Vodafone 3G Data Card :Oops they did it again . Review on Vodafone EDGE Data Card

Please Note : Friends I'm looking for good consumer court advocates who work for justice with sincerity in Delhi/NCR to sue companies like this

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Dear Vodafone

Thanks for hurting sentiments of your customer once again! You guys have proved again the secret of rising profits in your balance sheet. Earlier I decided to write you directly but ignored considering it as a matter of system error or ignorance but again the recent incident  regarding my Data Card Connection has put  me in utter shock and gave me ample reasons to go ahead with the legal action against the methodology of billing beyond the credit limit of the customer set by Operator and as described by TRAI norms.

Incident First :

After the breakup with the Tata indicom I have decided to  go for a GSM operator who is known for its services. I loved the ZooZoos since beginning and the way they demonstrate the great services by Vodafone. So I opted for Vodafone despite the call rates in Vodafone is more expensive than other operators. One month I hardly use the phone and I got a bill of just Rs 50 and I was happy that the bill is calculated right. Second month I was using the phone in the usual manner but On 21 August 2012 at 10.23am I got the SMS and email from Vodafone that I have crossed my Vodafone Mobile credit limit of 1000 INR and I should pay 1084 INR as my total unbilled amount  to ensure continuity of the services, surprised by the figure I checked my Vodafone account Online and  it was showing only 284 INR as outstanding for Voice limit and zero for data limit.  Still I decided to pay the bill on the same day and I called Vodafone Customer Care at 111 for the payment of the same. To my Life’s biggest shock, now the IVR is saying that I have to pay 3647 INR as my outstanding amount. My Number got barred the same day in the morning .I called up customer care again and visited their store twice; first at MGF Road and second at Vodafone Store  but all of them showed their inefficiency to explain the situation and they said they have no software to check my usage and the reason of barring my number. That even told me that I have to wai t till my bill got generated and till then MY NUMBER WILL REAMIN BARRED. My number was barred on 21 August 2012 itself, I’m using a blackberry which has No data plan activated, No ISD activated, SO PLEASE VODAFONE could you please explain if the outstanding of bill was 1084 INR on 21 August 2012 at 10.23am and my outgoing calls , SMS( even toll free sms) everything has been barred than HOW COME MY Bill has increased from 1084 INR to 3647 INR despite I accept all your logics. On  24 August 2012, I visited Vodafone Store again to confirm my billing Outstanding and their executive told me I HAVE TO PAY 4214.84. Shocked, Shamed, Speechless….

Later On When I got the bill I came to know that in a single day the bill was showing a GPRS usage of around Rs 4000. Why a customer will use internet only on a single day? Don’t a customer knows about internet unlimited plans in the market if he has to use the internet? And coincidently I own a Vodafone Data Card.

Despite all odds I have settle out the complete bills because I have circulated the numbers to my clients and friends. But please give a proper justification HOW COULD YOU BILL A CUSTOMER BEYOND ITS CREDIT LIMIT?? I have a credit limit of Rs 1000 so even I accept your argument of using internet on a single day Why didn’t My number got barred as soon as it crossed the Credit Limit of Rs1000? For what purpose the concept of credit limit has been introduced?? TRAI and telecom operators put credit limit to safeguard customers as well as telecom operators themselves so that excess outstanding does not affect both parties.

Incident Two:

So since the customer has paid the Mobile bill of huge amount despite unethical billing, it seems Vodafone got a second chance to rob the customer and read this incident. There would be huge claps from the audience.

On Monday 20 Aug 2012, I have purchased one 3G Data Card (only name & Bill is 3G) from Vodafone Mini Store located at Vypar Kendra, Gurgaon. They commit to activate the same within 48 hours being the postpaid connection. They charged Rs 1950 for the three month advance rental saying device is free with 3GB data FREE for first three months. Thus no Rental Plan was activated as they told me that after three months I can chose a plan of my choice. I was convinced as 3GB Data  per month is quite ok as  majorly I only used to browse and no media downloads I clearly told them they should not take more time that as I need internet connectivity very urgently else I will lose my business transactions, but despite many follow ups it got activated on Thursday 23,August 2012 at 9pm.

By then I lost much of my important work online and my business deals still I thanked them that at least it has been activated…But what’s this? As I Plugged in the device I was not able to connect it despite all efforts I really got irritated, but what really shocked me is that the network reflecting there was “Vodafone India GPRS” not “Vodafone India 3G”.

Next day after visiting the Store again, When I enquired about the same, executive there asked me regarding the area I’m living and also he said that Vodafone network might not available in the locality which is one of the posh area of Gurgaon and this store located in the same area.

I asked them to replace the device and test the connectivity ,to our surprise it worked, now executive is speechless but again here the  connectivity reflecting was  “Vodafone India GPRS /HSPA” not 3G .I had no words to fight with executive and I came back. I called the customer care to get some help but I’m surprised the way those Hindi speaking executives talked and they keep your phone on hold for a long time ( Vodafone charges 50 Paise per three mins to call at customer care) and then they said ‘Kindly mail to our Vodafone customer care email Id’ they will help you… W d F? Are customer jokers? Also to be note down here their Data device does not show your previous usage and current one despite options are available there, it means Vodafone can charge you anything as Data cannot be traced like Mobile Numbers.

What I doubted in above para last line came true as nightmare on Friday,14 September 2012. I was working in the afternoon with the pleasant weather outside that suddenly my data card stopped working. I tired many times but I was not able to connect. I got doubt and rushed to the Vodafone Mini store with Data Card. I showed my data card to the executive there. He checked my account details and HE TOLD THAT ACCOUNT IS NOT BARRED AND EVERYTHING IS OK I NEED TO CONNECT THE DEVICE AGAIN. I challenge the executive to run my Data card on his system. He tried but failed. What the executive not aware of that I had put the sim in my mobile and called to the customer care before visiting the store.

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