered on Wednesday.
9 Jan 2011 06:29:30 PM: good to hear
9 Jan 2011 07:47:36 PM: My contract runs out on 2 March. I wish to terminate my vodafail contract ASAP but I do not wish to return my handset. Given the recent troubles, do you think I could argue my point? Does anyone know the implications of not returning a handset?
9 Jan 2011 07:54:19 PM: you have to pay to keep the handset im pretty sure
9 Jan 2011 08:34:21 PM: make them a small offer to keep the handset
9 Jan 2011 09:10:27 PM: Just get the same gander from a different carrier on a different plan. Who cares if you have to return it as you'll have a new one.
Any how if you want to fight for that one I'd suggest contacting the telecommunications onbuson regarding it.
Is it just your hand set your so hooked on? My complaint is about service issues or lack of.
10 Jan 2011 03:17:43 AM: Someone who thinks an X10 is a better phone, someones in for a shock.

Please keep us posted on how it works out.
10 Jan 2011 06:05:33 AM: You can't get much worse than an iPhone.... You have to reset the bloody thing almost everyday and sometimes multiple times a day to fix it from freezing etc etc etc. I've had my iPhone replaced at the Apple store 4 times due to hardware issues alone.
11 Jan 2011 05:33:27 PM: enjoy your x10, idiot
12 Jan 2011 01:37:37 PM: You knob! It doesn't matter what phone you end up with. It's about having a network that works!
And for the record the X10 is rated highest out of all Smart Phones for best coverage in regional areas, which is where I am.
If you've got nothing civil and productive to write, perhaps you should go back to wanking over porn sites..

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11448 Someone from QLD thinks vodafone is Reception at 9 Jan 2011 03:59:10 PM
I purchased my new Iphone 4 on a $79.00 plan from Vodafone only after the map showing the coverage area was highlighted blue meaning a standard reception in my local area, but surprise surprise my new iphone 4 may as well be a paper weight as there is little or no coverage in my home and I'm stuck with a 24 month contract which is useless as I need my iphone at home for work and for family medical reasons.
So I think Vodafone should cancel my contract or let another carrier take over my plan so I can use my iphone the way it is supposed to work as I don't think you should be charged for something that doesn't work.
9 Jan 2011 05:36:46 PM: iphone 4 has a reception fault. Why would you buy it?!

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11446 Someone from ACT thinks vodafone is Poor coverage at 9 Jan 2011 03:49:36 PM
When the system was converted from analogue to digital years ago, we we assured call quality would be excellent, coverage australia wide, drop out proof service etc etc. The old analogue system was far more stable and had excellent coverage. Australians were sold a pup in the move to digital transmission as it has proved to be inferior to the old analogue system.
9 Jan 2011 03:54:10 PM: just like digital TV it is a PIECE OF SHIT!

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11445 Someone from VIC thinks vodafone is Vodaphone has breached our contract! at 9 Jan 2011 03:45:07 PM
This is the last straw!
Contract with Vodaphone ceases in May. I have had enough.
Why should I have to pay the contract out since the company has breached it's contract with me in that the agreement included keeping my details secure?

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11444 Someone from VIC thinks vodafone is pathetic! at 9 Jan 2011 03:38:51 PM
been with them since nov and have had zero coverage on most days and most services after being assured by staff at melton store that service was 100% in my area! Have called many times and put on hold and passed around and then hung up on! Also was talked into n8 nokia and battery is lucky to last 12 hours if i dont use it! Should have stuck with 3 as id had zero problems with their services over past 3 years! When r they going to do something? Anything?

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11443 Someone from ACT thinks vodafone is epic fail. at 9 Jan 2011 03:37:42 PM
vodafone send me inexplicably large bills frequenting almost monthly.
vodafone claim that payments havnt been made and have cut my services three times despite all three times acknowledging they failed and restored my services.
constant reception problems in a seemingly isolated bubble where vodafone actually works.

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11442 Someone from ACT thinks vodafone is Totally at 9 Jan 2011 03:37:22 PM
Suffering the same issues as everyone else here.

Just a comment - isn't it strange that Vodafone, government agencies and the courts/legal system place no value on the time and frustration of customers to try and sort out issues. It seems that the only measurable thing is dollars - whether you have paid them or not and no measure if whether the bill actually reflects reality is a complete work of incompetence.

