Vodacom are you the DARK FORCE?

[Sisyphus]

I am beginning to think Vodacom has been set up to drive its users insane.

I have a monthly 10gig data contract with them and its not unreasonable to think that one needs to check the balances from time to time....(1st mistake on my part)

I have all my accounts registered with their so called online "My Vodacom" ....where it is rumoured some users can actually get their balances.

Well for a month now I all I get is a message which reads "We're temporarily unable to show one or more of your balances online. Please dial *111#" ....in my book "temporary" means a short period, a few days ...a week maybe....but this is no longer temporary its now "permanent".

The solution they suggest (*111#) is not as simple as they think, I have to disconnect my modem, remove the card, remove the cover, battery and sim from my phone, insert the 1st sim, switch on, change date and time, get sms about settings for my phone then try and dial *111#.....then switch off, remove sim and insert in modem, insert modem into laptop, deal with setup settings, and try and connect to internet, insert 2nd sim in phone, switch on change date and time, etc etc etc....I am wondering why I don't use this simple method all the time to get my balances, why do I need a online service that never works....or OR!!!! ....is this where the DARK FORCE comes into play, maybe they want it to be a pain for me and in that way I avoid checking my balance and end up paying R2 per MB when I overrun my quota.

One has to laugh, their online service (MY VODACOM) offers an option to send them a sms....so you type out this long message hoping it makes sense, but before you can send you must enter a "bouncing batch of alpha numeric's" ...press enter and what happens. you get an error message that tells you entered the wrong code, so you try a new code, and each time you enter a letter your cursor jumps to the top of the page.....eventually you abandon your attempt....hhhhmmm dark force again.

Try taking this to a Vodacom outlet, explain the problem and you get this look that says ...."Whhaattt" ...."what language is this guy even speaking" ....then a lot of head scratching, desperately trying to come up with a way of getting rid of me...then strikes it lucky with a thought that says "tell him you will refer this up the line and get back to him....you don't get back to him though...ha ha" .......

 

[Ockie]

What kind of data contract is it? Open or top up?

Reason I ask is that if it is open, we can setup your cellphone number as a alternate notification number, so the system will send you notifications at certain percentages of data used. We can load it on top up also, but from what I understand it does not really work on top up. You only receive a notification that the bundle is kapoet and that is it.

 

[Sisyphus]

Thanks for the prompt response Ockie....relieved to see that someone at Vodacom still gives a damn.

I have a top up contract, the problem with the R2 a MB comes in when I buy extra data bundles, when I run out of data I buy say R500 airtime because I don't always know what the exact cost of a 5 or 10 gig bolt on data bundle will be, if the cost is say R449 the credit balance of R51 stays behind as "airtime credit"....which I could use for the next purchase, Vodacom however deviously suck up this credit (at R2 a MB) as soon as my purchased bundle is used up.....and just like that my credit is vacuumed out of my pocket and into Vodacom's bottomless Bank Account.

In an attempt to overcome this reallocation of funds I try an keep a check on my data usage so that I can recharge before it disappears.....and that's where my theory comes unstuck because my exact data usage is one of the best kept secrets on the planet.

Thanks for your input.

 

[Ockie]

If this is purely a data sim, then I suggest buying data bundles straight instead of buying airtime and then converting to data bundles. Am I understanding correctly. Is that what you are doing? You can buy data bundles from Vodacom shops and certain banks internet banking and on the vodacom portal I think.

 

[Sisyphus]

Yes you have understood me correctly, I live about 100km's away from the nearest Vodacom shop so I tend to buy through Internet Banking, the Bank either charges a bit more for data or they haven't loaded the latest prices, in order to overcome this I buy airtime and convert it to data through My Vodacom. I have also in the past picked up a problem where I EFT'd the exact amount required by Vodacom but when I tried to buy the bundle it kept telling me that I had say R449 in airtime but it would not let me buy R449 for a data bundle, telling me there were insufficient funds and I had to EFT more funds over before it would let me do the transaction, so now I EFT a bit more into Vodacom and then I am back to the R2 per MB issue. I suspect that if I EFT'd say R550 over to Vodacom Data and left the credit on Data I would still end up losing the R50 credit at R2 per MB (unless I am not correct)

I am not sure if the Vodacom Portal you refer to is the online service "My Vodacom" in which case one still needs to load funds there in order to buy data....unless I am missing something.

 

[Ockie]

If it is a router, then data might constantly be flowing through it, so if you transfer the exact amount of airtime, the router will use it if the data bundle is finished. Perhaps try switching the router off for 10 minutes and then load the airtime, then buy bundle, then switch the router back on. This is to prevent the router using data while you still busy buying the bundle.

 

[Sisyphus]

No its a USB modem and as we are running purely on solar energy we switch off all unnecessary electrical appliances at night.

