Vodafone home broadband warning

quinnd6

I unfortunately assumed Vodafone were supposed to send out an email to customers if it was their first time going over their download limit.
I got the phone bill today and have been charged over 17 euros extra for going over the download limit and it was my first time ever going over the download limit and they never gave my any warning via email or phone about it.
It just shows that Vodafone don't give a damn about their customers and will rip them off as much as they can get away with.
I know I shouldn't have gone over the download limit but I should have been warned about it.

So as my own warning to Vodafone customers make sure to keep a check on your download limit on the Vodafone website to make sure you're not going over your monthly download allowance so Vodafone can't rip you off like they're ripping off me.

krudler

quinnd6 wrote: »

I unfortunately assumed Vodafone were supposed to send out an email to customers if it was their first time going over their download limit.
I got the phone bill today and have been charged over 17 euros extra for going over the download limit and it was my first time ever going over the download limit and they never gave my any warning via email or phone about it.
It just shows that Vodafone don't give a damn about their customers and will rip them off as much as they can get away with.
I know I shouldn't have gone over the download limit but I should have been warned about it.

So as my own warning to Vodafone customers make sure to keep a check on your download limit on the Vodafone website to make sure you're not going over your monthly download allowance so Vodafone can't rip you off like they're ripping off me.

you just answered your own query tbh, they're not "ripping you off", you have a limit, you went over yourself, they charged you accordingly. You could ring them and ask to take off the charge as a once off being its your first time going over, least its only 17 euro and not something much higher. Why would you assume they'd contact you over such a small amount? they cant monitor every customers monthly usage and ring them to let them know they've gone over, thats the customers own responsiblity.

quinnd6

I assumed they would've had some automated email system in place for this kind of thing.
It could have been a lot more and they wouldn't have let me known about it either until the bill came.

NIMAN

It would of course be a great thing if these ISPs could email you, warn you some way if you were approaching your limit so it would stop you being charged, but perhaps its in their interest you overspend!

As Krudler says, it all in the small print, you sign up to it so you ultimately have no comeback against them.

krudler

quinnd6 wrote: »

I assumed they would've had some automated email system in place for this kind of thing.
It could have been a lot more and they wouldn't have let me known about it either until the bill came.

lesson learned then, don't assume things

quinnd6

Actually this is where I made my mistake I assumed they were a decent company and operated the same as these guys,(no longer available here unfortunately)
unfortunately I was wrong.

http://bt.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/32957/c/346,402,424

Yes indeed lesson learned.

bryaner

Very cheap lesson, there's been many a worse horror story than that..

Forest Master

Misleading title, IMO. OP wasn't ripped off at all. He/she assumed wrong - not Vodafone's fault - pretty back & white situation.

krudler

quinnd6 wrote: »

Actually this is where I made my mistake I assumed they were a decent company and operated the same as these guys,(no longer available here unfortunately)
unfortunately I was wrong.

http://bt.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/32957/c/346,402,424

Yes indeed lesson learned.

they're not a decent company over a 17 euro charge you incurred fair and square? to put it in perspective I had a guy with a €780 data overage bill during the week. its 17 quid get over it

quinnd6

It's fine I'm over it.

kelle

Sorry for your predicament, but thanks for your thread OP!

A vodafone sales guy called to my house yesterday evening, and said he would call back this evening. After reading your thread, I will not be signing anything.

Forest Master

kelle wrote: »

Sorry for your predicament, but thanks for your thread OP!

A vodafone sales guy called to my house yesterday evening, and said he would call back this evening. After reading your thread, I will not be signing anything.

:rolleyes:
Or.....OR, you could maybe read what you sign? Or failing that, ask about any specific terms which may concern you? It's not a "trick", FFS.

What's wrong with people? Nothing is ever their fault. Why do people expect to be babysat to through life?

kelle

kelle wrote: »

Sorry for your predicament, but thanks for your thread OP!

A vodafone sales guy called to my house yesterday evening, and said he would call back this evening. After reading your thread, I will not be signing anything.

you can not be serious

Cabaal

quinnd6 wrote: »

Actually this is where I made my mistake I assumed they were a decent company and operated the same as these guys,(no longer available here unfortunately)

Alot of users in the UK would take your claim that BT are decent as pretty misleading :pac:

kelle wrote: »

Sorry for your predicament, but thanks for your thread OP!

