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.
You can also post directly on the Vodafone community forums.
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Other People's Pain
Locations
| Everywhere (19206) | ACT (1140) | NSW (7557) | NT (170) | QLD (3578) | SA (987) | Somewhere else (224) | TAS (242) | VIC (3573) | WA (1735) |
Topics
2312 Someone from Somewhere else thinks vodafone is BREAK YOUR CONTRACT at 27 Dec 2010 12:28:58 PM
GUYS VODAFONE IS ALLOWING PEOPLE TO GET OUT OF THEIR CONTRACTS FOR FREE. SO IF YOU'RE HAVING PROBLEMS TAKE UP THE OFFER TO BREAK IT. THEN GO TO JBHIFI SWITCH TO TELSTRA AND YOU WILL GET A $200 GIFTCARD FOR SWITCHING!! SO NOT ONLY IS IT A BETTER NETWORK BUT YOU ALSO GET A $200 GIFTCARD FOR FREE!!!!
2176 Someone from Somewhere else thinks vodafone is no roaming incoming call at 27 Dec 2010 11:58:48 AM
I have been on Vodafone Prepay since 2001.For a long period of time in 2009, I was wondering why I did not receive any incoming call or text and later found out that I could not receive incoming roaming call but could only make outgoing roaming call. I called vodafone, incurring costly IDD calls and gave them a local number to call me back (no point calling me on my aus number if I cannot receive incoming call). Vodafone did not call me back but fortunately early this year 2010, I was able to receive incoming call again.
2170 Someone from Somewhere else thinks vodafone is at 27 Dec 2010 11:56:53 AM
YOU WOULD THINK BY BUYING 3 THEIR RECEPTION WOULD HAVE IMPROVED! ......... WRONG! I CHANGED FROM TELSTRA THINKING VODAFONE AND 3 WOULD BE A SUPER NETWORK. I WAS RIGHT ABOUT THE SUPER BIT, SUPER CRAPPY I THINK I WILL GO BACK TO TELSTRA
1907 Someone from Somewhere else thinks vodafone is Different at 27 Dec 2010 11:01:59 AM
I've been reading a few posts on here and thought there needed to be a little clarification. Although 3 and Vodafone merged into VHA a while ago the networks themselves are still separate. No changes were made to combine them etc, so blaming the merger for affecting 3's coverage is incorrect. 3's network is still a combination of 3 towers and Telstra towers, and will be until around mid next year when the contract between 3 and Telstra ends.
Hopefully that will clear up a little confusion.
Hopefully that will clear up a little confusion.
1821 Someone from Somewhere else thinks vodafone is Coverage???? at 27 Dec 2010 10:20:29 AM
Actually here in the UK where this story is just breaking (we all love the underdog fighting against the goliath), Vodafone is OK. I guess Vodafone started in the UK, so all these years later it should be ok... (and is generally).
When visiting Melbourne, I too noticed that calls were lost much more frequently when I selected Vodafone as my roaming service provider. Most frustrating.
When visiting Melbourne, I too noticed that calls were lost much more frequently when I selected Vodafone as my roaming service provider. Most frustrating.
27 Dec 2010 10:28:09 AM: Vodafail has been under investing and over charging in Australia for years - it thought it could get way with it becauuse we were distracted by the pain of the Telstra evoloution from a government owned monopoly. Optus thought they could get way with it too. Both assisted by a lazy media that just kept re-hashing the Telstra story even as it's network performance far out-stripped these second raters.
1819 Someone from Somewhere else thinks vodafone is Even in New Zealand Vodafone fails!! at 27 Dec 2010 10:20:01 AM
I live in New Zealand, and I get somewhat the same issues. I get slow, crap, bullshit speeds (for fsck sakes, upload is faster than download, but this is "what the people want" according to Vodafone"). Reception is crap. I have full 3G and get around 0.3 Mbit and 0.7 Mbit upload. Https often fails like a whore.