Our time seems to be a valueless resource to be consumed without consequence.
9 Jan 2011 04:20:40 PM: An excellent point to make, they don't care whatsoever about people, only money. Imagine a telco company that actually cared about people, what an amazing world that would be. Can you stand up to the plate Vodafone? Or will you sweep this under the rug and business as usual?
16 Jan 2011 01:00:04 PM: Yeah, but anyone with a password can look under that rug.

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11441 Someone from NSW thinks vodafone is staffed by morons at 9 Jan 2011 03:33:23 PM
after I came back from overseas I took over my grandmother's prepaid account as she didn't want to use it anymore but we never got the account changed into my name. vodafone called me a couple of years ago (after my grandmother had passed away) as part of a random 'customer satisfaction' survey. I told them about my wish to change the account into my name but I was told my grandmother would need to write to them approving this. when I explained that she was - er - dead, the response was still the same. so now I shall forever have a prepay account in my grandmother's name all because she won't return from the grave to write a letter to vodafone. how unreasonable of her.
9 Jan 2011 06:53:56 PM: And what is your opinion of their management?

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11440 Someone from VIC thinks vodafone is Absolutely Fail at 9 Jan 2011 03:33:13 PM
I just called on 1555 (4th time they answered after average wait of 25 minutes), I asked them about security breach just happened on the website. I was talking to one of their representative, In his words:
"IGNORE THE NEWS"
"THE NEWSPAPERS SAYING GOOD AS WELL AS BAD THINGS"
"YOUR DATA IS SAFE"
"NO ONE CAN ACCESS THE DATA"
9 Jan 2011 04:43:10 PM: I wonder if that is an express guarantee from Vodafail about the safety of our personal information - or perhaps it's more weasel words from an organization in crisis. Sadly I wait for the confirmation that the data has indeed been breached.
9 Jan 2011 05:38:58 PM: it is true. No one can access the data, only employees and dealers.
9 Jan 2011 06:00:25 PM: Or someone using the credentials of an employee or a dealer. I wonder how much those credentials are going for???

Some of the posts state some branches use a common log in and password for all those within the particular store. Given this it would be pretty safe to sell access to say a private detective or worse.
9 Jan 2011 06:30:32 PM: why would someone do this?
10 Jan 2011 07:56:14 AM: For money. Perhaps they are being blackmailed. To pay off a debt.

Who knows why but they do.

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11439 Someone from ACT thinks vodafone is Call dropouts at 9 Jan 2011 03:33:00 PM
An extremely distressing event occurred yesterday morning. I was having some problems with a very good friend and they agreed to call me to discuss the issue and the call kept dropping out and attempts at redialling only failed to connect very briefly. They called later and the call dropped out again, and they tought i had hung up on them! This has caused me great distress and has resulted in an already sensitive situation with a friend escalating into a possible loss of a very good friend. I believe Vodafone is materially responsible for the failure to provide a reliable service. I live in an inner suburb of the ACT!!, so would expect reliable coverage when i need it. I have call logs to demonstrate the failed dial attempts and dropuots. I am considering pursuing this matter further and believe i am entitled to compensation for personal distress and loss.

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11438 Someone from QLD thinks vodafone is People do NOT want to talk to a freakin robot at 9 Jan 2011 03:26:27 PM
I'll skip my sad sorry details because it will just be more of the same complaints already experienced by 1000s of unhappy vodafail customers.

This company is too arrogant by far. They are only interested in ripping people off as much as possible without caring for their customers or delivering anything like their advertised services.

To try & fix the complete f------g mess they caused with my wireless internet I went to get help from their stores & was fobbed off totally by 2 of them. Tried various " service" "help" (vodafail's key word for we don't give a shit) numbers & reached India, which was no help just more frustration with an Indian accent, after waiting in queue for hours being bombarded with recorded vodafail lies about their so called services. Called their robot Lara, the most frustrating experience of my life & finally was transferred after 45 minutes to an Aussie accented young man who unfortunately copped my whole torrent of abuse regarding the shit company he worked for. Turns out he had only just joined them & was thinking of quitting. This young guy assured me that he would sort out the mess for me, make sure I wasn't charged (for services not provided) & cancel my account. He ended the conversation by saying that if by chance I did receive a bill (for the non services) I should take it to a vodafail store & they would sort it out for me.

