Short Voice Service

[ic]

< What's that bad taste left in my mouth??? >

Hazarding a guess, your own bile maybe?

If you regularly follow the posts in this forum, as I and several other forumites do, you will know that forumites have made many suggestions, and many of those have been implemented by Vodacom, it's a collaborative effort with the goal of improving Vodacom's systems and procedures.

 

[vodacom3g]

There is no need to act so petulantly in connection with what Simon_B put up on his blog. Rather, maybe, look at ways to incur a few more costs actually testing your systems properly - oh! I forgot, that might affect your already small margin LOL!

Jokes aside, you might take note and make others at Vodacom aware of what is clearly widespread distrust of your company and its ethics. Your PR machine is not as effective as you might wish: alternatively you might fix the issues that require you to have such a PR machine in the first place. It's a toss-up as to which would cost less, I'd venture to guess. Deep-rooted dislike and mistrust can take decades for a company to overcome - a few TV ads won't do it.

< What's that bad taste left in my mouth??? >

If you follow my posts on this forum you know I like to call a spade a spade. And I fully expect it to to work both ways, i.e. if Vodacom stuffed up, one admits it, fixes it and carries on.

But if someone starts making unsubstantiated accusations, I also expect that to be highlighted. (This was the root of the issues between Skeptik and myself, BTW, he would make patently false claims and then get upset if it was pointed out.).

In this case, a specific scenario was detected that affected 0.004% of Vodacom subscribers. The TOTAL value of credits that had to be passed was ~R1000. These are the actual numbers, not the wild speculations and accusations we saw on Simon's blog.

What I always ask for; If you have a problem with Vodacom, engage with them. If it does not lead anywhere, for sure rant in whatever way you see fit.

But first ask before shooting from the hip. What could have been a simple problem report and resolution became a mud slinging post in a blog.

On the rest of your points above; the exact reason why Vodacom is formally on this forum is to gauge public perception. Technical support is a secondary function.

You might look at all the posts with complaints of various issues here and on site like HP, but the reality is that the vast majority of subscribers get a decent service. For sure things will go wrong; with ten's of millions of customers there will always be a problem somewhere.

While, if you have a problem at any point in time, it's a major issue for you (rightly), even if 0.1% of VC subscribers have a problem, it's tens of thousands. And you don't see those levels of complaints.

So I don't quite agree that there is a general "Deep-rooted dislike and mistrust".

I do see a large organisation using imperfect technology run by imperfect humans serving other, imperfect humans as customers.

And the fact that it actually goes well 99% of the time is not too shabby.

 

[rwenzori]

So I don't quite agree that there is a general "Deep-rooted dislike and mistrust".

I do see a large organisation using imperfect technology run by imperfect humans serving other, imperfect humans as customers.

And the fact that it actually goes well 99% of the time is not too shabby.

Well, maybe you are right, and maybe I am right. Some of my major issues relate to the fact that your company could just do SO much better for so many of your clients by being just a little less greedy. You can blind yourselves to comments like mine - that is to be expected. You could also get some honest research done ( by honest, I mean unlike the "research" that companies like Microsoft pay for and publish ).

I will grant you, as a client of yours, that in my limited experience, you are a lot better than your competition.

Hazarding a guess, your own bile maybe?

If you regularly follow the posts in this forum, as I and several other forumites do, you will know that forumites have made many suggestions, and many of those have been implemented by Vodacom, it's a collaborative effort with the goal of improving Vodacom's systems and procedures.

Predictably, ic the VC fan has to pop a quick response. Bully for what you say, but there is still a very long road ahead and many miles for VC to walk before some of us would regard them in a better light than, for example, panelbeaters, lawyers, Telkom, used-pho.. er car salesmen.

Why do you like them so much? What makes you such a fan? I'd be intrigued to hear.

 

[vodacom3g]

Well, maybe you are right, and maybe I am right. Some of my major issues relate to the fact that your company could just do SO much better for so many of your clients by being just a little less greedy. You can blind yourselves to comments like mine - that is to be expected. You could also get some honest research done ( by honest, I mean unlike the "research" that companies like Microsoft pay for and publish ).