Coming back to my main issue which is determining my data balance at any given time, do you have any idea why it is that it is so difficult to do this through "My Vodacom" ....the figures are there somewhere because it cuts off my internet access within minutes of me using up my data....so why can't it tell me what that usage is...or does Vodacom not want me to know? As a matter of interest I have tried software packages that monitor your data usage but there is always a discrepancy so I'd rather use Vodacom's figures.

 

[Ockie]

Yes, what Vodacom bills and what the software shows will be a bit different. Remember the networks dont bill bit single kbit. It is done in like 15kbit or something like that. Dont quote me on those numbers, I litterally pulled them out of my bum ... well not litterally I guess .... figurtively ... whatever ... you know what I mean lol.

I have heard and seen people complain about the portal. I personally dont use it. There are many backend systems that Vodacom runs. When one goes down, it might affect other systems wich feed into front ends like the system we use to service customers or other front ends like the portal. That is as far as my technical knowledge goes. Haave you tried the Vodacom App. Sorry if you mentioned the app already. Bit hectic and I am a bit over the place so I might have missed things in your original post.

 

[Sisyphus]

HA Ha....yes I know what you mean.

The question of the Vodacom App has not come up this morning, I have tended to avoid the app because I have a deep distrust (aka paranoia) of cellphone security ...or the lack thereof, when I last looked at it I also (incorrectly) got the impression that it only provided info on the sim in the phone at that point in time and that was of little use to me. I have just taken another look at it and eureka I found my other cell numbers all listed as well and eureka number 2 it also showed the data usage for the sim in my laptop.....so now at least I don't have to remove sims and swop them around etc etc.....and I don't have to use the portal for anything other than purchasing data bundles (because I feel its a safer vehicle for banking etc)

What this also proves is that the info is available just don't expect to get it from the portal....which makes absolutely no sense to me...but then again does anything make sense anymore.

Ockie, thanks for at least responding to my issue, thanks also for the suggestion which will help and lastly thanks for listening to my bitching and moaning one just gets so frustrated when one encounters the impenetrable wall of stupidity and incompetence that seems to surround one these days.....Vodacom are lucky to have you working for them.

 

[sajunky]

I see Ockie is giving advice one afte one, but no one helping a bit.
The entire system is carefully crafted to steal your money. Vodacom is a bitch, so treat it as a bitch.
Buy prepaid SIM from other service providers and test you signal and speed.

However if Vodacom is the only one, then buy Vodacom prepaid SIM and load bundle on this SIM. It will easy your hassle little bit, while not eliminate completely. Never top-up your contract SIM. Prepaid billing system is more responsive and more accurate. Contract billing can be updated 48-hours late, always hitting your pocket.

Can you transfer bundle (not airtime) from prepaid SIM to your contract SIM? That (if possible) it would be the best.

 

[Ockie]

HA Ha....yes I know what you mean.

The question of the Vodacom App has not come up this morning, I have tended to avoid the app because I have a deep distrust (aka paranoia) of cellphone security ...or the lack thereof, when I last looked at it I also (incorrectly) got the impression that it only provided info on the sim in the phone at that point in time and that was of little use to me. I have just taken another look at it and eureka I found my other cell numbers all listed as well and eureka number 2 it also showed the data usage for the sim in my laptop.....so now at least I don't have to remove sims and swop them around etc etc.....and I don't have to use the portal for anything other than purchasing data bundles (because I feel its a safer vehicle for banking etc)

What this also proves is that the info is available just don't expect to get it from the portal....which makes absolutely no sense to me...but then again does anything make sense anymore.

Ockie, thanks for at least responding to my issue, thanks also for the suggestion which will help and lastly thanks for listening to my bitching and moaning one just gets so frustrated when one encounters the impenetrable wall of stupidity and incompetence that seems to surround one these days.....Vodacom are lucky to have you working for them.

You are welcome. Glad some of my advice proved useful. Dont worry about the bitching. I am bitch enough to take a good bitching ... but if you bitch too much I bitch you back. rofl.

 

[Ockie]

I see Ockie is giving advice one afte one, but no one helping a bit.
The entire system is carefully crafted to steal your money. Vodacom is a bitch, so treat it as a bitch.
Buy prepaid SIM from other service providers and test you signal and speed.

However if Vodacom is the only one, then buy Vodacom prepaid SIM and load bundle on this SIM. It will easy your hassle little bit, while not eliminate completely. Never top-up your contract SIM. Prepaid billing system is more responsive and more accurate. Contract billing can be updated 48-hours late, always hitting your pocket.

Can you transfer bundle (not airtime) from prepaid SIM to your contract SIM? That (if possible) it would be the best.

Sorry then. I thought I was helping. Will leave you guys to it then. Top Up contracts runs on the prepaid billing engine btw and the OP is on a top up contract.