A vodafone sales guy called to my house yesterday evening, and said he would call back this evening. After reading your thread, I will not be signing anything.

Make sure not to sign up to Eircom either then as they charge for going over the cap, as does an NGB provider

If people don't read the T&C's and instead assume stuff then its certainly not the companys fault

pleasant Co.

Do vodafone provide a service that allows you to check how much of your bandwidth allowance you have used? I remember that BT had such a service, I wonder if vodafone retained after they took over?

dudara

Thread title edited

dudara

quinnd6

I don't want to put people off using Vodafone.
They're cheap and provide a very good service.
Just make sure to keep track of your download limit via the Vodafone website and you'll be grand.

krudler

Forest Master wrote: »

:rolleyes:
Or.....OR, you could maybe read what you sign? Or failing that, ask about any specific terms which may concern you? It's not a "trick", FFS.

What's wrong with people? Nothing is ever their fault. Why do people expect to be babysat to through life?

because accountability, common sense and a sense of repsonsibility for yourself are practically non existant with customers these days

quinnd6

I was accountable and responsible.
I paid my bill and I'm done with this now.

krudler

quinnd6 wrote: »

I was accountable and responsible.
I paid my bill and I'm done with this now.

without first claiming you were being ripped off, when you clearly werent.

luap2007

Vodafone rang me last week offering me a new iphone 4! by saying yes i was told i had entered into a new 24 month contract! crazy! I oppted out on this one! I think there is better deals out there!

krudler

luap2007 wrote: »

Vodafone rang me last week offering me a new iphone 4! by saying yes i was told i had entered into a new 24 month contract! crazy! I oppted out on this one! I think there is better deals out there!

not really, meteor, emobile and three all do 24 month contracts for free iphones as well, o2 is the only network that doesnt do 24 month ones (yet)

Cabaal

luap2007 wrote: »

Vodafone rang me last week offering me a new iphone 4! by saying yes i was told i had entered into a new 24 month contract! crazy! I oppted out on this one! I think there is better deals out there!

For free iphones that lenght of contract is pretty standard,

If you want an iphone either be prepared to pay for it or go into a long contract, that's pretty much it

kelle

Forest Master wrote: »

:rolleyes:
Or.....OR, you could maybe read what you sign? Or failing that, ask about any specific terms which may concern you? It's not a "trick", FFS.

What's wrong with people? Nothing is ever their fault. Why do people expect to be babysat to through life?

bluewolf wrote: »

you can not be serious

Cabaal wrote: »

Alot of users in the UK would take your claim that BT are decent as pretty misleading :pac:



Make sure not to sign up to Eircom either then as they charge for going over the cap, as does an NGB provider

If people don't read the T&C's and instead assume stuff then its certainly not the companys fault

krudler wrote: »

because accountability, common sense and a sense of repsonsibility for yourself are practically non existant with customers these days

OMG, lads! First of all, allow me to help untwist your boxers/y-fronts/long johns!

I said I wouldn't be signing up to Vodafone. I am not a heavy internet user, but you just don't know how much data any webpage uses so I'll stick with my Eircom unlimited broadband package.

pickarooney

Any company that imposes a download limit on home broadband should be considered a rip-off, particularly if they don't even send a warning mail. It's not the mid-90s, for crying out loud, consumers shouldn't have to accept bull**** service like this. It's quite staggering the number of people who side with the company here.

Forest Master

pickarooney wrote: »

Any company that imposes a download limit on home broadband should be considered a rip-off, particularly if they don't even send a warning mail. It's not the mid-90s, for crying out loud, consumers shouldn't have to accept bull**** service like this. It's quite staggering the number of people who side with the company here.

Eh, I'm not "siding" with them on their broadband limits though - you're missing the point. Nobody is debating whether or not download caps are right or wrong or outdated, etc - I'm stating facts; Vodafone have caps, the OP knew, yet signed the contract, didn't bother to enquire as to how he/she would know if the limit had been reached, and then complained afterwards about being "ripped off" when all that actually happened was that Vodafone followed the terms of the contract that the OP agreed to.