1726 Someone from Somewhere else thinks vodafone is Epic fail at 27 Dec 2010 08:50:54 AM
I have had nothing but trouble with receiving calls roaming coverage, dropped calls, lack of 3G network and then when I ring to talk to someone I am stuck on hold for hours...when I finally get to talk to someone they tell me it's not their fAult and it's not as bad as what I say?? Then I ask to be released from my contract so I can go with a provider who actually can offer me the service I need and I am denied that as well - yet I am forced to pay for a service that is clearly unable to be delivered as was sold or promised to me... How can they get away with it? They should just release contracts and listen to the feedback from customers - to ignore us just doesn't make good business sense...
1509 Someone from Somewhere else thinks vodafone is VirtuallyF*cked at 24 Dec 2010 08:06:38 PM
Went into a VF store this afternoon, stood at the counter, 4 staff behind it, one finalising stitching another sucker up. He left smiling- i wonder when he'll do that again? so, I stood, 4 staff with nothing to do-nothing. A minute later a guy came in and started doing business with the person he had dealt with the previous day, whereupon I piped up and said to him that I had been there before him, and one of the other 3 said they thought I was being attended to. Well, no. That one had been there the whole time before I arrived-so I can't work out how this person could think that.Anyway, I asked my questions, didn't get any useful answers, and mentioned this site- 2 of the sales staff suddenly got excited and indicated as much to each other as to me that they were going to get on it. And they really did not seem like fans of their employer.
26 Dec 2010 01:20:07 AM: Years ago most Coles Myer staff at the customer face to face level were no better, and that's when I knew the problems were further up the food chain. That proved true, and one result was the jailing of someone very high up, and other major legal action involving very senior people. I would rather not describe the history, and current health of the Coles Myer group at all inaccurately- it's not too hard to look it up.
26 Dec 2010 11:28:21 AM: And look at Myer now, they separated from Coles and went back to the traditional way of running things and they have improved their customer service so much! I went in twice over Christmas and I couldn't stand still in the place for longer then 30seconds without having the offer of assistance. Things can change guys, what may be shit now won't always be shit.
26 Dec 2010 03:54:09 PM: I think it's fair to add that it will always be sh!t until Vodafone, like Coles Myer, wonder where all their (customers and) profit went, and change the people up the top, so that positive changes can be implimented throughout the business.I believe Coles Myer had to sell off their jewel, Officceworks, in order to stay in business. It gets more interesting, but off-topic. You may have found that level of attentiveness almost anywhere because retail has been very very slow this Xmas.
27 Dec 2010 11:30:59 AM: Thats what I love about these websites, anyone can say anything whether its true or not. Coles Myer did not sell Officeworks, Wesfarmers bought Coles Myer. Officeworks is still part of that group - and still a crap place to shop in my opinion. Vodaphone is not a 'bricks and mortar' retail type business, so comparing them with Coles Myer is nonsensical. All Telcos are accused of poor customer service, some complaints are deserved but I would hazard a guess that many are made by born whingers!
1503 Someone from Somewhere else thinks vodafone is Hostage Situation at 24 Dec 2010 12:54:14 PM
Hi, I am from Bangalore India. I have had a terribly expensive Vodafone connection for 6 years and moved to another service provider a week ago. I have moved from pillar to post trying to cancel my Vodafone connection, but they won't let me! I am in effect an hostage to this SP. I approached a local customer support center at Koramangala and after more than an hours wait, a hostile representative told me the "speedier" process is to send a mail to corpcare.kar@vodafone.com. I did so. But even after repeated requests they have not responded properly. They keep asking ridiculous questions over and over again like "whats your number?" etc. I do not know how, but Vodafone has acquired my landline number and keeps making calls to my residence and nagging my 75 year old father. I do not know how to get out of this except through long legal procedures. I recently found out that this is how Vodafone behaves with all customers who wish to leave.
