Vodacom recently relaunched their website, which now includes an International charge calculator, based on what contract you are on, what network you are using and (new) what tariff plan you are on.
The website now lets you choose your contract and country, and then displays a list of charges for each network in that country, with comparative pricing per tariff plan per network in that country. Included in this table is "Standard rates", which one would assume refers to the prices before the launch of the new site in the last month or 2.
The "Standard rates" actually have no relation to previous pricing.
Furtermore, Vodacom has now switched everyone from the old price plan (now referred to as Legacy) to the new "Vodafone World" structure. This means that to receive a call from SA, it will now cost double in most countries, without Vodacom notify any customers about this (except for through their website information, which you have to dig around for).
Here is a comparison of some price changes in the last 2 months, comparing pricing on Vodafone networks (which is the most cost-effective network to use in most cases with the new pricing plan) using Vodafone World pricing with the old prices:
UK
Local calls have increased from R 1.54 to R 5.50. That is a 357% increase! "Standard rates" is listed as R 7.11, whereas pricing on old website was R 1.54
Calls to SA, from R13.41 to R16.15!
SMS, from R 1.54 to R 2.00
To receive a call: from R3.23 to R 4.81
Spain:
Local calls, from R5.38 to R 5.70
Calls to SA from R17.07 to R 23.80
SMS from R 1.95 to R2.00
Receive a call from:R3.23 to R 6.50!!! This is a 100% increase!
Similar increases can be found throughout Europe. (haven't compared data pricing yet)
Surely there should be some regulation on price increases like this? Or at least notification from the service provider to client who have roaming activated on their contracts...?
The website now lets you choose your contract and country, and then displays a list of charges for each network in that country, with comparative pricing per tariff plan per network in that country. Included in this table is "Standard rates", which one would assume refers to the prices before the launch of the new site in the last month or 2.
The "Standard rates" actually have no relation to previous pricing.
Furtermore, Vodacom has now switched everyone from the old price plan (now referred to as Legacy) to the new "Vodafone World" structure. This means that to receive a call from SA, it will now cost double in most countries, without Vodacom notify any customers about this (except for through their website information, which you have to dig around for).
Here is a comparison of some price changes in the last 2 months, comparing pricing on Vodafone networks (which is the most cost-effective network to use in most cases with the new pricing plan) using Vodafone World pricing with the old prices:
UK
Local calls have increased from R 1.54 to R 5.50. That is a 357% increase! "Standard rates" is listed as R 7.11, whereas pricing on old website was R 1.54
Calls to SA, from R13.41 to R16.15!
SMS, from R 1.54 to R 2.00
To receive a call: from R3.23 to R 4.81
Spain:
Local calls, from R5.38 to R 5.70
Calls to SA from R17.07 to R 23.80
SMS from R 1.95 to R2.00
Receive a call from:R3.23 to R 6.50!!! This is a 100% increase!
Similar increases can be found throughout Europe. (haven't compared data pricing yet)
Surely there should be some regulation on price increases like this? Or at least notification from the service provider to client who have roaming activated on their contracts...?
