May 28, 2017 11:20 PM
48761 Views
I'd like to use this platform to make a complaint about an alleged rip-off by Vodafone on my account - phone number+91-893929abcd.
To begin with, I have been a customer with vodafone for many years. My first number was+91-988416abcd(those days they were called Hutch), 2004 - 2007. When I left Chennai, I took an airtel connection(2007 - 2010). After coming back to Chennai, for the past 7 years, I have been using both airel and vodafone(+91-893929abcd).
I found that of the two services, using the same mobile phone - the Airtel services were more dependable, however for old times sake, I continued using the Vodafone number. I felt the sound clarity / connection / internet speed / customer care - all were superior at Airtel. Recently, a good friend of mine told me that Vodafone has upgraded their services, and their internet has become dependable. After serious thought, I took a 6GB data plan on 29-Apr-2017(valid till 26-May-2017).
The data plan that I took was hopeless from the start. The reason why I took the 6GB plan was because I was going on a road trip, and needed the internet for the GPS-app. But I had to travel blind(GPS-wise), because vodafone did not connect. I lost my way twice. Thankfully Airtel came to the rescue(else I don't know when I'd have reached). 2 years ago, another road-trip with Airtel GPS worked fine.
I'm not angry with that, because ultimately I reached. However the bigger trouble happened when my pack was about to expire. I was notified that if I do not extend the validity before the date that it expires, I will lose the balace. During that time, I had between 2GB - 3GB remaining(Note: If vodafone connected fine for the GPS, I would not have 2 - 3 GB remaining). Since I had internet balance and validity about to expire, I naturally went for a plan with higher validity and lesser GB.
On 27-May-2017 onwards, I was shocked to know that I lost the entire 2 - 3 GB, and was left with only the very very meagre 100 MB plan(the new one).
I thought it was a mistake by vodafone, so I called them to inform about the mistake. The call could not be resolved so I had to ask for a manager / supervisor. The manager told me that the old balance will not be "added to"(forgot the exact word he used) the new plan, and once the validity expires, I'll be losing all the 2 - 3 GB. What infuriated me further was that this fellow was condescending and said that "We did not tell you that if you recharge with this plan your data balance will be carried over". I said I understood that, but the main thing here is that vodafone did not even tell me(clearly) which plan to use to carry forward my balance. As an airtel customer, I never had this problem(Agreed I have other problems, but they were handled better).
To cut a long story short, I was informed that I have 2 - 3 GB, and to rub salt on the wounds, I "chose" a pack that allowed the remaining GB to go to the water.
The manager also told me that I can send this email and "try to reclaim the funds - it may work".
You know what, vodafone fellows, you can keep the 2 - 3 GB you ripped off from me. Just to let you know, when I get time I'll be changing my service(mobile number portability) - to either idea or jio. Also I'll be placing the text of this complaint in all the online forums so all my friends circle(and others) will know about the rip-off. If they are also with vodafone, someday they may go through this ordeal, so let this be a warning not to call customer care(by the way, it is not a free call to talk with vodafone customer care, so you blood-sucking fellas first suck blood when you steal the money, then blood-suck some more when we call customer care).
Several companies have done the same thing you've done - by cheating their customers. Some of the cheating is intentional, some of it is inadvertent, and some of it is caused by things outside the control of the company. The companies that really last long(like airtel), are the ones who realized that they exist only because of their customers - and work to resolve the errors.
I've already started testing idea, after which I'll test jio too, and move to the best service.
In a few days I'll be telling "Goodbye, vodafone" - forever.
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