After recent issues with vodafone involving billing, coverage and service complaints I recently was persuaded to stay with vodafone due to a new contract and handset mistakenly I accepted. Since then I have spoken to vodafone on eight days out of the last thirteen from 1 hr 40 min a day to 4hrs 56 min trying to resolve billing issues. During this time I have been told that I owe various amounts of money have been severely charged for services that I have not used and been denied the ability to check my current usage. As I write this I have been on hold for 1 hr 31 mins.

Got away from vodafone 6 months ago and have never looked back. Now the problem is uninformed friends and relatives who think call dropouts and crappy coverage are "normal" for a mobile, and it's so frustrating being on the other end of the call.. knowing that there is far better out there for similar or even less money.

There is no excuse anymore. Vodafone should just take the massive share price hit and shut up shop in Australia. It is simply astounding that they haven't been forced to do so already.

there sooo BAD, always dropping coverage, never having full reception, switching networks! ASAP, tonights been a disgrase.

To all the poor people who had SMS problems today.....just break your contract...it's not that hard, you really don't deserve the grief! Again...

How to break your contract:

I found that sending WRITTEN CORRESPONDENCE was best, as their charter states that they have to reply in writing and that way you are not there all day talking to some wombat overseas with the risk of the call dropping out half way. At least with a letter you know how long it will take to get done.

Write to them at
Vodafone Customer Complaints
The Correspondence Team
PO Box 2580
Kingston DC, TAS 7050

and tell them what you would like - most likely, you want out of your contract because the poor service is unbearable. Tell them that you don't have all day to be on the phone to their technical staff and that the onus is not on you to prove that the service is poor - and in any case they are free to come around outside your residence and do some signal testing if they really want to be proactive.

Be clear and concise and outline what you feel to be appropriate resolution.

They will most likely provide a poor response, demonstrating that they haven't even read your letter properly. At this stage you elevate it to the TIO, having done your bit to resolve the problem.

If they suspend your service due to non-payment of your bill (like they did to me) you can remind them that the amount is in dispute and that they can't legally apply credit management action, but they probably still will.

Slowly but surely the TIO will contact you and ask if it's been resolved. You will probably hear from someone in the resolutions team who is actually competent and skilled in customer service, trying to help (remember that the TIO is like a gun to the head for them). In my case, they offered to cut my bill in half for the next two months, and if the service didn't improve I was free to walk - sounded reasonable. After finding the service worse than ever in the following week, I decided to call him back and advise that I wanted out now. He agreed - just asked me to return the handset.

In short, it's not hard to break your contract (from my experience) provided that you have a genuine problem, have tried to resolve it with them, are reasonably patient and methodical and involve the TIO at the right time.

Good luck

Poor reception, can't send and receive txt's. Network drops from full service to non. Switching to Telstra, costs more, but no stress.

Trying to send/receive sms messages all day. Have been reading forums for hours trying to diagnose. Got a tip that this happens often and check the Vodafone site for current network issues. So today sms issues for all regions. So fail, spent hours trying to figure out.

can't recieve messages or calls and can't send any or call..
I don't pay $70 a month for this bullshit...

Our vodafail phones were unable to send or receive messages today for approx 3 hrs!!

Just contacted the Telecomunications Industry Ombudsman to complain about the service, or rather the lack of it. I have tried to contact Vodafone numerous times today but with no luck. Might be worth others "in the same boat" doing the same thing. If you are interested visit

http://www.tio.com.au/

Once again can't send SMS or make calls! Only getting wifi service. And this has gone on for 6 hours and counting! I'm done with vodafail!

Cant send text messages? Can receive calls and texts but not able to send!!! :( whhy?

Once 'Lara' called me three times in one day, I missed the first two calls, and considering the number was private and they kept calling I thought something was seriously wrong with someone I knew or something. When I finally picked up the last call it was just bloody Lara talking about some new offer that didn't even apply to me since I was on prepaid and not on a contract. Vodafone is just annoying.

Want to guess who walked home 2 hours before the phone could send a text or even call?!

vodafone would not let me send text messages all day, F TO THE A TO THE I TO THE L

ALL Unplanned Service Interruption Under Investigation From 14:30 AEST 24/04/2011 Users may experience difficulties in sending SMS. VF TT566627.
We apologise to customers for the inconvenience.


All 24/04/2011 20:23 AEST

No sms messages on Easter sunday. Every person i know is posting things all over facebook at the same frustration. Since they joined with 3 the service is only getting worse!

cant text all day. What the Hell is going on??

