Thank you for all the responses and I finally feel that someone has understood me, viz. Prometheus.
In response to Iam3G (does that mean that you can implement my requests?):
1. as Prometheus clarified, although the contract says "In order to protect you from any 'surprises' (sic) in you (sic) Vodacom bill, all new Vodacom customers will be subject to a monthly data charge limit for the first 3 months. Please ask your Vodacom sales consultant to indicate what your monthly data charge limit will be."
This still does not state that I cannot request and cannot be granted my request to a limit other than the R1 250 limit, especially when my request is for a limit that is smaller than R1 250. I would like to be able to further protect myself from incurring the R1 250 or bits thereof. It doesn't say that I can't do that.
I think I need to point out that one does not necessarily understand all the implications of any contract when one signs it. This could be seen as "dumb" (as you say), or ill-informed, ignorant, whatever I suppose. But if it is dumb, I would wonder why fora such as this one exist. Probably because consumers know that big business holds the power and that we need ways to inform ourselves. Not having had 3G before November, I didn't even know this site existed, until I complained to a friend about vodacom's lack of clarity.
2. The consultant did explain that the first invoice would be pro-rata, but did not inform us of the amount, nor of how to find out. I didn't know that I had to ask how I would find out. I suppose I dumbly thought / expected that that would be part of the package. And there is a usage monitor with the package (which is not set for one's pro rate limit), but when I went back to the consultant after a few weeks' usage, I was told that it wasn't accurate and I should check online. When I checked online and then called 082 155, that consultant told me that the online usage monitoring system was only updated every 24 or 48 hours. Prometheus says 3 hours, so who am I to believe - either way, it's not accurate. This call centre consultant also told me that I could use the sim card in my phone and sms to a number to get a report. I don't know how accurate this would be - could you tell me, Iam3G? - nor how much this would cost. I am new to all of this, and as tried to explain in the previous paragraph don't always know what to ask.
3. I do blame vodacom for the consultant's stuff up - they employ the consultant, they need to train properly. If you blame me for my ignorance, I can blame vodacom for not having adequately prepared staff.
And you're right, if I wanted full control over my usage, I should have gone with the prepaid package, but unfortunately, I am going to tell you, even though you thought I couldn't that I didn't know about that option. Ignorance, dumbness ...
One signs a contract and doesn't always know what one is getting into. Not having loads of money, nor (back then, pre-Novmeber 2007) easy, regular access to the internet from home, which stems from not having loads of money, etc. ... Yes, we should all become more vigilant, but that's a function of one's time, money, etc. My ignorance, however, is still no excuse for vodacom's abuse of knowledge and not being upfront.
That being said, thanks Prometheus for answering my question, I will try to get the limit I want. Of course, I foresee resistance and ignorance from the call centre, so I may give up what with all the other things one needs to do to keep going ...
Thanks everyone.
Number 1:
yes, it does not state that you cant change it, but it does state that for the first 3 months you are subject to that mandatory "DEFAULT CAP"(if you will), which tells me that(if i read that in my contract) it means that for the first 3 months you
CANT change it.
There is one simple way of informing ourselves... its called asking questions. If you didnt know what was included in the package, or you didnt know what options there were to check usage, and if it is accurate or not, why didnt you just ask? Yes i admit, the consultant holds some responsibilty to tell you everything you need to know, but what he/she/they tell you is based on what you
WANT to know.
I work in a Vodashop. I do the Data Support for the Store. When there are customers, i can basically hear what they are talking about. The consultants tell the customer what they need to know. And if the customers
ASKS them something that they dont know, they call and find out, or sometimes they ask me. And when i sit the cutomers setting up their stuff, they ask me the same questions. And i clarify it for them. I even give them additional advice.
Number 2:
You dont always know what to ask? Everything that you are complaining about NOW is what you couldve asked. Are you elling me that you only thought about all this after you signed the contract?
IMO, the CDB's are accurate, just in a delay. I dont know why though, but i believe that Vodacom is striving to get it inline with the PPDB's. Keeping in mind that it in delay, i know I would watch my usage and keep track of how much i used. It may not show immediately on the System, but on the Dashboard(the application you use to connect, being VMCLite or VMC) it shows how much you used. It even shows how much you are using in a current session. If you are not "the dumb man" you say you are, surely you are clever enough to keep a record of that?
Number 3:
Vodacom doesnt employ all the consultants. Most of the Franchises are privately owned, so AFAIK Vodacom doesnt have full control of the staff. And the staff changes regularly, so most of the new faces dont know the in's and out's. IMO, some of them dont even know all the technical specifications, or even how to check usage, only how to sell you the product. Why should Vodacom take the hit for a ill-informed consultant not even employed by Vodacom?
Do you want Vodacom to feed you with a Spoon? Its like you saying you want a car salesman to drive your car for you after you have bought it. And lets say you sign the contract for a new car(from lets say a privately owned car dealership), and you find out that you were ill-informed from this
ONE consultant, are you also going to blame the Manufacturer of the car for that
ONE consultant's incompetence?
With that said, i do understand your frustration. All i'm trying to say is that you couldve just asked the things you are asking now. If that consultant couldnt your questions, you also couldve
ASKED that consultant to find out for you before you signed that contract. You said you dont always know what to ask, but there is no such thing as a dumb question.
I hope you come right.