So my point has nothing to do with how good the broadband deal is or whether or not they should e-mail their customers when a cap is reached - that's irrelevant - my whole point is about taking responsibility for what you agree to & sign. There was no mischief at Vodafone's end - there was no deceit. Yes, the deal was crap - but that's not what we're discussing. No matter how crap the deal was, the OP still agreed to it, so he/she needs to be a fooking adult & take responsibility for signing it instead of saying "I signed it, but now I want out because it's really unfair, waaaah".

Solair

They actually have decent data addons which you can add and remove month by month on their website.

Despite the horror stories I've read, I'm actually finding Vodafone at home pretty good so far.

Paulw

pickarooney wrote: »

Any company that imposes a download limit on home broadband should be considered a rip-off,

EVERY broadband company has a download limit. Even the "unlimited" packages have a limit. Subject to what they call "fair use". Maybe you should actually read the terms and conditions.

Cabaal

pickarooney wrote: »

Any company that imposes a download limit on home broadband should be considered a rip-off,

So that would affectively be ever provider in the UK and Ireland not to mention many providers throughout Europe, the America's and well pretty much most countrys at this stage.

Bandwidth costs money and at the end of the day you get what you pay for, if you want more usage then be prepared to pay.

It's not the mid-90s, for crying out loud, consumers shouldn't have to accept bull**** service like this.

What does the 90's have to do with it, is it that Broadband affectively didn't exist during that decade in Ireland?

It's quite staggering the number of people who side with the company here.

What is more staggering is the amount of people that assume stuff instead of reading the information that is very clearly displayed on company websites or T&C's.

Bottom line is T&C's outline the companys AND the customer's rights and responsibility's, if people dumbly agree to them without reading them or simply assume stuff without taking into account any of the actual information they are supplied with then how is this the company's fault?

Personally I think many providers offer very poor and expensive packages when it comes to usage caps (hello Eircom!) but at the same time its impossible and downright pointless to side with a customer of ANY company if they ignore the information they are provided with and assume stuff incorrectly.

As has already been stated, people signing up to such services are adults and as such they have responsibility's which conveniently they ignore, when it comes back to bite them they still don't want to accept any responsibility as its easier to "blame somebody else".

Solair

You can add on:

Extra 30GB for 3.99 / month
Extra 150GB for 5.99 / month

Basic packs:

Up to 8mbit/s with 40GB allowance
Up to 8mbit/s with 120GB allowance
Up to 24mbit/s with 300GB allowance.

Overall, their packages aren't exactly mean with allowances compared to eircom or even Smart Telecom's ridiculous caps on their unbundled services.

They also have a more transparent way of checking your usage than most other providers I've used. You log in and it shows you a pie chart.

I'm not a huge fan of Vodafone, but they're not THAT bad!

pickarooney

Forest Master wrote: »

Eh, I'm not "siding" with them on their broadband limits though - you're missing the point. Nobody is debating whether or not download caps are right or wrong or outdated, etc - I'm stating facts; Vodafone have caps, the OP knew, yet signed the contract, didn't bother to enquire as to how he/she would know if the limit had been reached, and then complained afterwards about being "ripped off" when all that actually happened was that Vodafone followed the terms of the contract that the OP agreed to.

So my point has nothing to do with how good the broadband deal is or whether or not they should e-mail their customers when a cap is reached - that's irrelevant - my whole point is about taking responsibility for what you agree to & sign. There was no mischief at Vodafone's end - there was no deceit. Yes, the deal was crap - but that's not what we're discussing. No matter how crap the deal was, the OP still agreed to it, so he/she needs to be a fooking adult & take responsibility for signing it instead of saying "I signed it, but now I want out because it's really unfair, waaaah".

The OP has already stated several times that he accepts full responsibility and has paid the bill yet people still see fit to attack him and not address the point of vodafone's tight-fisted practice.

This thread is titled as a warning to other clients that Vodafone will charge for a first time breach of data limits and not send out a friendly warning. It's not what most of you are pretending it is so you can spit all your high-horse bile and - someone refusing to pay because they didn't read the contract.

