Cheated...

[sevenworth]

v3g

Last month was relatively quiet (on the internet side) and when it came to the end of the month, I checked my usage online and was pleased to find that I had about 180mb still to go. So on the 29th we sat down and downloaded some things we needed.

Got my itemized billing today and almost threw up.

I'm sitting with a bill which is almost double what I was expecting.

Who do I speak to if I have a discrepancy with the billing? I estimate we have been shafted by about 150mb. (besides the fact that last month we got misleading figures from VC usage, leading me to make use of the service when there in fact was nothing left on my bundle.)

Alternatively, if this is all the fault of my devious windows installation doing things behind my back, I'd really appreciate some input about how all you long-time users manage your bandwidth successfully.

 

[vodacom3g]

Mail or PM me the whole story and I'll pass on.

Do you have any kind of info to show the usage you saw whwn you still had data left? Maybe an itemised bill?

 

[internaut]

NEVER EVER trust your online usage stats toward the end of the month because it DOESN'T reflect the correct figures. Your case and a few I had are typical examples. Rather keep track on your machine with DUmeter or some proggie.

 

[NeBo]

I use DUmeter and sygate firewall. My v4me usage shows correctly what i have used within a tolerance of 10mb and/or 3 hours. Last month I managed to use all but 124k of my 1GB bundle. I went over my bundle when I first got 3G but after a few months I got used to the system and managed it better. Just my 2c.

 

[MyDraadloos]

I would personally like to shoot the person that thought a "usage cap" was a good idea.

 

[ic]

...the person that thought a "usage cap" was a good idea.

AFAIK it was Stephen White-Lies @ Telkodemonopolies that invented usage or bit caps in SA...

 

[MyDraadloos]

AFAIK it was Stephen White-Lies @ Telkodemonopolies that invented usage or bit caps in SA...

/me grabs shotgun, balaklava, pineapple, dirty socks, razor wire and some packing tape.

 

[ic]

/me grabs shotgun, balaklava, pineapple, dirty socks, razor wire and some packing tape.

A tad extreme, and what's that about a pineapple .

 

[sevenworth]

V3G,

Thanks VERY much for your assistance. I have just received a call from VC Accounts and the situation has been completely resolved. I am overwhelmed by the incredibly good service I have received from Vodacom, and am very glad that I opted for Vodacom 3G as my internet provider. It's people like you, though, that make the service what it is. You are a credit to Vodacom.

Best regards,
SW.

 

[NeBo]

Maybe the pineapple is for Stephen to bite into unpeeled

 

[ic]

@v3g, just an observation that might be worthwhile pointing out to the PTBs @ Vodacom - there are numerous posts here about people waiting ages for Vodacom to pass a credit [hence the corporate kidney stone reference ].

IMO a better solution [once an overcharge dispute has been resolved in the customer's favour] would be to credit the post-paid customer's bank account when Vodacom has overcharged - instead of Vodacom making the customer wait 2 months for a credit to be passed on their Vodacom account. IOW some streamlining of Vodacom's accounts & billing is needed - especially if Vodacom wants to retain customers and not annoy them away to MTN & CellC|VirginMobile...

Maybe the pineapple is for Stephen to bite into unpeeled

Hmmm well the fruit of a Prickly-Pear cactus would be more effective.

 

[MyDraadloos]

A tad extreme, and what's that about a pineapple .

The pineapple is supposed to be applied without Vaseline.

Vodacom will only pass credits when they can't defend it in terms of their contract, network problems do not apply.

It does take them very long to look into matters, V3G has been a credit to his organisation. I have no beef with him ; only with the 500 pound gorilla.

 

[NeBo]

The pineapple is supposed to be applied without Vaseline.

In that case I would suggest ic's suggestion of the prickly pear

 

[ic]

...
Vodacom will only pass credits when they can't defend it in terms of their contract, network problems do not apply.

It does take them very long to look into matters, V3G has been a credit to his organisation. I have no beef with him ; only with the 500 pound gorilla.

From an observer standpoint, reading nearly all the posts in this forum, I get the impression that billing related problems, is an area that Vodacom needs to give urgent attention to - specifically speedy resolutions after an investigation has been conducted. Furthermore, even v3g [trying his best] must have experienced problems cutting through Vodacom's billing department's red tape:

...
What do I battle to help with?

1) Billing enquiries
...

If it weren't for all of v3g's effort in helping forumites, I suspect this forum would be overflowing with negative posts.

 

[rehd]

Quite right , hats off to v3G.. take a bow..

love the pine apple reference rofl

 

[Paul Hjul]

Although this does not involve broadband per se its sufficiently on topic to creep in.

Im not sitting with a cellphone at the moment because I am waiting for Vodacom to get its act together and either take me to court or realise, admit and correct their fault. The ball got rolling in March and its now almost November. The problem lies with an inability of Credit and Risk to pass a simple credit note, stating that they will do things one way and then unanimously passing a different credit note that doesn't cover vodacom's original undertakings.

On the whole Vodacoms staff try to be friendly particularly in Customer Care and so on, and the first impression you get of the company is one of a decent can do commercial entity. That is until you get to credit and risk which seem to all be graduates of the Telkom LetsF$ckOverEveryBody School of Excellence. The staff at Credit and Risk are rude, incompetent dishonest and a downright disgrace even to the meerkat in their current adverts.

The sad thing is that even Vodacom staff seem to be aware of the incompetence of the Credit and Risk division/department/office/level of hell, and on at least 3 enquiries to Customer Care a different member of staff made a disparaging remark of Credit and Risk. So at the moment Im waiting for a proper letter from Vodacom or its attorneys or a summons and then am moving on until then I wonder whether the 50% Telkom stake isn't sitting in a view departments.

 

[MyDraadloos]

In that case I would suggest ic's suggestion of the prickly pear

Dude ! A prickly pear is to small ......... 'n pynappel is beter.

Still feeling betrayed by Vodacom, but unfortunately there are few options in terms of recourse or redress.

As they said they have the right to bill with impunity and are not lagally responsible for bad service or non-service delivery.

Helo Peter is just a Yesman site taking payoffs from corporates.

 

[flipmo]

two words...pre paid...or is that one word...hhhmmm....

expensive...but no suprises....

 

[MyDraadloos]

two words...pre paid...or is that one word...hhhmmm....

expensive...but no suprises....

One word if you spell it pre-paid.

But the last word is ........ Virgin

 

[flipmo]

was actually on the virgin site a few mins ago...too bad my fone doesnt support edge...so it will be back to gprs...but the price might convince me...

current usage for today: 9meg surfed

on vc...R 18
on virgin...R 4.50...

spot the difference...