24 Dec 2010 06:07:44 PM: Welcome to the site. Can't really comment about Vodafone in India but it is interesting to see that Vodafone can have dubious practice elsewhere. As far as the calls to your dear father are concerned suggest the following: 1/ In Oz there is something called a silent number, supposedly to prevent cold calling to your landline, it also removes your number from the phone directory (White Pages) odd thing is you have to pay for a service you don't want!! Oh the irony! 2/ Script your father or the person that answers the phone a short message to the effect that is the calls persist you shall be taking legal action for harassment and reporting the matter to the Telecom Sector Ombudsman (TSO). 3/ Change your number...........only as a last resort!!! Good luck and let us know how you get on.
1500 Someone from Somewhere else thinks vodafone is miserably at 24 Dec 2010 11:15:20 AM
I am in NZ and having the same kind of issues. Dropped calls being the most frustrating. Delayed texts make planning something via text virtually impossible as you can't be sure the message is received.
Friends in Vodafone say moral is not good as staff deal continuously with disgruntled customers.
My partner's company abandoned VF and took their business to Telecom. Constant billing issues where they would threaten to cut off service despite bills being paid on time, as there was a delay in processing payments. Customer services staff acknowledged this but were powerless to do anything more than send emails to the account people. He couldn't get to speak to anyone other than customer services, mind you, even they couldn't speak to anyone else, apparently. Then he discovered that instead of logging the job, they would delete any record of the conversation so they didn't appear to be unable to resolve his problems. (Well, we assume this is the case, because when following up complaints, no one would know anything about prior calls made. In short, it seems management have totally insulated themselves from the customers experiencing problems and as consumers we are powerless to get them to listen! Way to go, Vodafone!
Friends in Vodafone say moral is not good as staff deal continuously with disgruntled customers.
My partner's company abandoned VF and took their business to Telecom. Constant billing issues where they would threaten to cut off service despite bills being paid on time, as there was a delay in processing payments. Customer services staff acknowledged this but were powerless to do anything more than send emails to the account people. He couldn't get to speak to anyone other than customer services, mind you, even they couldn't speak to anyone else, apparently. Then he discovered that instead of logging the job, they would delete any record of the conversation so they didn't appear to be unable to resolve his problems. (Well, we assume this is the case, because when following up complaints, no one would know anything about prior calls made. In short, it seems management have totally insulated themselves from the customers experiencing problems and as consumers we are powerless to get them to listen! Way to go, Vodafone!
24 Dec 2010 06:11:29 PM: Welcome to the site, just goes to show that Vodafail is in a global meltdown. Your antipodean cousins and others share your pain.
26 Dec 2010 04:08:39 PM: And yet, Vodafone has( and absolutely no doubt will again,) claimed to have had phonecalls that NEVER happenned. Really, these days, no matter who it is, it is prudent to keep records. Though, it is difficult to prove the non-existance of a phone conversation that never happened without a sub-poena. In your case, possibly easier. It would appear Vodafone are not slackers in deception skills.
27 Dec 2010 12:05:14 PM: Agree strongly appears It does appear that Voda has some major structural and cultural issues. Lets wait to see when the financial markets realise this company is destroying shareholder value. Watch the share price with interest. http://uk.finance.yahoo.com/q/bc?s=VOD.L
1492 Someone from Somewhere else thinks vodafone is Vodafone Class Action at 24 Dec 2010 08:17:51 AM
24 Dec 2010 09:12:57 AM: Thank you very much for informing us of the investigation. We will be sure to spread the word.
24 Dec 2010 09:55:58 AM: I've just signed up. Hopefully this goes ahead.
I can actually quantify my losses.
I can actually quantify my losses.
24 Dec 2010 10:53:12 AM: Thankyou just signed up hope this goes ahead as long as Vodafone is shown it's in the wrong I'm Happy & if any monetary gain awarded be a bonus to us all.
