GPRS and Vodacon service underwelming

[74466]

OMG what is our networks commin to? I never had such connection/speed probs on MTN unfortunately, voda had a beter contract deal

 

[chiskop]

I see your BS-T0QK-4K2SN and B3-S4IZ-OU73L, and raise you a "real live technician", which is apparently gonna come visit me.

I believe that when I see it. For now, I think you're bluffing.

I can raise you an actual voicemail message from a Vodacom technician. I have saved it and replay it each time I consider phoning 155. This way I get to hear their complete lack of concern in a few seconds, rather than having to hold!

I wish that I could raise your technician's visit with an actual intervention by a Vodacom customer service "team leader", but they seem to be even less reliable than the rest of them. Three requests to have my query escalated have been met with complete and utter silence.

 

[MyDraadloos]

I believe that when I see it. For now, I think you're bluffing.

I can raise you an actual voicemail message from a Vodacom technician. I have saved it and replay it each time I consider phoning 155. This way I get to hear their complete lack of concern in a few seconds, rather than having to hold!

I wish that I could raise your technician's visit with an actual intervention by a Vodacom customer service "team leader", but they seem to be even less reliable than the rest of them. Three requests to have my query escalated have been met with complete and utter silence.

I guess you were correct ........ Vodacom technician = Easter Bunny.

 

[lilDeath]

I am so glad I am not the only one having issues with GPRS.
I use GPRS on my 6230, which acts as a modem through BT to my notebook.
The service and latency on GPRS has gone seriously through the roof in the last 2-3 months.
I only use it to play MMORPG when I am not at any fixed-line locations.

It used to work fine and I recommended it to a lot of people, but now I am thinking twice when telling people about it.

Seems like they are running into capacity problems. I havent had the strength to phone them again. The hold times are ridiculous.

I posted last nights experience here
Weird!

With MNP coming soon (not soon enough) there will luckily be more alternative 'options'

Luckily I am also up for renewal, so now looking at 3G / HSDPA....

 

[Skeptik]

Last night I tried to get someone going on Voda GPRS. I had just told them that MTN was more efficient in getting a first time user going with settings and everything but we wanted to try Voda first. We needed the settings for APN and number to dial etc.

Waited 5 minutes then rung off. Called 155 again and waited 43 minutes. During the wait there was NO option to use the CALLBACK service. Pressing # did absolutely NOTHING. The automated menu is also a bit screwy - there is no option to speak to an operator but only if you go back to the start menu does it suddenly give you the option to "press 0 for operator".

After 43 minutes someone picked up and put it down again
Called again and after 5 minutes it was picked up and put down. Tried again at 11pm and got a moody operator. We mentioned the long wait - no apology - just "well we're busy you know!". He gave me some wierd settings which didn't work in the end - we resorted to MTN with free R10 credit. At least there is no BS and got started in 5 minutes with GPRS.

Vodacom - please don't buy Telkom! Please

 

[vodacom3g]

Skeptik, please PM me the number you called from last night and the aproximate times.

Also, can you please give me the call details on the call you made in your sig?

Only way to fix the call desk is to confront 'moody' operators.

 

[chiskop]

Vodacom technician = Easter Bunny

Hey! I got a call yesterday from a Vodacom tech - a mere 22 days after I first logged the problem.

Although no-one was home the guy went to my house, parked on the drive and tested the network. He phoned before and after to explain to me what he was doing. He said he'd fixed some network problem and would check in with me today to see if I experienced an improvement. He also gave me his direct number in case there was a problem.

And last night, for the first time in three weeks I had a 3G connection that stayed connected.

And all it took was 22 days, dozens of emails and several dozen phone calls.

[I'm still waiting for a call from Accounts, I'm sure they're anxious to explain how they're going to refund me for for their lack of service.]

Only way to fix the call desk is to confront 'moody' operators.

Not sure about that.

I called 082 155 last week and asked for my call to be escalated to a teamleader. No team leader was available, but I was assured the one would phone me at 09h00 when he got in. No phone call yet .

I also called 082 111 last week and asked for my call to be escalated to a teamleader. No team leader was available, but I was assured the one would phone me as soon as he was available. No phone call yet.

I also emailed CustomerCare@vodacom.co.za asked for my query to be escalated to a teamleader. No response at all from that.

 

[MyDraadloos]

Are you sure he was not checking out your pad for some "midnight shopping".

Theft is a general habit at telcos, most of the time they steal under the guise of a signed contract.

My knight is shining armour is still missing ......... they keep telling me to upgrade to HSDPA.

Not gonna do anything of the sort untill they sort out GPRS.

PS. When HSDPA fails what am I supposed to use then ?

Ooh ...... GPRS you say ........ very farking clever as it is not working very well.