There's no excuse for the ridiculous pricing structure and download caps in place and even less excuse to berate someone because they bring up the subject instead of meekly handing over far too much money for a poor service.

Cabaal

pickarooney wrote: »

The OP has already stated several times that he accepts full responsibility and has paid the bill yet people still see fit to attack him and not address the point of vodafone's tight-fisted practice.

Yes he finally did get over it and accept responsibility
However the whole issue he experienced was based on his incorrect assumption and not anything Vodafone actually did wrong.

Paulw

pickarooney wrote: »

The OP has already stated several times that he accepts full responsibility and has paid the bill yet people still see fit to attack him and not address the point of vodafone's tight-fisted practice.

Yeah, the OP was blaming the clear T&Cs of Vodafone, and using his own creative writing at the start of the thread, to blame anyone else but himself.

Vodafone are at fault because the OP went over his limit ... oh right, now I see. :rolleyes:

pickarooney

Cabaal wrote: »

Yes he finally did get over it and accept responsibility
However the whole issue he experienced was based on his incorrect assumption and not anything Vodafone actually did wrong.

And hopefully, as was clearly the OP's intention, other Vodafone users will now realise that there is no warning in place and they will get fined for going over the limit and therefore either keep an eye on their usage or change companies.

I don't understand why there is a need to shout at the OP and call him names for bringing this up.

Forest Master

pickarooney wrote: »

The OP has already stated several times that he accepts full responsibility and has paid the bill yet people still see fit to attack him and not address the point of vodafone's tight-fisted practice.

No - he EVENTUALLY accepted responsibility. Why are you having a go at the people replying, when it wasn't us who started the topic? The OP asked for feedback on his contract situation with Vodafone. Plus, the topic title was initially called "Vodafone Rip-off", which was factually incorrect.

not address the point of vodafone's tight-fisted practice.

But how is that even relevant to this thread? Whether or not they offer crappy speeds or low caps should be a Broadband discussion - it has nothing to do with consumer issues. The consumer issue is whether or not the OP was deceived or ripped off: he wasn't.

For some odd reason you can't grasp that this thread isn't actually about discussing the value of Vodafone's broadband packages & deals; because that's the 2nd time you've tried to steer discussion that way, when it's off topic & irrelevant to the OP's issue. This topic is about fulfilling contractual obligations.

pickarooney wrote: »

I don't understand why there is a need to shout at the OP and call him names for bringing this up.

Is sensationalising part of your Creative Writing forum? Or maybe a bit of fantasy? ...because nobody shouted or called him any names.

pickarooney

Forest Master wrote: »

This topic is about fulfilling contractual obligations.

Much as you may like that to be true, it isn't. At no stage did the OP express any intention not to pay or even to try reasoning with the company. His sole gripe was with the fact that no warning was sent out for a first breach, which is completely understandable. It's poor customer service and the extortionate rates charged are clearly designed to milk customers who don't pay close attention every month.

nobody shouted or called him any names.

I would call this pretty damn rude but if you consider it a reasonable way to speak to people I'm not going to argue with you.

Or.....OR, you could maybe read what you sign? Or failing that, ask about any specific terms which may concern you? It's not a "trick", FFS.

What's wrong with people? Nothing is ever their fault. Why do people expect to be babysat to through life?

he/she needs to be a fooking adult & take responsibility for signing it instead of saying "I signed it, but now I want out because it's really unfair, waaaah".

Buddinplant

quinnd6 wrote: »

I unfortunately assumed Vodafone were supposed to send out an email to customers if it was their first time going over their download limit.
I got the phone bill today and have been charged over 17 euros extra for going over the download limit and it was my first time ever going over the download limit and they never gave my any warning via email or phone about it.
QUOTE]

when i first got the vodafone internet, there was no warning. and the bill was 50 euro over the limit. obviously i rang them up and through freaking out at the bill ( i mean some seriously high pitched freaking out and lots of obvious crying/sniffing moments )and questioning the procedure of no notice for going over the limit, i had the lovely lad at the end of the phone to basically get my connection switched off if it went over the alloted 20 euro for what ever amount per month.

this worked brillantly but had to ring customer service each time to get it reinstated at the beginning of the next month.

now i have the unlimited option so no worries anymore

Cabaal

pickarooney wrote: »

And hopefully, as was clearly the OP's intention, other Vodafone users will now realise that there is no warning in place and they will get fined for going over the limit and therefore either keep an eye on their usage or change companies.