1455 Someone from Somewhere else thinks vodafone is Unreliable across the country at 23 Dec 2010 07:49:32 AM
I have a Blackberry for work purposes that's on the Vodafone Network. My job requires travel across the country and "without fail" my service has been crap from Melbourne to New Castle to Sydney. Constantly get no 3G or any reception in the heart of Melbourne! My Blackberry and Data Card are useless. I also carry my personal Optus/Virgin Mobile around and that seems to be more reliable in the same locations. Vodafone sucks.
28 Dec 2010 10:45:10 PM: Newcastle? Telstra is probably the only company who have full coverage on the highways and country roads.. I'm with optus and it doesn't even work half the time.
1445 Someone from Somewhere else thinks vodafone is A Vay cant Odyssey at 22 Dec 2010 10:12:25 PM
Not so bad now- venting here will make it easier to actually get on and do something about it
I think THIS is the appropriate theme music for the telco whose name must never be mentioned
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpJ6anurfuw
Moderator, I know this isn't particularly serious- we deserve a laugh.
I think THIS is the appropriate theme music for the telco whose name must never be mentioned
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpJ6anurfuw
Moderator, I know this isn't particularly serious- we deserve a laugh.
22 Dec 2010 10:21:27 PM: Haha yea, no worries, all in good fun.
1424 Someone from Somewhere else thinks vodafone is Awesome at 22 Dec 2010 05:51:53 PM
Good to see free speech is working here with Moderators clearing posts that don't suit their agenda. Good work keeping it honest Vodafail...
22 Dec 2010 05:53:37 PM: Comments that do not discuss vodafone - either positively or negatively are removed for being off topic.
22 Dec 2010 05:53:48 PM: never, can only have it 1 way...cant have people thinking differently
22 Dec 2010 08:32:59 PM: Australia doesn't have free speech in the constitution, it is implied by court decisions. It is their website, they can moderate it however they want.
Also,
FREE TIBET
Also,
FREE TIBET
23 Dec 2010 04:26:42 PM: Yeah we don't even have rights. We never had a bill like the US. Cool huh?
984 Someone from Somewhere else thinks vodafone is Unknown at 19 Dec 2010 10:27:46 AM
i am somewhere else... im in heaven from the great service of vodafone!
22 Dec 2010 10:26:30 PM: A real space case- made that way by Vuddafeen?
926 Someone from Somewhere else thinks vodafone is Thieved in Italy at 19 Dec 2010 02:00:48 AM
Purchsed VF sim Pisa with pre-paid data for 4 weeks. When it did work, VF store would not give refund, only advised me to call VF for support (no English spoken). Found how to get working by enterung correct APN. 1 week later, got SMS that I had insuffient funds. Went to store and was give a wide range of lies and that I had to pay to fix a 'fault' with my phone. An Italuan friend called VF for me, got the SIM re-activated. 1 week later just got SMS about insufficent funds. VF Italy are liars and thieves plus the stores will not help foreigners; point blank to your face.
921 Someone from Somewhere else thinks vodafone is OPTUS at 18 Dec 2010 11:21:09 PM
I work at Optus if any of you Voda customers wanna join us- send me an email Primpeg@hotmail.com im more than happy to discuss what phones and plans we can offer you, and give you 3 months start up credit to help you with. Ps we also give you a coverage guarentee for 30 days, which means if the network isnt up to your standard you can leave free of charge.
21 Dec 2010 01:07:17 PM: you are a COMPLETE JOKE
23 Dec 2010 04:44:08 PM: I'll get started with a thread for silly telco names:
Droptus
Optout
Voodoofone
Vodafail
Nodafone
Hellstra
Telittosomeonewhocares
Any other suggestions!
Droptus
Optout
Voodoofone
Vodafail
Nodafone
Hellstra
Telittosomeonewhocares
Any other suggestions!
27 Dec 2010 11:40:45 AM: AVOID OPTUS - They're billing is the worst of the lot. I've had two run-ins with them over the years, the last one had to be resolved by the TIO as they refused to accept that I had paid their bill, and were only interested in saying "pay up or we'll disconnect you" - my 4 business landlines plus mobile, the business has had the numbers for close to 20 years! The TIO got involved, and never heard from Optus again. Now a a very happy Telstra (mobile) and iPrimus (phones and fibre internet) user.