If I have to go back to a store & start my battle with vodafail again I will make sure I'm carrying a baseball bat & if I get the same runaround as I did before I'll use the bat to smash anything with vodafail written on it in sight.

These people must be sent by aliens from outer space to wipe out the human race by getting us so frustrated we will self destruct from the stress.

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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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11436 Someone from QLD thinks vodafone is disastrous at 9 Jan 2011 03:24:25 PM
Why did I have to find oyt about the release of personal information from a news site and not them.
The release of this information is a potential financial disaster for customers.
I quickly logged into Vodafone to send an email asking if my information was released and to cancel any authorities.
Their email contact form is temporarily out of order!!!!
What a joke
9 Jan 2011 05:14:13 PM: I too am disgusted at having to hear this from the news - no email from them and nothing on their website. Appalling!
20 Jan 2011 01:29:32 AM: I think the senior execs are at their violin lessons. I think that's what they mean by "fiddling" while the company burns..........

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11435 Someone from NSW thinks vodafone is I reported them 4 months ago at 9 Jan 2011 03:24:21 PM
We use vodafone and 4 months ago they disconected me for a week
So for 5 days they couldn't divert my mobile number , they wouldn't release me from my contract
And we have been with them for over 8 years
I estimate at least 20k in lost work
Shame on you vodafone shame I hope the public hammer you
We spend at least $500 per month
It's no just poor individual users it's small business they have effected as well
And they couldn't give a dam

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11434 Someone from QLD thinks vodafone is worst at 9 Jan 2011 03:23:31 PM
I live in area (Buccan 4207) where vodafone's website show's its reception is available, but there's nothing around 99% of the time. (not even outside of the house, where i have to walk around looking for signals) only 1% of the time it worked.

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11433 Someone from VIC thinks vodafone is About as FAIL as FAIL can be! at 9 Jan 2011 03:10:04 PM
I loved 3... It had it's moments, but for the most part gave me great coverage and phone service... not particularly brilliant customer service, but most things were available online.. so not particularly worrysome... Then VodaFail takes over, and my calls drop out, my text messages don't send, or send multiple times. My voicemail costs go through the roof, because the phone never rings when someone calls me, and when I go in to see about getting a phone repair, I'm told that it's not under warranty... despite the fact I was told it would be for the contract term by 3.

The Vodaphone guy I spoke to said that "vodaphone is the only provider who provides a warranty that coveres the full contract term"... lot of rubbish that is. I'm sure everyone does that now.. something to do with a decision of the ombudsman..

But he said something else interesting... apparently there is a difference in how you ROAM depending on whether you are with 3 or with Vodaphone. If you are with 3, your phone will only roam from 3G Vodaphone, to 2G Vodaphone, and to 2g optus if that fails... Vodaphone customers will roam onto 3G optus...

So why the difference. I'm a paying customer - your company bought my company... so why am I treated differently... you're not billing me any differently!!!
9 Jan 2011 03:25:35 PM: 3 took over vodafail
9 Jan 2011 03:42:14 PM: Actually it was a joint Merge ;)

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11432 Someone from ACT thinks vodafone is Reception and Service at 9 Jan 2011 02:54:06 PM
I, too, have received msgs days afte they were sent and have missed out on an earlier important appointment with a medical specialist. I was furious as I had waited for months to see this specialist and then a cancellation came through and I could have been able to see him so much sooner had Vodaphone not failed me!

Also, I have been with Vodafone for about 15 years and renewed a 24-month contract in March 2010 which allowed me to have a Blackberry Short II. I went into the shop planning on selecting an iPhone but the staff member talked me out of it instead to take the Blackberry. Long story short, I was told all the bugs of the first Storm had been fixed - I discovered that was clearly not the case. I complained many times and was, some weeks, back in the shopfront every day with an new issue, sometimes it froze other times it would select one of my contacts and called them or send a blank text msg. They assured me it could be fixed with an update so it was sent away for 4.5 weeks and would not provide a temporary phone despite the phone being a dud. When I requested a new phone and to change from the Blackberry and all its problems, it was flatly denied. I protested my loyalty to the company to no avail and in the end I agreed to purchase an iPhone on a payment plan because I needed a working phone immediately so that now I am in effect paying for 2 phones as we all know there is no such thing as a free phone!

I am mortified that my private personal details may have been sold on to heaven knows who, Vodafone you MUST address this issue immediately and properly. Tell us whose details have been sold - WE NEED TO KNOW NOW.

