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Vodafone Pay and Go invalid charges
Hi All
Just wanted to share a story, that perhaps some of you may find interesting.
Few months ago I bought a pay and go card with Vodafone, to use with a second mobile phone.
Since the phone is always used at home, never taken outside, I switched off mobile data, and - as a precaution - installed an app that blocks access of apps over the mobile network. So in few words: there is no way that any data could be used over the Vodafone mobile network - only way is through a home wifi.
No calls are coming out of the phone either; we use whatsapp or skype with friends and family, which again is only over the wifi.
DESPITE ALL THIS, MONEY FROM MY LAST TOP-UP STEADILY DISAPPEAR.
I have contacted Vodafone, asking about the issue, which they could not explain.
In my first contact attempt over chat, they cut me off after I started asking difficult questions.
During second attempt, they were very fast to say that this will be down to mobile data being used, and that they can see usage on their system. When I explained this is impossible (as I described above), they blamed 'system glitch' for the situation. Funnily enough, I am being charged for their system glitch.
As a solution they suggested data barring, which may seem fair, but is pointless in my belief: if for any reason I needed to take the phone out and use mobile data, I wouldn't be able to.
They offered me a 'gesture of good will' by refunding all charges imposed.
As a matter of fact I thanked very much for their 'good will' and instead asked for the matter to be escalated and explained as a matter of principal; I should not be charged for services that I do not use. And if I am, then this is nothing short of simple thievery.
Now since this situation seems bizarre, yet genuine, I wonder how many people could be affected by this and as a matter of fact unknowingly?
I am waiting for Vodafone customer services to get back to me regarding the issue.
Has anyone else been affected?
Cheers!
Just wanted to share a story, that perhaps some of you may find interesting.
Few months ago I bought a pay and go card with Vodafone, to use with a second mobile phone.
Since the phone is always used at home, never taken outside, I switched off mobile data, and - as a precaution - installed an app that blocks access of apps over the mobile network. So in few words: there is no way that any data could be used over the Vodafone mobile network - only way is through a home wifi.
No calls are coming out of the phone either; we use whatsapp or skype with friends and family, which again is only over the wifi.
DESPITE ALL THIS, MONEY FROM MY LAST TOP-UP STEADILY DISAPPEAR.
I have contacted Vodafone, asking about the issue, which they could not explain.
In my first contact attempt over chat, they cut me off after I started asking difficult questions.
During second attempt, they were very fast to say that this will be down to mobile data being used, and that they can see usage on their system. When I explained this is impossible (as I described above), they blamed 'system glitch' for the situation. Funnily enough, I am being charged for their system glitch.
As a solution they suggested data barring, which may seem fair, but is pointless in my belief: if for any reason I needed to take the phone out and use mobile data, I wouldn't be able to.
They offered me a 'gesture of good will' by refunding all charges imposed.
As a matter of fact I thanked very much for their 'good will' and instead asked for the matter to be escalated and explained as a matter of principal; I should not be charged for services that I do not use. And if I am, then this is nothing short of simple thievery.
Now since this situation seems bizarre, yet genuine, I wonder how many people could be affected by this and as a matter of fact unknowingly?
I am waiting for Vodafone customer services to get back to me regarding the issue.
Has anyone else been affected?
Cheers!
0
Comments
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If Vodafone were doing this to everyone, there would be hundreds of forum posts per day complaining about it ... but there isn't.
There must be something suspect with your particular setup.0 -
If Vodafone were doing this to everyone, there would be hundreds of forum posts per day complaining about it ... but there isn't.
There must be something suspect with your particular setup.
This would probably be the case, but at the same time I do not know how many people actually switch off mobile data manually when having their wifi on to notice this. Last night for example I lost £1 not even having used the prone at all.
I do not blame vodafone -yet-, but surely this situation is not normal.0 -
What does your phone report when you check data usage?0
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Whatsapp will usually default to mobile data in areas where your home wifi is less than satisfactory. I've long suspected it overrides the user's mobile data settings. Turning off your mobile data is the best solution other than uninstalling Whatsapp.
I encountered the problem regularly working for a network, from the network's perspective it's quicker and cheaper to refund the charges involved than to argue the point.0 -
Whatsapp does not "override" the data settings.
Goto Settings > Data usage
Move the slider that's next to Mobile Data left to the Off position. Select OK when prompted.
This will switch off mobile data altogether. WiFi will still work. There should be no need for any app to block mobile data.
Make sure that the setting is still correct/persists following a power-on.0 -
What the OP is saying and I have seen happen is Whatsapp use mobile data whilst the handset's mobile data is turned off.0
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Colin_Maybe wrote: »What does your phone report when you check data usage?
3.5 MB, which is 60p, and probably used end of November0 -
Whatsapp will usually default to mobile data in areas where your home wifi is less than satisfactory. I've long suspected it overrides the user's mobile data settings. Turning off your mobile data is the best solution other than uninstalling Whatsapp.
I encountered the problem regularly working for a network, from the network's perspective it's quicker and cheaper to refund the charges involved than to argue the point.
Yep, the mobile data is turned off and Whatsapp blocked by an application to access the internet using mobile data0 -
It was a few years ago now, but my husband had a similar story with data usage. It turned out that the clock was set to 'set time automatically' so every night at midnight the phone would connect via the internet to check & set the time, might be worth checking?0
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Turn off mobile data and delete the APN settings (if this isn't an option then select the wrong profile e.g. Sainsburys mobile)
The only other option is using the phone in 'flight mode' with wifi on or without a sim installed.
3 or O2 have cheaper PAYG options 1p and 5p per megabyte respectively - maybe you should consider those?0
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