Its not a fine, its a charge for usage.
If you have a unlimited call plan most if not all providers give calls for free upto 59min and 59sec after that if you remain on the call you get charged.

Shock horror there is no "warning" of this upcoming charge but uyet the providers give information in T&C's and websites suggesting you watch your usage and hang up and call again at the 59min and 59sec mark to avoid a charge.

I'm with Meteor on a 60min per month plan for a flat fee, Meteor give me the information I need to know when these min are used up on their website but yet if I don't check this available information and I go over the 60min usage I will get charged and I receive no warning (all pretty standard stuff).

Your use of the word "fined" is massively inaccurate and frankly its clear you're getting abit carried away with your creative writing, it is a charge for usage and is no different to the likes of telephone calls being charged for like in my examples above.

Its clear you have a chip on your shoulder about Vodafone tbh

The OP's claims were inaccurate, he finally got over it and accepted his assumptions and his misleading thread title was also removed.

Forest Master

pickarooney wrote: »

I would call this pretty damn rude but if you consider it a reasonable way to speak to people I'm not going to argue with you.

I don't get it - you said "people are shouting at the OP and calling him names" - then you give no examples of this happening, despite quoting me 3 times.

pickarooney

Cabaal wrote: »

Its not a fine, its a charge for usage.

A charge that's in no way proportional to the cost nor the charge for the equivalent badwidth usage within the cap is essentially a fine just as when you pay for 30 minutes parking and stay 45 minutes you get a large charge.

Its clear you have a chip on your shoulder about Vodafone tbh

I've never had any dealings with Vodafone and have no prior opinion of them. I do use the broadband service of their French subsidiary and find it excellent and reasonably priced. Obviously, it's not capped.

The OP's claims were inaccurate, he finally got over it and accepted his assumptions and his misleading thread title was also removed.

Which claims? That vodafone doesn't care about its customers?

you're getting abit carried away with your creative writing

Congratulations. You're the third person in a row to make some inane reference to the name of a forum I mod for no apparent reason.

Cabaal

pickarooney wrote: »

A charge that's in no way proportional to the cost nor the charge for the equivalent badwidth usage within the cap is essentially a fine just as when you pay for 30 minutes parking and stay 45 minutes you get a large charge.

Somewhat of a conflicting answer,
You say its a fine yet you say if you stay in a car park longer you get a large charge.

Surely by your logic is actually a large fine?
So we agree its a charge for usage then?, good stuff :D

It doesn't matter if you personally don't agree with the pricing structure or not, if a customer agrees to the package then they agree to the pricing structure including any charges

As for your claim the charges are in no way proportional to the actual costs, you know just how much SMS messages and telephone calls actually cost to send and route don't you? Next to nothing in the scale of things yet these are most certainly usage charges if you use such services

I've never had any dealings with Vodafone and have no prior opinion of them. I do use the broadband service of their French subsidiary and find it excellent and reasonably priced. Obviously, it's not capped.

Yet your saying they provide an awful service based on the OP's incorrect assumptions, very strange indeed.

As for Vodafone in France I assume you mean SFR, I think you'll find they very much have a minority stake in France in this company as they sold any big shares back in April and affectively did a runner and exited the country.

Congratulations. You're the third person in a row to make some inane reference to the name of a forum I mod for no apparent reason.

To be honest its not without any basis, your calling charges fines in fairness. Thats pretty creative

Sure its ok I'm going to go to the local shop and get fined for a cup of coffee at lunch :pac:

Anyway I've had enough of this and in fairness the OP's issue is sorted as he accepted the situation in the end so arguing with yourself over your personal view on the company is just off-topic now imho.

pickarooney

Cabaal wrote: »

Somewhat of a conflicting answer,
You say its a fine yet you say if you stay in a car park longer you get a large charge.

Surely by your logic is actually a large fine?
So we agree its a charge for usage then?, good stuff :D

Yeah, that was kind of the point. Perhaps it was too subtle.

