Advanced vs Retarded Vodacom Customers.

[VodacomData]

I thought I would give myself a small Christmas present and make use of the 20GB data bundle offer currently on the go. So I logged in to my Vodacom contract Galaxy S2 account and went along and bought the 20GB data bundle. Lo and behold I see that the amount that is debited to my account is R3620 instead of the R499 that the advert on my mobile phone clearly states. Added to this my previous data bundle had now run out and I was now on Out-of-bundle rates, and the nice new R3620 data bundle was not even active on the account.

I went to the Vodacom Live Chat section and eventually spoke to a guy that told me that the 20GB promotion was only available for "Advanced" prepaid and top-up customers. So with my contract I was really a "Retarded" customer and I had to pay the full amount, and of course I couldn't actually "use" the data bundle (even though I paid for it) due to my retarded status.

I eventually was able to use my pre-paid modem account, that I only use as a backup, to eventually buy a 20GB data bundle for R499. Apparently if I use the old slow modem I'm an advanced customer but when I use the state of the art (well almost) Galaxy S2 account I am a retarded customer. While doing this I ran up a bill for a few hundred Rand in out of bundle charges.

Can someone please explain this to me.

1) Why did the advert that I looked at on my mobile phone not specifically state that there were special terms and conditions that applied and that retarded customers like me didn't qualify for this promotion?

2) Why are retarded customers like me even given the option on their Vodacom services page to buy the advanced options - after all they are retarded and of course they are going to try and buy it.

3) What in the world could the business logic be to do a business promotion and only allow some customers to buy it? And of course not make it clear to the retarded customers that this is so?

4) Isn't this a blatant case of false advertising, by not stating that retarded customers do not qualify for this promotion. Should I go and make a case at the ASA and ICASA about this absolute and unadulterated nonsense?

Hi

I still haven't received your number where the bundle was loaded on.

Regards

VD

 

[oitar]

Spoke to Customer Care again, no joy. To be able to use it must remove the bolted-on MyMeg 30 Standard(part of the TopUp 135 package), wait until 31 Jan 2012(until this months' one is over and the next one from 1 Jan has not started), and by then the promotion period is over(7 Jan). Ah well...

 

[cpu.]

Spoke to Customer Care again, no joy. To be able to use it must remove the bolted-on MyMeg 30 Standard(part of the TopUp 135 package), wait until 31 Jan 2012(until this months' one is over and the next one from 1 Jan has not started), and by then the promotion period is over(7 Jan). Ah well...

I can understand your troubles. Sim cards are very very expensive.

 

[oitar]

I can understand your troubles. Sim cards are very very expensive.

Thanks for understanding my troubles :twisted: It's not the sim that bothers me, it's the airtime accumulated on this particular one that I cannot use... If it's too much by month end they chop some away. Cannot transfer it, can only talk it or buy other data package

 

[Mystic Twilight]

Would it be considered an irony that while reading this thread, an advert for this service was being presented to me?

 

[wily me]

Would it be considered an irony that while reading this thread, an advert for this service was being presented to me?

I also note on this MyBB web page is an advert stating

Buy Vodacom 20GB Online:
Loaded direct and painless to you sim

I can't because based on this thread I just snipped my 6 Vodacard sims (4 kids +2 adult). I just cannot afford these expensive "mistakes". Cell C and MTN for me.

 

[jannievanzyl]

Thanks for understanding my troubles :twisted: It's not the sim that bothers me, it's the airtime accumulated on this particular one that I cannot use... If it's too much by month end they chop some away. Cannot transfer it, can only talk it or buy other data package

Won't you try buying the bundle again? I cannot see why it should not work.

Please let me know if it still fails.

 

[Haldex]

Hi Jannie
I have an advanced my Meg 400 month to month and was told I cannot activate the once off MyGig 20.
Its a voice line BBT240 with a data bundle.
Please confirm?

 

[jannievanzyl]

Hi Jannie
I have an advanced my Meg 400 month to month and was told I cannot activate the once off MyGig 20.
Its a voice line BBT240 with a data bundle.
Please confirm?

Have you tried it? There might be a specific set of business rules that prohibit this, but I was under the impression the 20GB once-off promo is available to every Vodacom subscriber.

Have you tried via USSD or even by sending a SMS?

 

[oitar]

Won't you try buying the bundle again? I cannot see why it should not work.

Please let me know if it still fails.

Just bought it- 18 Dec. Now it worked- through the phone menu, Standard bundle. Wasn't available 2 days ago, still not available through the webpage, but nothing to complain about anymore. So, well done Vodacom

 

[jannievanzyl]

Just bought it- 18 Dec. Now it worked- through the phone menu, Standard bundle. Wasn't available 2 days ago, still not available through the webpage, but nothing to complain about anymore. So, well done Vodacom

Cool, glad it's working now. Probably a glich of some sort, will follow up why it's not on the web.