 

[Sisyphus]

You are absolutely correct about Vodacom and what they do is bordering on legalized theft at best. I live on a farm in the middle of nowhere and its tragic to see how the farmworkers who are earning next to nothing are getting ripped off with high prices and this type highly immoral transaction (I am referring to the shark charges) .......every farmworker will tell you of airtime or data going "missing" ....and I am sure its not always the fault of the Cell Phone company but who do they turn to when it happens, where are the structures that are set up to protect consumers when they need protection, where are the protectors of the poor.....answer they simply don't give a damn, and that allows all these parasites (such as the R5 a day subscription service and the scam artist praying on the poor by telling him they have just won another R250 000) to operate with impunity....what an immoral state of affairs.

Back to the point!!!...you are absolutely correct about the prepaid sim, I tried it for a while and it worked except that I was the problem, (forgetting to buy data etc) so for convenience sake I switched to contract, I started on an "open one" and soon realized that I was in shark invested waters, so in an attempt to overcome that problem I switched to a "top up one" which works reasonably well provided you never ever leave a credit balance lying anywhere near the account and getting your data balance was going to be a problem.

Anyway thanks for your input....I am glad to see I am not the only one who feels this way.

 

[sajunky]

The question of the Vodacom App has not come up this morning, I have tended to avoid the app because I have a deep distrust (aka paranoia) of cellphone security ...or the lack thereof, when I last looked at it I also (incorrectly) got the impression that it only provided info on the sim in the phone at that point in time and that was of little use to me. I have just taken another look at it and eureka I found my other cell numbers all listed as well and eureka number 2 it also showed the data usage for the sim in my laptop.....so now at least I don't have to remove sims and swop them around etc etc.....and I don't have to use the portal for anything other than purchasing data bundles (because I feel its a safer vehicle for banking etc)

Please tell more about this app for the phone. You mentioned the app for the laptop as well. It looks like it could easy my woes (see in another thread). Can I register the app to the service using Vodacom SIM and then control usage using a different SIM? I normally use Telkom SIM on the phone.

 

[Rickster]

With MTN its *141# to check your balance, no dark forces at play here.

 

[Ockie]

I see Ockie is giving advice one afte one, but no one helping a bit.

You know what, sajunky....have I done something to piss you off? This is not the first time that you pitch up when I am in a conversation and you slate me if my memory serves me right. I am sorry if I am not good enough for you to be allowed to try and help people as far as I can, but you are actually pissing me off now.

And why is Ockie bolded? What does that mean? Are you trying to attract attention that you think I am just a useless piece of just another Vodacom shrill piece of crap? (which I have been called before), but all I am trying to do is help. I think you are rude and unpleasant.

If you are so fantastic, then you sort out peoples issues here.

Not going to take this crap. Honestly.

 

[Rickster]

You know what, sajunky....have I done something to piss you off? This is not the first time that you pitch up when I am in a conversation and you slate me if my memory serves me right. I am sorry if I am not good enough for you to be allowed to try and help people as far as I can, but you are actually pissing me off now.

And why is Ockie bolded? What does that mean? Are you trying to attract attention that you think I am just a useless piece of just another Vodacom shrill piece of crap? (which I have been called before), but all I am trying to do is help. I think you are rude and unpleasant.

If you are so fantastic, then you sort out peoples issues here.

Not going to take this crap. Honestly.

I think sajunky means that no one else is giving OP help ie, someone surely must have had the same issue in the past as the OP but they arnt replying to this thread.

Or, sajunky has a vendetta.

 

[Sisyphus]

I am probably the last person you should ask about this....but I will tell you what I think I know, firstly the laptop...Vodacom have a bit of software called My Vodacom, you can register a cell number at this link https://myvodacom.secure.vodacom.co.za/vodacom/log-in....once registered you can link any number of Vodacomcell numbers to this initial number that you registered with. Once you have logged in you can get access to all info relating to your contracts etc.

On a Cell Phone (which uses Android) you can search and download "My Vodacom" from Google Play store ....it appears to provide the same info as the one would use on a laptop. I assume its also available for Apple phones under "My Vodacom"
I very much doubt if this software can be used to control usage, determine usage possibly yes on a sunny day with clear skies...control usage is a big no no...the only way I am aware of that controls my usage is by using a "top up contract" as soon as I use up my monthly data allocation it cuts off my Internet Access and I have to buy a once off data bundle to bolt on to the contract. Pre paid sim where you buy data as and when you need to is another way of controlling usage.

You cannot however use this Vodacom package to control or determine any kind of info on a sim for another service provider (eg Telkom) I also do not know if Telkom offer some sort of software that can be used to achieve what you are trying to achieve.

 

[Ockie]

I think sajunky means that no one else is giving OP help ie, someone surely must have had the same issue in the past as the OP but they arnt replying to this thread.

Or, sajunky has a vendetta.

This is not the first time I am having a unpleasent experience with him which was uncalled for. And how I read his statement is that I am giving suggestions, and they are not helping one little bit (all sh*t) basically if you will. I suggested the app and that worked at least so the OP is kinda sorted I would like to think. Anyway....had enough. He can sort out peoples issues here.

 

[Sisyphus]

sajunky....I replied to your question a bit further down .....something went wrong when I posted the reply and it separated itself from your post ....apologies!!!!