New Service: VODACOM REVERSE CHARGE SERVICE

[vodacom3g]

NEW SERVICE: VODACOM REVERSE CHARGE SERVICE

Vodacom will be introducing the Vodacom Reverse Charge service on 16 December 2007.

SUMMARY:

The Vodacom Reverse Charge service will allow all Vodacom Prepaid and Top Up customers, with no available airtime, to make a call and request the receiver to carry the cost of the call.

Vodacom Contract customers will also be able to request a Reverse Charge call if their account has been soft locked or if their call limit has been reached.

Customers will access the service by calling 082 180 followed by the complete cellphone number of the person they are calling.

The customer accepting a Reverse Charge call will be provided with the cellphone number of the party requesting the call, even if they have CLIR activated.

A customer can only request 5 Reverse Charge calls per day.
When a customer has reached his daily limit of Reverse Charge calls and attempts to make another call, he will be alerted to the fact that his daily limit has been reached.

Customers can choose to block the Vodacom Reverse Charge service or restrict numbers from which they do not want to accept Reverse Charge calls. Simply dial *111# and select the option.

The service will be made available to Contract, Top Up and Prepaid customers, but ONLY Contract customers will be able to accept Reverse Charge calls.

Once the called party accepts the call, they will be charged at their contract tariff rate. On-net, Peak and Off-peak rates will apply and no bundled minutes can be used.

The party requesting the Reverse Charge call will NOT be billed for requesting the call. The call will only be charged to the receiver once they have accepted the call.

Reverse Charge calls to other Networks and Telkom will NOT be allowed.
Reverse Charge calls cannot be requested while either party is roaming.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

1. What is the Vodacom Reverse Charge service?

The service enables Vodacom customers to make a call even though they have no airtime available, whilst the Vodacom Contract customer bears the cost of the call. NOTE: The service is an Interactive Voice Response (IVR) based service.

2. When will the Vodacom Reverse Charge service be introduced?

The service will be available to customers from 16 December 2007.

3. Which customers will be able to use this service?

All Vodacom Contract, Prepaid and Top Up customers will be able to request a Reverse Charge call, however ONLY Vodacom Contract customers will be able to accept a Reverse Charge call. NOTE: Customers will be limited to 5 Reverse Charge calls per day.

4. How will customers be able to access the service?

Customers who wish to request a Reverse Charge call, can do so by dialling 082 180 followed by the complete cellphone number of the person they are calling.

5. Can customers choose not to accept a Reverse Charge call?

Yes. When a Reverse Charge call is directed at a customer, they will receive the following IVR message: "Please confirm whether you are willing to accept Reverse Charges from <MSISDN> by pressing 1. Should you wish to reject the call, please press 2". If no response is received after 10 seconds then the reject command will be assumed. NOTE: Customers can choose to block the Reverse Charge service or restrict numbers from which they do not want to accept Reverse Charge calls. Simply dial *111# and select the option.

6. What will a Reverse Charge call cost the customer?

Once the called party accepts the call, they will be charged at their contract tariff rate. The party requesting the Reverse Charge call will NOT be billed for requesting the call, nor will they pay if the recipient declines the call.

NOTE:

On-net, Peak and Off-peak rates will apply and no bundled or free minutes can be used.
Reverse Charge calls to other Networks and Telkom will NOT be allowed.
Reverse Charge calls cannot be requested while either party is roaming.

 

[Skeptik]

So if you have a prepaid number and want another person to accept your call, how would you:
1. Determine whether the number is contract or pre-paid (by numbering sequence?).
2. Know whether you are contacting a Vodacom number at all?

I'm guessing you would get a recorded message of some sort.

 

[ld13]

I think this is almost like the call sponsor service, more useful for family situations:
Child at school or where ever. Does not have airtime. Can always phone mommy or daddy that has a Contract - Does not matter What.
Like a lifeline.

 

[ic]

I think this is almost like the call sponsor service, more useful for family situations:
Child at school or where ever. Does not have airtime. Can always phone mommy or daddy that has a Contract - Does not matter What.
Like a lifeline.

Yep, IMO it's basically an [-]elaborate[/-] advanced Please Call Me service that has some blocking features.