I will grant you, as a client of yours, that in my limited experience, you are a lot better than your competition.

I think you're right, we're both right!

From your point, what you see and experience is 100% correct and with the information at hand you make the best possible deductions.

I've seldom (used to say never but then we bumped into Mr. S Keptik) met anyone who, with all the information, won't understand (not necessarily agree) the environment, actions and decisions.

I really don't think I'm blinding myself to your comments, quite the contrary. And the same with Vodacom, BTW. I'm always amazed how many initiatives there are to improve service levels.

So, as I always say, any logical comments are always appreciated and fed into the system.

 

[ic]

Predictably, ic the VC fan has to pop a quick response. Bully for what you say, but there is still a very long road ahead and many miles for VC to walk before some of us would regard them in a better light than, for example, panelbeaters, lawyers, Telkom, used-pho.. er car salesmen.

Why do you like them so much? What makes you such a fan? I'd be intrigued to hear.

Again you're jumping to conclusions: I don't have any warm fuzzy feelings towards Vodacom as a company, I do however know that there are many very highly skilled technical and non-technical people that work for Vodacom, and unlike the Skeptiks in this world, I respect the people within Vodacom that are willing to make a difference and listen to what we have to say here, and these people do listen to what we have to say.

If you're only posting here to become Skeptik's anonymous proxy, then I suggest you take a hike.

If you want to participate constructively, then please do so - you would soon see that we the customers, as well as Vodacom, all benefit from constructive debate, also note that constructive does not mean that you cannot criticise Vodacom, constructive means not being a pathological liar like Skeptik is, and not attacking fellow forumites, it also means concentrating on actual facts instead of punting baseless conspiracy theories.

PS: The bits I highlighted from your post, are collectively examples of [your] trolling.

 

[rwenzori]

Again you're jumping to conclusions: I don't have any warm fuzzy feelings towards Vodacom as a company, I do however know that there are many very highly skilled technical and non-technical people that work for Vodacom, and unlike the Skeptiks in this world, I respect the people within Vodacom that are willing to make a difference and listen to what we have to say here, and these people do listen to what we have to say.

If you're only posting here to become Skeptik's anonymous proxy, then I suggest you take a hike.

If you want to participate constructively, then please do so - you would soon see that we the customers, as well as Vodacom, all benefit from constructive debate, also note that constructive does not mean that you cannot criticise Vodacom, constructive means not being a pathological liar like Skeptik is, and not attacking fellow forumites, it also means concentrating on actual facts instead of punting baseless conspiracy theories.

PS: The bits I highlighted from your post, are collectively examples of [your] trolling.

If you think I am acting on behalf of Skeptik you are:

1. Quite mistaken and
2. Getting paranoid.

While I understand and sympathise with one or two of Skeptik's issues with VC, I heartily condemn his actions subsequent to being banned, as reported here. He is unknown to me in real life, we do not have email addresses for each other, and I have PMs switched off.

I hope that your attitude does not mean that any criticisms of Vodacom now become branded as being from Skeptik, with mod threats about "trolling". In point of fact your first response to me at #35 was no more pleasant than my response to you.

I do attempt to participate constructively, and have offered to lay out some of my major VC issues, which I would be happy to do ( here's hoping I get the info on VC's Social Responsibility figures v3g is getting for me ). I fear though that they, not being on the technical side, will be above v3g's "sphere of influence".

It would be appreciated if freedom of expression on this forum, granted to forumites in respect of other companies, could also be permitted i.r.o. VC, without having moderators making accusations of trolling or not being constructive. As evidence, my posts above about VC are extremely mild compared to your own posts about Telkom.

As a final word, you need to stop seeing Skeptik behind every post.

 

[-toady-]

I can't help but resoundingly applaud the last three posters on this thread. I haven't figured out how to do multiple quotes but "above v3g's sphere of influence" and "mud slinging on blogs" are classics....

This is the exact type of posting that keeps me coming back for more! *hugs ic....