 

[chiskop]

Are you sure he was not checking out your pad for some "midnight shopping".

Well, whatever he did it was a temporary fix.

It seems now, a month after my first complaint, to be getting resolved.

Here's what I did:

1. Called 082 155
2. I screamt
3. I shouted
4. I was abusive
5. I wept like a little girl.​

That seems to have done the trick. The next day someone reset the network (or whatever it is they do) and no 619s for almost two full days now.

HTH

chiskop

 

[MyDraadloos]

Well, whatever he did it was a temporary fix.

It seems now, a month after my first complaint, to be getting resolved.

Here's what I did:

1. Called 082 155
2. I screamt
3. I shouted
4. I was abusive
5. I wept like a little girl.​

That seems to have done the trick. The next day someone reset the network (or whatever it is they do) and no 619s for almost two full days now.

HTH

chiskop

I have already run over my own dog this week ........ don't feel like crying again.

Just don't have the power to call them again.

 

[Spencer Davis]

why buy a data card i thought using my new motorola V1050 as a modem - until i borrowed my brothers card i was hooked - no flat battery - no cable no struggling with blue tooth and what i dont understand my fancy new cell which i bought because it had 3G - to me then a magic word but could never get more than 115kbps - while even with the 3ggprs card average of 380kbps
too technical for me - sorry got carried away basically i love the data card - and collect them, if you ever need one either gprs or hsdpa please contact me
thanks
spencer

 

[MyDraadloos]

Seems Vodacom does not value me as a customer at all.

I asked if I could get a refund on the data charges as I don't feel I am being billed fairly due the unstability of the service.

The response ....... "Would you consider cancelling your contract ?"

Unfortunately I don't have any other options. Since Cell-C and Virgin arelikely to be using the same tower and infrastructure, the service will still suck.

Telkom has been a non-starter ......... I applied back in March.

Have lived with Sentech and i-Burst and I realy don't need the agrivation.

Does this therefor mean I have to go with MTN to get things done? If so I will cancel everything with Vodacom.

 

[chiskop]

I asked if I could get a refund on the data charges as I don't feel I am being billed fairly due the unstability of the service.

I asked for a refund after I was unable to connect for close to a month. I was told that we'd look at the billing once the problem was resolved.

Despite a couple of reminder emails since then there has been no response.

It's quite simple: Because of their network problems, I didn't have access to the service for which I am being charged.

 

[MyDraadloos]

Well it seems something is rotten in the state of Denmark.

The smell seems to be coming from Julian Rafique, Andre Liberty and Okkert Le Roux at Vodacom.

Thanks a bunch chaps ......... (no, that was not a real thank you )

AS-UGJ0-S52BS
BS-T2IW-C715L
AS-TXQ8-8XVQ
AS-UG40-8N3Z2

 

[vodacom3g]

Give me a few minutes.....

 

[vodacom3g]

The guys are on their way to your neck of the woods to see what's going on....

 

[MyDraadloos]

The guys are on their way to your neck of the woods to see what's going on....

He came by while I was out of the office, would have liked to have been around to see what he does to ensure that the problem was being replicated and to share some of the data I collected.

Will wait and see what he comes up with tomorrow.

 

[Skeptik]

Well it seems something is rotten in the state of Denmark.

The smell seems to be coming from Julian Rafique, Andre Liberty and Okkert Le Roux at Vodacom.

Thanks a bunch chaps ......... (no, that was not a real thank you )

AS-UGJ0-S52BS
BS-T2IW-C715L
AS-TXQ8-8XVQ
AS-UG40-8N3Z2

Did they just close these tickets (The EASY route )
or did they resolve the problem, contact you, then close them?

 

[MyDraadloos]

Did they just close these tickets (The EASY route )
or did they resolve the problem, contact you, then close them?

Nope for 2-months they just kept telling me what they thought I wanted the hear.

It took V3G to get some activity, still waiting to see what the results are going to be.

Problem is that this is about business and not my own personal wet dream of trying to copy the Internet to my hard drive.

I have real questions regarding the quality and stability of the network in my area and due to Telkom's lack of interest I will be totally dependant on Vodacom's services.

Yes there is a Sentech tower 50m from my office, but I have learnt my lesson trying to deal with them.

-Internet
-Credit card machines
-Webshop
-LCR
-Fax
-Sales reps

This will all be hanging from their network. So when I get slow throughput on GPRS and an unstable connection I take it very seriously.

 

[MyDraadloos]

Received call from technician that they have made some changes to the tower and added some GPRS timeslots.

Seems better and more stable ........ will keep testing / using.

Many thanks V3G ,for putting some boot-to-ass.

If it remains stable for the next few days I will put in my order for HSDPA.