 

[CyberMatix]

I just went to the Vodacom Add Bundle page with my "retarded" contract phone account. It seems I now have the 20G promotion option available, whereas previously I didn't. This is what I see:

MyGig 20 Once-off Available Activate R 499.00
20GB Data
In-Bundle Rate of R0.02/MB

Advanced MyGig 20 Once-off Available Activate R 499.00
20GB Data
In-Bundle Rate of R0.19/MB

So if I buy the standard (retarded) option I get it for R0.02/MB - that's 2 cents a megabyte.

And if I buy the Advanced option I get it for R0.19/MB - that's 19 cents a megabyte.

BUT BOTH options advertise that I get 20GB = 20480MB for R499.00 = 49900 cents.

SO that is 2.436 cents a megabyte.

So on planet Earth, where I spend most of my time, 2.436c/MB IS NOT EQUAL TO 2.0c/MB

And 2.436c/MB IS NOT EQUAL TO 19c/MB

Where can I go to learn the mathematics that is used on Planet Vodacom, because my Planet Earth mathematics just don't work.

Oh and now I know finally know what is the difference between Standard and Advanced options, my Earth mathematics is partially useful on Standard, but totally whacko for Advanced.

 

[AirWolf]

R0.02 is rounded, obviously.

R0.02 in-bundle; R0.19 out of bundle.

 

[CyberMatix]

R0.02 is rounded, obviously.

R0.02 in-bundle; R0.19 out of bundle.

Advanced MyGig 20 Once-off Available Activate R 499.00
20GB Data
In-Bundle Rate of R0.19/MB

Looks like my Planet Earth English also fails.
Where can I go to learn Planet Vodacom English?

R0.02 is rounded, obviously. Might be obvious to you, to me it is false advertising.

 

[AirWolf]

Advanced MyGig 20 Once-off Available Activate R 499.00
20GB Data
In-Bundle Rate of R0.19/MB

Looks like my Planet Earth English also fails.
Where can I go to learn Planet Vodacom English?

R0.02 is rounded, obviously. Might be obvious to you, to me it is false advertising.

Then report it to ASASA if you so wish.

 

[jannievanzyl]

So where can I report that you are an idiot?

PM your MSISDN and I can make sure we charge you the 19c/MB IB you seem to insist we do. Should be around R3600 for the bundle, so please ignore the R499 price everyone else seems to be very happy with. We'll charge you the full amount then there'll be no false advertising.

Or you could just point out you found a typo on the web-site, we fix it and say thank you.

Much easier than trying to come across clever and witty, and failing in both. Don't you think?

 

[jannievanzyl]

No I don't. It is due to your little "typos", screwed up advertising, and general ineptness that you create havoc for users like me. Why don't you try a bit of first world professionally, instead of your banana republic clueless attitude.

I apologise for the inconvenience caused. Typically those with an adequate education level would be able to understand and handle a situation such as this. But, I guess, for some finding a typo on a web-site is such a substantial claim to fame, it has to be milked for what it's worth.

BTW, your cost/MB calculation is wrong.

 

[cpu.]

No I don't. It is due to your little "typos", screwed up advertising, and general ineptness that you create havoc for users like me. Why don't you try a bit of first world professionally, instead of your banana republic clueless attitude.

No need to attack and insult people cybermatix. You are clearly unhappy and are free to share this with everyone, but please respect your fellow forumites. Jannie takes time out of his day, after hours nogal, to respond to your post/s. He might be able to help you and do so regardless of all the hurdles Vodacom place in his/our way everyday (he's not a one man army like you...as far as I know ).

 

[marine1]

It's a typo directly coupled to a cost. But I guess that's a bit much for you to grasp.

Why don't you give us the correct calculation Einstein?

BTW I'm quite sure my level of education is so far superior to what you could even imagine, just the fact that you work for Vodacom is a sure indication of this.

Eish bud tone it down man you will get banned. Even I who hate Vodascum with every bone in my body do not go so far.
Keep it civil please.
That said I am so sick and tired of BIS, misleading advertising etc etc not just with Vodacom

 

[jannievanzyl]

BTW I'm quite sure my level of education is so far superior to what you could even imagine, just the fact that you work for Vodacom is a sure indication of this.

Would love to see your CV, your stratospheric levels of education and all the achievents and awards on your wall. So far we've only got 'detector of typos on web-sites' and 'unsolicited insulter of note'. But somehow I suspect we'll just get more insults and no actual facts, right?

And you're right; I'm sure I'll never live up to the high standards and achievements set by yourself.