Vodacare Hatfield and "Data Specialists" (rant)

[hxc87x]

I'm so flippin annoyed with Vodacare Hatfield's "Data Specialist"!!!

Last night my USB modem stopped working. It would connect and all that, but when I open IE or FF it would say "Page Cannot Be Displayed" or something to that effect.
I tried it on both my computers and my laptop, each one had the same result.
Tried again this morning, same story... So I decided to go to Vodacare Hatfield to see if they can sort me out.

I get there and the place is packed and there's only one lady working (to be fair - she was nice and friendly)
Eventually it's my turn and she calls a "Data Specialist".
I tell the guy what's happening and he tells me that it's a network issue. I didn't think much of it and dropped by my neighbour's place only to find out that his modem is working (exact same model - E220)
I then uninstall VMClite on all my computers and install my old 3G card's software onto my laptop (just normal VMC) - Voila! It works!
I plug in my E220 only to have the same problems I've had the whole time.
I then uninstalled the VMClite again and installed VMC from the disk which came with the E220 - the older software. This seemed to connect every now and then and would load pages but then disconnect after a minute or so, which made me relatively sure that it's either a software or a driver issue.

I just got back from Vodacare Hatfield now where I told the "Data Specialist" what happened and asked him how it could be a network issue, at which point he started getting tense and annoyed. I then asked him if he could maybe just give me updated software or flash my E220 or something so that I could try see if that would work. He refused because "it's a network issue and it wouldn't make any difference"

I intend to contact the manager tomorrow just to find out how the hell he/she can employ someone as a "Data Specialist" if said specialist should clearly be wearing water wings in the shower and scuba goggles when eating. The douche would've forgotten his name if it wasn't pinned to his chest.

If anyone ever goes there and a tall, skinny, pasty guy with a shaved head comes to help you (and you don't feel like assaulting anyone) - ask for someone else.

 

[Keeper]

it wouldn't make a difference - call 155 and you'll hear the voice say they have been having NETWORK problems over your exact same error (Page Cannot Be Displayed)

just call it - you'll see.

atleast yours is a global problem so just ride it out along with other people who are also affected.

My problem is unique - can only connect to GPRS and not 3G anymore - be glad man.....

 

[hxc87x]

it wouldn't make a difference - call 155 and you'll hear the voice say they have been having NETWORK problems over your exact same error (Page Cannot Be Displayed)

Please explain how my neighbour's modem which is exactly the same as mine works with my sim in his flat (his bedroom is right next to mine), how my 3G card works in my flat and how my E220 works for a minute before disconnecting when I use old software.
I'm busy downloading new firmware and software, so if that doesn't work then I'll edit my post and feel like an ass.
I'm actually posting this right now from my 3G card

 

[Keeper]

well, tell me why my TV has snow on SABC 2, and yours has snow on eTv? huh, huh?

I don't know - just saying that vodacom is having some problems lately and are sorting it out.

Tell me why my modem is working at this very moment at my workplace, but when I get home It won't, even though I will have better signal ???

I get 619 RAS 95% of the time at home, yet here it works 1st time!

 

[hxc87x]

Still had the same problem after upgrading the firmware but it's now working after installing the new VMClite dashboard

So either the network problems were sorted out in the 5 mins it took to update VMC or I was right in suspecting that it was just software that somehow got screwed up.

 

[Keeper]

ive got the new vmc, flashed the e272, and i'm still on GPRS - i dunno WTF is going on!