Still waiting to send and receive text messages. Time to get out of the contract me thinks.

Still not able to send messages after hours! Such a joke.

TEXTS WONT SEND im trying to text a girl ffs

i can not send any messages!!!!!!

Can't send or receive SMS for hours... Didn't know Vodafail gone on extended long WE holidays. This is absolutely mad... Wish they spend more time on improving their (lack of) services.. Time for us to say good bye to Vodafail...

I can't SMS, and it is painfully frustrating.

I don't know about the rest but my SMS service has been resurrected. After 6 hours. How apt for Easter Sunday. I hope the rest of you are back in action soon.

For the last year I've been plagued with slow 3G access and little to no reception in several areas, especially in my own suburb. And I have HAD IT. As soon as the Easter/Anzac long weekend is over, I'm terminating my contract. I should not have to pay for such horrendous service.

Unable to send text messages for the past 6 hours.

I do not own a vodafone mobile. However, I do own a prepaid vodafone internet USB stick. I keep getting drop outs, sometimes I am disconnected from the internet for hours and I am genuinely disgusted at the amount of time it takes to get issues sorted.

Unable to send/receive SMS & having issues with making calls in Frenchs Forest.
I like the fact that their outage page is still not updated.

Unable to send sms, pushing my membrane into a brick wall.

Cant send,receive sms or email. No internet access

This bull shit with not being able to send text messages is pathetic ! From day one all these reception problems i've been getting is pissing me off. Im one step away from going down to a store to start shit because i can't put up with crap service for one more day ! I pay $90 a month and i get rubbish ! Ive fucken had with them !!!

Seriously Vodafone sux!!! We cant send messages, cant make calls due to call drop outs every ten seconds. How does Vodafone seriously think that they are a reputable company. It seems to be that as soon as they decided to merge with theree they have caused nothing but pain for all of its customers. Its a wonder how they are actaully still standing, and how they make sales. I feel sorry for their employees who have to try sell a shit product. Why not go back to Vodafone and 3 as two seperate companies, you will get happeier staff. Right now i cant utilise my phone, why should i even pay for service when i dont get the service i am paying for. To all Vodafone people who need to read this - VODAFONE SUCKS, YOU DONT CARE ABOUT YOUR CUSTOMERS, YOU TREAT US ALL LIKE SHIT!! If you cared you would do something about the situation! Fix the issue or i am out just like the rest of the nation. Vodafone is going down...

This is rediculous, no sms on Easter Sunday? aaand I'm only trying to organise with my partner (who is in the army and who I haven't seen in weeks) exactly what is happening over ANZAC day...

Great job vodafail, no really.

SMS service down all day over easter, and apparently it's impossible to get any reception in my lounge since i switched to vodafone... and about 800m from the CENTRE OF ADELAIDE CBD!

Unable To Send Any SMS Messages. Phone Calls Are Difficult To Hang Up?

Still not able to send texts and it's 7:35pm for me. I have about 7 months left on my phone contract and I will not be coming back to vodafone after this. Literally the last straw.

Unable to Send any SMS

Have not been able to send or receive texts all afternoon. Yes I could call people, but the point is I pay for this service. Thanks Vodafail, you've just cemented my decision to take my money elsewhere.

Haven't been able to send texts all day! Haven't been able to make phone calls either! SO going with a different provider!

SMS's not working.

Can't send SMS - it's been hours

For the last few months, signal drops out, txts dont send or receive. i have an iPhone4 and can hardly use any Apps because I can NEVER get the internet connection to work!!! Seriously ... not good enough!!! Im paying $79 per month for NOTHING.

My phone is fine, it's the service, phone checked by Apple. It says a call came in when it doesn't ring, then a voicemail comes through, oh just like 3 days later! So I don't even know of the call til then. My phone will receive txts but not always send. I've turned it on and off a million times like the pimpley faced teens that run the shops tell you to do, real helpful, then nothing makes a difference. When I asked them to check reception where I live, they say perfect area, EVERYBODY that comes to my place has probs with reception on any network, Nundah is inner city, don't know why so hard. Sick of paying for a service that doesn't exist.

Hi All. Just to mention I have put in a vodafone sim card into my old iphone 3g and I have noticed that the reception on my phone when it is sitting on my desk not being used the bars go to full then to 1 bar. I am a little but confused to why.

im in the same mess as everyone else! no SMS! this is ridiculous! its been 5 hours get on the job vodafail!

so going to optus

I don't know if my not receiving messages is because I'm a social retard, or because of the massive vodafail!

today 24.04.11. having problem sending txt messages since 5:40pm.
Still trying now (7:20pm) still nothing.
Can't send any message.

