I have had the absolute displeasure of dealing with Vodafone 'Customer Service' on 4 occasions in the last 4 months. Every time I approach a Vodafone store with my queries, even after a lengthy wait instore, I am then told they cannot help me and i need to contact ' Customer Service' - which roughly translates to 'If you are not here for me to sell something to, please contact our offshore contact centre'. I upgraded from the iPhone 3 to the iPhone 4, which required a micro-sim. I was instructed to contact 'Customer Care' and activate my new sim. After customer care had done this my call was terminated mid sentence. An hour later my new phone and sim card still were not active. I called back and was told to give in another hour. 24 hours later and still no access to the network. At first i tried to access the ' complaints line' but was cut off 3 times in succession. When I finally spoke to someone, after 45 minutes, i was told that 'someone' hadnt fully activated the account and to wait another '20 minutes'. 8 hours later, i still had no access. Tried again to call the ' complaints' line and again just kept getting cut off. When i finally got to customer service i was told it would be active in 20 minutes and they apologised for the previous mistakes. Why, if it finally took 20 minutes, did it take 3 days for that to happen. And why was i still charged for those 3 days access??? Following this, my phone was stolen. I called Vodafone to report this and have the phone barred. 6 hours later, my phone was still taking voicemail, for which i am charged. (The further charges to the account have only been rectified after many hours again on the ohone to vodafail.) Called again, waited more than an hour, finally spoke to someone and explained that i had my old iphone with the old sim card inside and to reactivate that one. I was told 20 minutes. I called again in 2 hours and was told that everything would be fine after a 30 minute wait. I had network access for 25 minutes before it was cut off. I called again and was told ' this phone has been reported stolen' I tried at great lengths to explain the situation to punjab but he then referred me to another department, who asked me the same security information before transferring back to the same person ( another 20 minutes ). I then again attempted to contact the 'Complaints dept' , was cut off 3 times before i spoke to some one who said, im sorry for that but there is not much i can do, i will talk to the person that made the mistake, but i will have to transfer you to someone else to have t rectified' (another 25 minutes). In the next week the sim card was disconnected 3 times based on the phone being ' stolen ' meaning i lost about 2 hours waiting online and 3 full days of 'access' to the network - for which i was still charged. I then attempted to change my number with vodafone, requesting my contract number be transferred to a pre paid sim and my contract be issued a new number. I made this request at vodafone bondi junction, and was advised again to call ' Customer Service'. I called India and was told no, this needs to be doen in store. Went back to the store, spoke to the same guy that directed me to CS in the first place, who then got his manager who told me that what i spent 4 days trying to do was not actually possible. I was given a new number,, but had to retunr to the store 24 hrs later to have a new sim card issued because after cancelling the number the sim card was cancelled too. I also recently recieved an ' your phone is about to be cut off' sms from vodafone, but no bill to be paid in my email as usual. Again, I called complaints, and waited 38 minutes to be told it was sent. I asked for it to be re-sent and told it would be immedeatley. I still have not recieved a bill. When i Called to advise that the outstanding account, as detailed in the sms i recieved, had been paid via 2 different transactions, i was told ' im sorry sir but the 'system' will only allow me to input one transaction number and amount, so your phone will still be cut off after the weekend and you wil have to call back next week to advise that you have made another payment. I have recently driven from Mackay in far north Qld to Sydney. From Kempsey to Sydney I have driven many time before on the same roads with no problems. I managed to get coverage on less than 10 % of the ' National Highway'. Maybe, next time Vodafail plans an /aquistion' and considers it and 'achievement' to be finally operating off their own network, they should not choose the network with the worst reputation for coverage in australia. A copy of this compaint has been sent to the TIO and i await confirmation of my desire to be released from my contract and never, ever, ever have anything to do with Vodafail and their pack of incompetent 'off shore staff' ever again