 

[ic]

If you think I am acting on behalf of Skeptik you are:

1. Quite mistaken and
2. Getting paranoid.

While I understand and sympathise with one or two of Skeptik's issues with VC, I heartily condemn his actions subsequent to being banned, as reported here. He is unknown to me in real life, we do not have email addresses for each other, and I have PMs switched off.

I hope that your attitude does not mean that any criticisms of Vodacom now become branded as being from Skeptik, with mod threats about "trolling". In point of fact your first response to me at #35 was no more pleasant than my response to you.

I do attempt to participate constructively, and have offered to lay out some of my major VC issues, which I would be happy to do ( here's hoping I get the info on VC's Social Responsibility figures v3g is getting for me ). I fear though that they, not being on the technical side, will be above v3g's "sphere of influence".

It would be appreciated if freedom of expression on this forum, granted to forumites in respect of other companies, could also be permitted i.r.o. VC, without having moderators making accusations of trolling or not being constructive. As evidence, my posts above about VC are extremely mild compared to your own posts about Telkom.

As a final word, you need to stop seeing Skeptik behind every post.

You can interpret my reaction to your post however you like, but I take extreme exception to Skeptik-like accusations of favouritism towards Vodacom.

For the record, I happen to be one of the 0.004% that ported to Vodacom [in my case from CellC which doesn't have a 3G network], and I would have been extremely miffed if I had had the time to use this new service only to be billed for it during the free period, having said that, I would also have reported it first before thinking that Vodacom was out to get me - which is not what Simon_B did.

 

[rwenzori]

You can interpret my reaction to your post however you like, but I take extreme exception to Skeptik-like accusations of favouritism towards Vodacom.

I will back off for fear of the usual, but you do not convince.

 

[Drunkard #1]

I think most people are using this issue as a proxy for the Vodacom issue which is really bugging them. Nobody cares if Vodacom steals / mistakenly steals R 1 000.

The issue that still get me fuming is the non-capping of data contracts. How much did Vodacom steal / couldn't stop themselves from taking form peoples accounts with that "technical issue". While returning R 1 000 to 0.004% of your customers is a no-brainer, from a PR point of view, it's hard to ignore the elephant in the room. No amount of CSR or spin is going to return the several million rand (several thousand people x several thousand rand) to your customers who fell victim to that "glitch".

Until Vodacom is seen to behave in a fair and honest manner in all aspects of it's business, people like Simon_B will always have ammo for their diatribes. He blew this issue out of proportion, but only because his first thoughts were " those no good, thieving <insert expletive here> at Vodacom are at it again. This PR "issue" can't be isolated from any of the other factors that cause people to immediately assume that Vodacom is stealing, before they get any facts.

 

[vodacom3g]

I think most people are using this issue as a proxy for the Vodacom issue which is really bugging them. Nobody cares if Vodacom steals / mistakenly steals R 1 000.

The issue that still get me fuming is the non-capping of data contracts. How much did Vodacom steal / couldn't stop themselves from taking form peoples accounts with that "technical issue". While returning R 1 000 to 0.004% of your customers is a no-brainer, from a PR point of view, it's hard to ignore the elephant in the room. No amount of CSR or spin is going to return the several million rand (several thousand people x several thousand rand) to your customers who fell victim to that "glitch".

You do know that Vodacom's been working on getting capping in place for contracts and some systems are now in place (Data TopUp) with more to come?

 

[rwenzori]

He blew this issue out of proportion, but only because his first thoughts were " those no good, thieving <insert expletive here> at Vodacom are at it again. This PR "issue" can't be isolated from any of the other factors that cause people to immediately assume that Vodacom is stealing, before they get any facts.

I'm with you. Once your customer base's first reaction is as you describe, you actually have a problem.

<Let's see how many times the term "Skeptik" is used in the responses LOL.>

 

[ic]

I'm with you. Once your customer base's first reaction is as you describe, you actually have a problem.

<Let's see how many times the term "Skeptik" is used in the responses LOL.>

Skeptik.