30 Dec 2010 10:27:59 AM: ....no telco rep should be advertising on this website!!! 1) its illegal to show signs of customer "stealing" by putting another company down 2) becuase you work in telco industry you should know that your not aloud to have an opinion with what is happening. you can lose your telco licence! so keep your thoughts, advertising and opinion to yourself. Just from one smart telco rep to dumb one
30 Dec 2010 10:37:33 AM: ....no telco rep should be advertising on this website!!! 1) its illegal to show signs of customer "stealing" by putting another company down 2) becuase you work in telco industry you should know that your not aloud to have an opinion with what is happening. you can lose your telco licence! so keep your thoughts, advertising and opinion to yourself. Just from one smart telco rep to dumb one
911 Someone from Somewhere else thinks vodafone is VF Aussie Network. at 18 Dec 2010 09:46:02 PM
While travelling in a sydney train. I met a guy who worked with vf contractor. He told me this...VF sub-contracts its network maintainance...(For those who don't know Optus & Telstra run their own network where as Vodafone network is run by contracting company) The working conditions and quality of staff was very poor and the place is under staffed. This company further hires contractor and for some reasons not many staff stays there for too long. This company is paid for each fault fixed...so the more faults the more this company makes...it is very hard to pin point in mobile network who was responsible to create fault in first place..The company does temp fix the fault comes again in new shape nd they make more money..bcos they are paid for each fault attended..Vodafone in Australia has business model to target low end cutomer and Business customer. When a business complains they install a cheap repeater at his premises to boost signal..but if business PPL are moving they can have poor coverage. The reason if you see full signal but can't call will be the network is overloaded nd has no capacity left to take call..The only good thing bout Vodafone is it is dirt cheap nd in 80% places it will work fine..If you are always moving nd you want no call drop at peak time/ congested area then Vodafone is not for you.
27 Dec 2010 11:20:11 AM: Telstra do not maintain their own network, nor do Optus, they all sub-contract it out - same as for pay TV installations.
851 Someone from Somewhere else thinks vodafone is cretins at 18 Dec 2010 03:18:35 PM
Former victim, though even though I've left them they still managed to wreck my life as the phone was still stuffed with they're corrupted OS. Mostly it was they're UK people who refused to allow you to top up. They never did tell me what happened to my credit card and bang details. They kept dispearing, and they could never tell me why.
Couldn't organise a gang bang in a Brothel!
Couldn't organise a gang bang in a Brothel!
760 Someone from Somewhere else thinks vodafone is at 18 Dec 2010 08:43:58 AM
i tried to cancel my a/c three times by dialing 1555. The first time they couldn't do it becasue it was the w/e. the next time was Perth airport and the call dropped out after about 40 mins. The third time I dialled the international 1300 number from Johannesburg and gave up waiting 1 hour and 4 mins which cost me 20 euro cnets a minute. So i still haven't cancelled my a/c.
508 Someone from Somewhere else thinks vodafone is Not at 17 Dec 2010 06:31:21 PM
Vodafone has always been great for me
22 Dec 2010 10:31:27 PM: Funny how suddenly all these pro- VaFungul posts have started appearing. Wouldn't be VF in damage control while they're working out how to shut this site down? Shutting down telecommunications is what they're good at.
23 Dec 2010 04:45:23 PM: People are just as passionate and pro Voda as the haters are against. Balancing isn't it?
24 Dec 2010 09:32:48 AM: pro Voda are perhaps Vodafone prostitutes?
287 Someone from Somewhere else thinks vodafone is on and off at 17 Dec 2010 02:30:28 PM
I got supplied a wireless modem from a Vodafone reseller which had one version of operating software as well as a software disk containing another software version You can imagine the pain when these two software versions starting fighting each other! Vodafone finally came to the party after a year of poor performance and constant emails and phone calls. I got disconnected so many times from the Vodafone call centre accidently off course!