Changing all your system passwords now is like closing the gate after the horse has bolted isn't it?????

WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO FOR US?????
9 Jan 2011 03:02:52 PM: Where did it say they were sold? From what I read it simply explained that the system they use is accessible via the net. And also Telstra uses that same system? I understand your first complaint but I wouldn't rush into whats been published to day seems unfounded.
9 Jan 2011 03:09:58 PM: At 9 Jan 2011 05:02:52 PM "Where did it say they were sold?"

"but Fairfax journalists in Australia have discovered criminal groups have been paying to look at the information."

http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/65945/vodafone-reviews-security-in-wake-of-privacy-breach
16 Jan 2011 01:08:35 PM: @9 Jan 2011 05:02:52 PM: I love a loyal Vodatroll.
What is your pathetic spin since staffmembers have been sacked, and the police called in?
I so desperately want to believe you over possibly the most highly respected media outlet in the country.

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11431 Someone from NSW thinks vodafone is Next time.... at 9 Jan 2011 02:53:51 PM
I have just spent the last 40 mins trying to call the missus who is about 200m up the road...everytime the call either fails or drops out...I swear over elapsed time it would be cheaper and more reliable for me to train my own carrier pigeons to contact people locally...Vodafone...get your act together or I'll go head to head with my carrier pigeons

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11430 Someone from VIC thinks vodafone is total fail at 9 Jan 2011 02:48:14 PM
My mum and and I signed up to Vodafail together, what a big mistake. We are 10 minutes from the city centre and yet we have no reception. I cant make calls and people are always saying to me that that my phone is always off when it never is. I missed an important job interview because they left me a msg cause they couldnt get through and my msg came through to my voicemail 2 days after the interview. I did not sign up to not have any service, and i totally need to getout of this contract but when you ring customer care they take ours and thanks to my phone, the call drops put!

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11429 Someone from QLD thinks vodafone is Hopeless !! at 9 Jan 2011 02:44:58 PM
BE CAREFUL..1512 is not accurate !!! Having been overcharged twice I contacted India and I was told "1512 is only a complimentary service" and meant to be a "guide only" and may be "more than 3 days behind" !!! Same applies for the data usage via the MyVodafone website..I get the feeling that its designed this way so that customers continually go over their caps and get slammed or pushed into higher caps !
14 Jan 2011 07:51:50 AM: I believe you. Whether these anomalies are due to a hacker or Vodafone's incompetence, the responsibility ultimately lies with Vodafone.

On querying my latest account with a Vodafone store person, who did try to help and rang accounts several times as he was cutoff also. In the end they said they would investigate. I got a paper copy of the account as they view it from him.

It clearly shows a large chunk ~$460 [he scratched out the line]being taken out of my usage amount 23 November 2010. So if I managed to check my usage on that day I would have thought I had 2G left. THEN THEY ADDED IT BACK! and I ended up with a charge of excess usage.

When they switched from the paper accounts which clearly showed their stupid accounting system to ebilling, payments I had made for excess usage etc, were not transferred over. Hence they still reckon I owe this. Only the regular monthly payments were credited.
This month I could not even access their web page usage site for TWELVE DAYS!!!

However, they are not alone. When I bought a new phone, and transferred credit to it, Virgin tried to charge me for money owed, when they were PREPAID ACCOUNTS!

FOR GOD'S SAKE I WISH THESE SO CALLED 'ISPS' WOULD HIRE AN ACCOUNTANT TO DESIGN THEIR BILLING SYSTEMS AND USE DOUBLE ENTRY ACCOUNTING!!!

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11428 Someone from NSW thinks vodafone is Yeah pretty bad at 9 Jan 2011 02:44:29 PM
In regards to the data breach, my understanding (and I could well be wrong) is that it's the employee logons at the stores that somehow got breached. Because the Vodafone internal portal can be accessed from any computer, anyone with those usernames and passwords could login and view customer information. However this would always have been the case the way the stores link to Vodafones system, because not all stores are Vodafone stores (some are franchised) yet still access the same system.

Either way this communication SHOULD have been done over secure SSL with short expiry certificate based authentication, or via a private VPN.

""Customer information is stored on Vodafone's internal systems and accessed through a secure web portal, accessible to authorised employees and dealers via a secure login and password.