Today no texting available, calls drop out and very very poor reception! I am leaving you, Vodafone!!

Hi. I have a problem i can't send any text msg's and i can't find out how much credit i have lefted. Im wondering what's happened.

Cant send texts....again!!! This is just ridiculous.

No sms! Neither receiving and nor sending since 4 hours.
I do not like this.

They have done it again....all users cannot send SMS since 1430 this afternoon...good one Vodafone

Not being able to send a msg for over four hours. Ehhhh!!

can't send text messages

Can't send or receive any texts. Again.

How bad has vodafone been today. No service for sms, email or data. When will the ACCC prosecute this company for false advertising. They are not a telecommunications provider.

No SMS sending or receiving during Easter Sunday
What a shame vodafone.

seems the only thing reliable about their service at the moment is the bill coming through every month. But only the delivery of the bill. Seems they can't even get the payment part right!

I get reception in my house for 30 seconds.
I cant recieve any calls whilst i am at home.
Rubbish service.

I left vodafone 5 months ago and they still send me an invoice, after speaking to CS a few times their comment was "oh, vodafone just needs to keep it active so they'll put an odd amount under a dollar".
woo hoo, so for the rest of my life I will receive a vodafail invoice.

Can't send txt on Easter day.

Not letting me send messages!

POOR RECEPTION IN THIS DAY AND AGE SHOULD NOT BE EXCPTABLE!
The servicable zones are not as the website describes!
whats wrong with linking to other telco towers for a roming ?

got a message out at 9.30, nothing since and its now 6.30pm. facebook worked no problems but unfortunately not everyone i know use that FREE service, so thanks. lucky its only easter sunday.

Cant send text messages or receive any! This is a joke! They may as well file for bankruptcy as all the customers will move to another telco. Appalling!!

I am on a plan with vodafone, and moved interstate from WA to QLD. Advised vodafone of this and changed my address. No bill was sent to my new address, rang again and again and staff informed me that I was overdue with bills. Cause of this, vodafone cut me off and wanted full payment of full plan. This I could not achieve so made a payment plan with operator. Before Xmas, with other bills really tight, I requested that I pay a little less than what we both agreed to, operator agreed to this. 2 days after Xmas, i was cut off from using this service, got in contact with operator and they advised me that nothing was entered in to the data base so there was nothing they could do and will not be able to use till I have paid it off.

My mother just bought my daughter and me new phones and put us on contracts for our Easter presents and my birthday but guess what - nothing but trouble since and now on Easter and the EVE of my 40th Birthday I can not organise final arrangements for my party - so thanks VODAFONE - and HAPPY FREAKING 40TH
BIRTHDAY TO ME

Its easter and trying to organise to met with people, rather than simply sending a message we have to call.

i dont understand how this can happen, you would think there would be technicians on standby for these specific situations. I have not been able to send a message for 4 hours.

STUCK I AM STUCK well was, left stranded since 1pm today with no means of contact HAPPY EASTER LOVE VODASUCK!!!

no texts on easter sunday? Glad i'm out of contract and wont have any problems changing over to someone else this week.

vodafail finally did it!!!since this morning cannot send any text messages, and as of 1.5 hours ago finally can make a call! am i in australia? surely this cant be happening!when i dont pay my next bill i wonder why!

They pretty much bill me twice every time I recharge my prepaid and all they say they can do is increase my expiry time

Haven't been able to send SMS messages for nearly 3 hours.

Not been able to send text messages all weekend. So crap, I'm white with anger....

THANKS A LOT VODAFAIL BECAUSE YOUR SH*T NETWORK CANT COPE WITH EASTER WITH OUT FAILING. I MISSED OUT ON SPENDING THE DAY WITH THE GIRL OF MY DREAMS BECAUSE I COULDNT CONTACT HER AND SHE COULDNT CONTACT ME.

CHEERS C*NT.

Been a customer for nearly 3 years! Always had poor reception/dropouts/disconnections & sub-dial up speed. Regular calls to customer service yield no help & still having problems! VERY FRUSTRATED with this totally messed up 'service'(for want of a better word!)
How much longer can they continue to serve up this garbage & call it highspeed broadband? The so-called service we pay for in non-existent! Major vodafail! Not happy!!

I haven't been able to send out texts all day and many of my friends on vodafone have been having the same issue!