241 Someone from Somewhere else thinks vodafone is NonFail at 17 Dec 2010 02:13:56 PM
Loving the media storm about a completely overblown issue! Talk about Telstra driven agenda - this is shock marketing at its best, dont market yourself, destroy your competitor - all because infinite plans make a mockery of the other telco plans (mobiel and fixed). Dont believe half of what you read and none of what you hear. Fail site Fail. Sucked in.
23 Dec 2010 12:41:27 AM: Voodoofone are destroing themselves. Well, it could be a Teltra driven thing, but does that make all these people's unresolved complaints and frustration and anger less real? No, Nigel's suckhole, it doesn't. It actually suits me to stay with Voodoofone (as long as they last) because I hardly use my phone as a phone. And until my dispute with VF is settled, I don't have a choice unless I want to P a lot of credit away. My experience with them had me not even looking at them for wireless broadband, and I am planning to ditch my Telstra landline and go Naked ADSL, absolutely NOT with the big Dinosaur.
25 Dec 2010 09:14:40 PM: And what is one reason I hardly use my phone as a phone?Because, when the battery in the previous phone would die really quickly for no apparent reason, I switched it to offline, and pretty much only re-connected to view TV schedule via VF live, occasionally, and to check, and note,my credit. Then I found credit had dropped and I had been charged for things I couldn't possibly have done, since my phone had been offline for a long time when Vodafone said the events had occurred. My logs(in my phone) showed no activity for days either side of the alleged events, and I spent over 30 mins arguing with the various Vodafone employees.(This has happenned again recently -didn't have to argue so long- I'm sure somewhere it would be on file that I will go to the TIO,sooner rather than later if they f*ck with me.For what that's worth.)When I had the battery tested at Nokia, they said it was fine. Somewhere I read that it was better for battery life to make the default 2G, so I did. If Nokia, in the CBD centre was telling the truth (don't know if they used a sim in it in the test, or, if so, whose sim,) then it is fair to draw the conclusion that trying to maintain a connection to the Vodafone network,(not on a call, or an sms, or anything) was what was flattenning the battery so quickly.
27 Dec 2010 11:38:43 AM: I am in no way a pro-Telstra or any other Telco customer for that matter. The stories of thousnds of people can't be the evil plot of Telstra. Do you think we're all idiots???
27 Dec 2010 12:09:47 PM: Oh somewhere else! - we know you are the Voda stooge - we can feel it in your angst. Focus on fixing the problems not bleating about us bleaters
21 Jan 2011 10:43:13 AM: If any of you had half a brain, you would have gone to the TIO years ago and ended your relationship with Vodafone. That fact that you're still there soaking up the punishment says the other half is probably missing as well.
158 Someone from Somewhere else thinks vodafone is shocking at 17 Dec 2010 01:47:42 PM
Travelling through India where Voda spent billions buying in , and their network out side huge metros and at certain times in the city is crap, on a train for 2 days and spent the better part of it trying to get reception, it is in one of the most densly populated regions in the country the west coast and central india , nudder nothin, it even started to pull up unidentified networks and to work on them , so 2 days on a train with little or no reception , no email and no texts , let alone calls, and I went with them for all the working persons needs , what a let down Voda FAIL.
Telcos are trying to balance shoppers and checkouts. Obviously, they aren't doing it very well.
It's the timewasting BS that really annoys me.
I have persisted/harassed them for the past month about my issues, they told me to follow certain steps but of course that didn't work. They then told me to go to my local Vodafone store..... Cairns, until recently, had 3 stores open. 2 got closed down and the last one was getting renovated. So I was stuck. In the last week I made a lot of phone calls and I finally got through, my case got given to a Network Engineer, the report given to the Cancellation Team said they would release me from my contract with no extra charges. Best outcome I've had and the one I wanted.
DON'T GOTO TELSTRA, THEY ARE JUST AS BAD AS VODAFONE
Bullshit!