"Any unauthorised access to the portal will be taken very seriously, and would constitute a breach of employment or dealer agreement and possibly a criminal offence.''

Read more: http://www.news.com.au/business/vodafone-mobile-records-leaked-onto-the-internet/story-e6frfm1i-1225984462550#ixzz1AVvncMD8"

As for other things. I'm 10 minutes from Blacktown in Sydneys West and my reception is bloody hopeless. I've been with Vodafone for 14 years, and mid this year my contract expires. If something isn't fixed come my contract expiry I'll be considering other options. There's only so much a loyal customer can take before they no longer have an option but to look elsewhere.

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11427 Someone from VIC thinks vodafone is Reception at 9 Jan 2011 02:39:48 PM
I get minimal if any reception at my house, receive voicemail hours-days after the original message was left

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11426 Someone from QLD thinks vodafone is pathetic at 9 Jan 2011 02:34:24 PM
Unfortunately both my mobile plan and mobile broadband are with Vodafail. At this stage I'm used to the poor coverage, slow speeds and drop outs. However I've noticed lately that information given by 1512 on credit and data used is not accurate and when the date approaches for the day my credit resets their server always seems to be down or I can't log on to check my usage. This has happened the last 2 months and as a result my usage went over and I was charged and extra $200 for excess use !! When I contacted 1555 they said that 1512 is "complimentary" and only a guide !! If we can't get accurate information on monthly usage how on earth are we expected to follow our usage. It just seems too convenient that this happens every month....has anyone else had a similar experience ?

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11425 Someone from NSW thinks vodafone is RELEASING OUR DETAILS at 9 Jan 2011 02:22:17 PM
to my disgust I just stumbled across this link: http://news.ninemsn.com.au/national/8193871/vodafone-mobile-records-leaked

It reads:
"Vodafone is investigating an alleged security breach but denies customers' personal details are publicly available on the internet.

The mobile phone company has reset all passwords for its web portal, used by employees and dealers.

Details including names, home addresses, driver's licence numbers and credit card details have been available on the web in what has been described as an "unbelievable" lapse in security, Fairfax newspapers reported.

The report said criminal groups have paid for the private details of some Vodafone customers to blackmail them and other people have obtained logins to check their spouse's communications.

It said the full extent of the privacy breach is unknown but it is possible that thousands of people have logins that can be passed around and used to gain access to the accounts of about four million Vodafone clients.

A Vodafone spokesman said the company was concerned to hear of the alleged breach.

"Vodafone's customer details are not 'publicly available on the internet'," he said in a statement on Sunday.

Customer information is stored on Vodafone's internal systems and accessed through a secure web portal, accessible to authorised employees and dealers via a secure login and password.

"Any unauthorised access to the portal will be taken very seriously, and would constitute a breach of employment or dealer agreement and possibly a criminal offence."

The company would investigate the allegations and refer the matter to the Australian Federal Police if appropriate, the statement said.

The spokesman added that all passwords had been reset and a review is being undertaken of the training and systems procedures.

Michael Fraser, head of the Australian Communications Law Centre at the University of Technology, Sydney, told Fairfax it seemed to be a major breach of the company's privacy obligations and "unbelievably slack security".

NOT ENOUGH TO SCREW US OVER BUT NOW RELEASING OUR PRIVATE DETAILS, WELL DONE VODAFAIL
9 Jan 2011 03:04:51 PM: No information has been released ? It reads that there system is available over the net but is secure to employee as is Telstra's? EXACT SAME ONE.
20 Jan 2011 01:33:11 AM: That lying little Vodatroll again?

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11424 Someone from ACT thinks vodafone is Reception!!!11ONE!!!!112 at 9 Jan 2011 02:19:55 PM
I get a message saying "Hey can you come in to work this afternoon?"
"I reply with Yeah sure, I'll come in at one!"
My manager replied with "I sent you that message 3 days ago.."
Smells like a vodafail to me!
16 Jan 2011 01:11:19 PM: Somehow, store the txts and logs. That one would be easy to prove injury in legal action against Vodafone.
16 Jan 2011 08:12:25 PM: No one has ever claimed that texting is an instant form of communication.
16 Jan 2011 08:14:23 PM: It is with every other network :)
24 Jan 2011 08:37:47 PM: You probably think emails are an urgent form of communication too...seriously your boss should call you or, given the supposed 'instant' nature of SMS, call you after 15 minutes of no replys.

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