Can't send any txts, thank god I don't have a social life

having difficulties getting on to the Voda website to see if there is an exsisting problem! The fact that I cant get on .. is a problem itself !! Go Voda!

Just tried sending a few messaged between 4pm and 5pm. Failed.

unable to send text messages

unable to send text msgs ...

http://www.piperalderman.com.au/vf/

Vodafone Class Action...everyone get on it!!!

I cant send sms 24/4/11 5.20pm
rang 1555 and was placed on hold-20 min then I gave up
not happy Jan

Full signal but won't send or receive SMS nor able to call anyone else on the vodafone network.

my messages won't go through!!! this is ridiculous especially when you want to wish those you love a happy easter! Vodafone, you suck again.

Cannot send any text messages this afternoon from my iPhone 4. I have tried rebooting, resyncing, software upgrades. This is getting beyond a joke really. Pick up your act Vodafone.

I CAN'T SEND TEXT MESSAGES!!

would love to be able to send texts to people so i can figure out plans for tonight and tomorrow. if stuff like this keeps happening i'm probably going to swap phone companies.. really reaching the end of my tether

Can't send SMS text messages!

Sunday 24th april 2011, in melbourne, i among other vodafone users i have called have not ebeen able to send or receive texts for at least the last hours, their website is calling it an 'unplanned service interruption', they should just call it 'our network'.
Have been experienceing problems with vodafail for almost the last 12 months, went thru hours of the rigmarole with clueless customer service, eventually lost it and told the guy to stop talking s**t and just recognise that i, like 15000 other people were effected by this rubbish network. after a slight pause he amazingly said, 'yes, thats the problem, would you like to cancel your contract?'. He organised for contract cancellation people to call me the following week, after 6 weeks i received no calls, called back only to be informed that they wouldn't cancel my contract, despite me being able to provide the name and reference number of the previous customer service worker. beyond angry now i argued for the best part of half an hour, the final resolution being stupider than anything vodafone had come up with so far - they would not cancel my contract, but rather would credit me the remaining 8 months of the contract at $115 a month. So despite the fact that i would no only cost them money, they still wouldnt cancel the contract, amazing.

while i'm ranting a quick note, on a week in tasmania recently, i had service for 1 day out of the 7 i was there, sure i can understand them not having complete coverage, thats fine, but was astounded as i walked through launceston, with no service, and saw a vodafone shop. I went in and asked the guy what are you doing here selling phones when you have no service, his reply was brutally honest: 'you tell me'. he said it was an absolute joke that they even had a store, and that all he and the other staff did was to advise people like me on holiday that there was no service.

'you asked, we ignored you'

Here we are - Easter Sunday & no SMS & 1555 hangs up on you. "under investigation" is all they say & you have to look to find that. Put on the front page of the website what the failures are and what they are doing about it and when it will be fixed! Remember the CEO letter about how sorry they were - things are on the improve & they will fix the 1555 communication problem...Really! I hope the CEO is not on a performance contract

Can't send text messages! Why does this not surprise me!!!

So sick of this crappy network, takes all day to send a text message and the coverage is getting worst. I'm even having trouble making a call in the middle of Sydney

Can't send any texts and the customer service line is not answering any phone calls by saying there's an error and I have to try again!

Unable to send texts from about 1:30pm today... and all the help lines are closed..

Since I was in Melbourne on Friday at 5pm, flew to Sydney up until today... I can't send smses, and my network keeps dying. Indeed, my iphone says that my network has become unavailable... on and off for THREE days. can't send a message to my brother about directions after arriving from the airport - couldn't easily tell my mum that my plane was going to arrive early. This is driving me mad

What I want to know is, what compensation are we going to get for the fact that we cannot conveniently contact family members on Easter?

unable to send messages since 1430. total bull on easter. one of the bigger telcos cant hold their stuff together for one day, not ever one of the bigger holidays. now they will cut down a few more trees to send out another apology letter which i will have to go to the effort of throwing in the bin. to hell with this i want out.

4 days now with not just slow, but intermittent internet connection. I can see on the pocket wifi that I use that the 3G network isn't connecting for more than 10 seconds out of every 5 minutes.

Sent an email querying any known issues (because heavens forbid they publish on their site that there's a problem) and was told that I need to call. I've called before, seriously not worth the 40 cents - anyone who understands the problem doesn't care about a solution.

BTW....according to their website there WAS a problem, but only lasting 2 hours on 18/04 and only in rurual SA. Hmmmmmm.....I'm in Adelaide, and it's been 4 days. Who writes their releases - same people who draft political promises?