Vodacom and ABSA

xrapidx

xrapidx

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Since the beginning of the month, I seldom receive ABSA's TVR/RVN message when trying to add a beneficiary, it arrives hours after I logon. Although I do receive the Internet Banking logon message.

After almost a month of hassling, and getting the usual run around from ABSA... I now have this response from them:
ABSA said:
I also submitted a request to Vodacom this morning to check what happened to the RVN SMS-message that was sent to you today at 11:02. Vodacom reported that the message could not be delivered to your cell number shortly after 11:02 as your cell number did not register on the network at the time. Vodacom then retried delivery of the SMS until it was successfully delivered at 11:42

The above mentioned scenario can also cause delays with the delivery of SMS-messages. If your cellular number does not register on the cellular network at the time we send the RVN/TVN SMS-messages, then the cellular network (Vodacom) will then retry delivery of the messages until your cell number registers on the network again.

If the SIM-card inserted into your phone is older than 3 years, it is possible that the SIM-card may be faulty... If your SIM-card does not register on the cellular network at the time a SMS-message is sent to you, then the delivery of the SMS-message will be delayed.

If your cell number drops off the network for no apparent reason, it could also indicate that your cellular handset may be faulty. If possible, please have your cellular handset tested to ensure it is in good working order.

Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or require assistance.
Click to expand...

Now - I have the following problems with this.
1.) The phone has decide signal - data is working all the time.
2.) The online message always delivers as I logon - then suddenly my phone drops off the network two minutes later for over an hour...yet my data still works, I can make calls, and I can receive messages from other people.
3.) When I don't receive these messages, I've turned my phone on and off...it re-registers and shows it has signal... don't receive the messages.
4.) I have tried making a call when I don't receive the SMS's... that works... yet no SMS's.
5.) Again...this only applies to TVN/RVN messages - yet internet banking message arrive on time.

My sim card (I think it was a new sim card, if not its since I did a sim-swap) and phone are 7 months old... no other problems except the ABSA.
 
Last edited:
ABSA SMS's are not always very quick. I have sometimes gotten sms's hours (once 2 days) after drawing money from the bank.
 
ocleroux said:
What about SMS's from other people like friends etc...any delays in those?
Click to expand...

Not that I've noticed... but most people use WhatsApp now...

I thought it might be the tower - but I get the same result at work and home.

Do you perhaps know if Vodacom have the facilities to see when a messages was sent, and when it was delivered to the device? I find it fairly hard to believe that Vodacom claim my device was not registered on the network at the time of attempted delivery, yet my data was still working perfectly on the phone. (this according to ABSA)

I mean if there was a problem with my device registring on the network - why do I never have a problem with email being pushed to my device, I usually get a notification on my phone before I do on the PC.

... out of interest - what is the latest simcard size? Not sure if this could be an issue specific to ABSA - but I have a 64k sim.
 
xrapidx said:
Not that I've noticed... but most people use WhatsApp now...

I thought it might be the tower - but I get the same result at work and home.

Do you perhaps know if Vodacom have the facilities to see when a messages was sent, and when it was delivered to the device? I find it fairly hard to believe that Vodacom claim my device was not registered on the network at the time of attempted delivery, yet my data was still working perfectly on the phone. (this according to ABSA)

I mean if there was a problem with my device registring on the network - why do I never have a problem with email being pushed to my device, I usually get a notification on my phone before I do on the PC.

... out of interest - what is the latest simcard size? Not sure if this could be an issue specific to ABSA - but I have a 64k sim.
Click to expand...

64K is the current sim size yes. Are you perhaps using a twin card linked to your main number to connect to the net on your laptop?
 
ocleroux said:
64K is the current sim size yes. Are you perhaps using a twin card linked to your main number to connect to the net on your laptop?
Click to expand...

Nope - just the one sim/one phone.

Just to be clear - I'm not using my phones data to access internet banking, using a separate connection.
 
xrapidx said:
Nope - just the one sim/one phone.

Just to be clear - I'm not using my phones data to access internet banking, using a separate connection.
Click to expand...

Damn. That rules out my one idea then! tsk :mad:

Please test this with SMS's from other people. Ask some of your friends to SMS you a test SMS to see what happens.
 
ocleroux said:
Damn. That rules out my one idea then! tsk :mad:

Please test this with SMS's from other people. Ask some of your friends to SMS you a test SMS to see what happens.
Click to expand...
\

I just tried now (15min) from Vodacom's website (3 sms')- no SMS.

Yet my data is still working and I can phone out, clear reception.

How would it be possible that those two services work and SMS doesn't?
 
xrapidx said:
\

I just tried now (15min) from Vodacom's website (3 sms')- no SMS.

Yet my data is still working and I can phone out, clear reception.

How would it be possible that those two services work and SMS doesn't?
Click to expand...
Very strange...so that rules out that the prob lies with ABSA.

I suggest logging a call with Vodacom. I suggest using [email protected] as this is more convenient and leaves a trail. Be sure to tell them that this is happening in different locations so it is not area specific. Once you have the ref number (not the one you get immediately after sending the mail...but the second ref after they logged the call) you can also PM it to VodacomData and he will have a lookie for you.
 
ocleroux said:
Very strange...so that rules out that the prob lies with ABSA.

I suggest logging a call with Vodacom. I suggest using [email protected] as this is more convenient and leaves a trail. Be sure to tell them that this is happening in different locations so it is not area specific. Once you have the ref number (not the one you get immediately after sending the mail...but the second ref after they logged the call) you can also PM it to VodacomData and he will have a lookie for you.
Click to expand...

Just received them all now... usually (and this is everytime until I tried now, Murhpy's law) - I receive the online banking one immediately. I'm not sure if it has something to do with my battery being flat...

I'll do that - going to try a different phone tomorrow to rule out my phone.
 
Just a afterthought. Try changing your SMS service centre number. Below is the two different Vodacom SMC numbers.

- SMSC A +27829119
- SMSC B +27829129

Perhaps this will work.
 
Is that for receiving as well? I always thought it was only sending.

Strangely enough- if I send an sms it goes out immediately.... but the others still don't arrive.
 
xrapidx said:
Is that for receiving as well? I always thought it was only sending.

Strangely enough- if I send an sms it goes out immediately.... but the others still don't arrive.
Click to expand...
As far as I know it is used for receiving also. Give it a shot...nothing to loose. They are both valid and you can always change it back.
 
xrapidx said:
No go :( Just tried.
Click to expand...
Crap! Right...try in a diff phone tomorrow and see. If it still does the same thing then there might be something on your line that is not kosher. Remember when you send the mail to also tell them what options you have tried here already so that they dont suggest the same things again.
 
ocleroux said:
Crap! Right...try in a diff phone tomorrow and see. If it still does the same thing then there might be something on your line that is not kosher. Remember when you send the mail to also tell them what options you have tried here already so that they dont suggest the same things again.
Click to expand...

Will do - thanks... it seems worse now for some reason.

I've also had a cell tower connection log running - it logs every 3 seconds, and hasn't reported a connection loss.
 
Got this from ABSA:
Vodacom’s response ‘Feedback: The message was sent at 10:55 and it failed temporarily on Absent Subscriber(the sub was not available on the network at the time/ when the message was sent. The system retried the message until it was delivered at 11:42.’ They also gave the trace route in support.
 
I've emailed customer care... lets hope they respond... haven't had much luck in the past.
 
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