 

[vodacom3g]

Yep, IMO it's basically an elaborate Please Call Me service that has some blocking features.

I believe you can block call-me's as well. Another forum request that was created.

I'll prefer this reverse charge vs. a call-me as it removes one step for me, i.e. I don't have to call back, just answer the call.

 

[krycor]

hrm this will likely be used heavily when schools start again, because now parents can give kids 0 credit phones and then allow them to call back

 

[HavocXphere]

The fact that its charged at contract rates is cool. Too bad that my parents are on MTN while I'm on VC.

 

[vodacom3g]

hrm this will likely be used heavily when schools start again, because now parents can give kids 0 credit phones and then allow them to call back

Or in SME's where you often have staff with their own phones who must phone people in the office but never have credit.

 

[Debbie]

Ok, so John calls Mary reverse charge. How is Mary informed that the call is reverse charge? Prerecorded message?

 

[Debbie]

no bundled or free minutes can be used

The upside for Vodacom! The sometimes-applicable 'price' in exchange for the convenience of having one step removed.

Suggest a rename from "free minutes" to "partially restricted minutes"

 

[ic]

Yep, IMO it's basically an [-]elaborate[/-] advanced Please Call Me service that has some blocking features.

I believe you can block call-me's as well. Another forum request that was created.

Just checked *111# for an option to block Please Call Me messages, I did see a "Reverse Charge" option, but nothing for Please Call Me messages - it would be great if there is a way to specify that Please Call Me messages can only be delivered from specific MSISDNs.

I'll prefer this reverse charge vs. a call-me as it removes one step for me, i.e. I don't have to call back, just answer the call.

This new service will be especially good for parents & their kids that are probably regularly out of airtime - without the hassle [for the parents] of transferring airtime.

 

[bodhi]

great news - thanks Vodacom

 

[Skeptik]

Ok, so John calls Mary reverse charge. How is Mary informed that the call is reverse charge? Prerecorded message?

I'd like to know this as well and how one knows if one is calling a contract number.

 

[ic]

I'd like to know this as well and how one knows if one is calling a contract number.

IMO the nature of the service suggests that if person A requests a reverse-charge callback from person B, and if person B trusts person A enough to do this, then person A and person B will know each other sufficiently well enough to know that person B is a contract customer...

 

[Skeptik]

IMO the nature of the service suggests that if person A requests a reverse-charge callback from person B, and if person B trusts person A enough to do this, then person A and person B will know each other sufficiently well enough to know that person B is a contract customer...

I expect I may know if my mother has one, but I've never discussed this with even close friends or relatives. Just a thought.

 

[ic]

I expect I may know if my mother has one, but I've never discussed this with even close friends or relatives. Just a thought.

I guess that means you would have to get intimate with your friends & relatives to find out if they are contract customers willing to pay reverse charges...

 

[RichardG]

Vodacom Sexy *111#

Hey Vodacom Supporters,
I normally do not use *111# but today noticed something new, something that catched my eyes changing..
I thought this would never happen in a million years but now you can actually block those annoying "Please Call Me" numbers....

I recall back in the days when PCM was first launched you could send around 500 now only 5 per day. Thank gawdness...
Thank you vodacom - u made my xmas gift come true
Now I can block all the call me sms FOLKS...


View option 8..
Reverse Charge is the Sub-menu.
1.BLOCK NUMBER
2. UNBLOCK NUMBER
3. VIEW BLOCKED NUMBERS
4. BLOCK SERVICE.
5.UNBLOCK SERVICE.
6.VIEW SERVICE STATUS
7. VIEW REMAINING CALL

 

[ic]

Moderator note: 2 threads merged

@RichardG, I'm not convinced that that sub-menu is intended for PCM blocking management, I'm sure v3g will clarify.

 

[chiskop]

Customers can choose to block the Vodacom Reverse Charge service or restrict numbers from which they do not want to accept Reverse Charge calls. Simply dial *111# and select the option.

Thanks, that was the part I was interested in.

@RichardG: I don't see anything on *111# for PCMs.

 

[ColinR]

*140# has the PCM blocking options - but as far as I remember - it's a block all or none.