There you go, you can increment the counter now .

 

[LancelotSA]

Sorry V3G, I am a difficult client to please and Vodacom aren't winning themselves any favours by launching fringe products which are of little to no benefit to their client base, whilst not even bothering to reduce their contract subscriptions or provide some VAS' such as MTN have done.

I'm with you on this and already made the move around a week ago...

No problem. Here I'll now insert my standard answer: "Because a certain product does not appeal to you, then it does not automatically not appeal to anyone else"

You're a technology-savvy, educated, literate, English speaking person, right? What do you think your representation of the SA demographic base is?

Say you're blind or your home language is Zulu, or (low-and-behold) you can't read or write.

Now would this be a service that could be of value to you?

This sort of attitude makes me really love Vodacom even more. You seem to be basically admitting that Vodacom do not care about us "technology-savvy, educated, literate, English speaking" people as we only represent a small percentage of the SA demographic? NICE!

I am almost certain my monthly cellphone spend is a log higher than your average pay as you go user!

This offer reeks of greed and once again gets packaged as a great "service" being offered by Vodacom.

 

[vodacom3g]

I'm with you on this and already made the move around a week ago...



This sort of attitude makes me really love Vodacom even more. You seem to be basically admitting that Vodacom do not care about us "technology-savvy, educated, literate, English speaking" people as we only represent a small percentage of the SA demographic? NICE!

I am almost certain my monthly cellphone spend is a log higher than your average pay as you go user!

This offer reeks of greed and once again gets packaged as a great "service" being offered by Vodacom.

WHAT???

Come on Lance, did you actually read what I posted?

Where did I say, in ANY WAY WHATSOEVER "that Vodacom do not care about "us technology-savvy, educated, literate, English speaking" people as we only represent a small percentage of the SA demographic" ?

What I did say is that you as a "technology-savvy, educated, literate, English speaking" person who can see, read and write can use SMS.

But not everyone in this country can.

As someone who profess to carry the better good of all citizens in South Africa, I find your post deeply disturbing. As I find your selfishness in not wishing other citizens the same benefits you claim.

 

[LancelotSA]

After reading through this thread and the others relating to SVS I feel the need to say something.

I seem to do this at risk of getting myself on the wrong side of the mods, and others, as the person in question seems to be held in high regard on here (probably part of the reason I am opposed to "forumite of the year" awards and the like), but I would like to take this opportunity to state that I have never liked V3G's approach to responding to questions, and in particular, criticism of Vodacom. His tone often comes across as condescending.

I have not noted anyone else who is above criticism on this forum and I, for one, would prefer to see it stay this way. As someone who is seen as representing Vodacom on this forum you would perhaps do well to be a little less condescending...

 

[Milano]

I am almost certain my monthly cellphone spend is a log higher than your average pay as you go user!

Therefore those users do not deserve special services aimed directly at their specific needs? Should Vodacom only service your market segment?

 

[LancelotSA]

V3G if you read you will clearly see that I stated "you seem to be basically admitting...". Perception means a lot when you are representing a company.

You may be disturbed by my selfishness as much as I am disturbed, but not at all surprised, by Vodacom's greed! If you really had the best interests of the blind, illiterate Zulu chap at heart would you not lower the costs of sending these messages, or in fact make them free for people who can prove their disability to Vodacom? As stated it is all about greed and making money and the guise of being for the good of those less fortunate does not fool me.

I will not continue this discussion as I have already admitted, a few minutes ago, on another thread that your posts do seem to rub me up the wrong way. Your tone perhaps does not come across as it is meant when read by me...

 

[LancelotSA]

Therefore those users do not deserve special services aimed directly at their specific needs? Should Vodacom only service your market segment?

Read my post above as it applies to you too.

And this façade of punting this service for the benefit of the "blind, illiterate, Zulu chap" becomes even more humorous when it is being punted on a forum which in all likelihood is full of "technology-savvy, educated, literate, English speaking" people!

 

[Milano]

Hats off to vodacom3g for putting up with some really petty people.