As for your claim the charges are in no way proportional to the actual costs, you know just how much SMS messages and telephone calls actually cost to send and route don't you? Next to nothing in the scale of things yet these are most certainly usage charges if you use such services

This thread is not about mobile phones. This thread is about broadband charges and you said earlier

Bandwidth costs money and at the end of the day you get what you pay for, if you want more usage then be prepared to pay.

as an argument for download caps. You can't argue both sides of the toss!

Yet your saying they provide an awful service based on the OP's incorrect assumptions, very strange indeed.

I said the practice as outlined in the OP was poor customer service.

As for Vodafone in France I assume you mean SFR, I think you'll find they very much have a minority stake in France in this company as they sold any big shares back in April and affectively did a runner and exited the country.

Whatever, so I've had 0 dealings with Vodafone then. No chip.

ejmaztec

pickarooney wrote: »

Whatever, so I've had 0 dealings with Vodafone then. No chip.

I've been dealing with Vodafone At Home for 18 months and I've a multitude of chips.:(

Forest Master

pickarooney wrote: »

You're the third person in a row to make some inane reference to the name of a forum I mod for no apparent reason.

You mod the forum for no apparent reason?
Or did you just not make your sentence structure clear, and you actually meant people are bringing it up for no apparent reason?

Well, if it's the latter, it's probably because of the irony. You mod the creative writing forum, meaning you're a fan of writing (also further evidenced by your sig) - yet you can't grasp the simple concept of this written thread. The fact that Vodafone don't e-mail people when their cap is reached is irrelevant - the only relevant factor is whether or this was disclosed in the contract that the OP signed beforehand; which it was. Hence Vodafone did nothing wrong. Debating this Vodafone policy is moot - that's for the Broadband forum. And if you don't like said policy, you don't sign a contract agreeing to it - simple.
You also concocted a story about the OP being called names & yelled at, which we can file under fiction.

krudler

pickarooney wrote: »

Any company that imposes a download limit on home broadband should be considered a rip-off, particularly if they don't even send a warning mail. It's not the mid-90s, for crying out loud, consumers shouldn't have to accept bull**** service like this. It's quite staggering the number of people who side with the company here.

its not bullsh1t service, its simple manpower, do you honestly think a company has someone sitting there monitoring a few hundred thousand broadband users usage every day? its impossible.

sendit

pickarooney wrote: »

Any company that imposes a download limit on home broadband should be considered a rip-off, particularly if they don't even send a warning mail. It's not the mid-90s, for crying out loud, consumers shouldn't have to accept bull**** service like this. It's quite staggering the number of people who side with the company here.

If you ask me company's shouldn't have to put up with some of the bull**** they do with some consumers, people trying to find a way out of paying there bills ''I didn't know i went over the limt'' ''It's the first time it happened'' ''Iv been with them all my life'' are some of the things you often hear from people who do something thats there own falt. If you dont know what your signing up for and something happenes its your own tough s*** not the companys

dvpower

krudler wrote: »

its not bullsh1t service, its simple manpower, do you honestly think a company has someone sitting there monitoring a few hundred thousand broadband users usage every day? its impossible.

I'd say a piece of software to monitor usage and send out an automated email or text when someone is approaching their limit would be fairly simple to develop.

That said, since they don't have this in place, its up to individual users to monitor their own usage (a service they do provide on their website).

ejmaztec

dvpower wrote: »

I'd say a piece of software to monitor usage and send out an automated email or text when someone is approaching their limit would be fairly simple to develop.

That said, since they don't have this in place, its up to individual users to monitor their own usage (a service they do provide on their website).

During my 18 months with Vodafone At Home, the only problem that I've never had was not knowing my broadband usage.

As much as I despise them, I don't think they're to blame on this one.

Forest Master

ejmaztec wrote: »

During my 18 months with Vodafone At Home, the only problem that I've never had was not knowing my broadband usage.

If you never had the problem, how was it a problem?

Patrick2010

I assume he means he had lots of problems with Vodafone but not knowing his usage wasn't one of them.

ejmaztec

Patrick2010 wrote: »

I assume he means he had lots of problems with Vodafone but not knowing his usage wasn't one of them.

Exactly.:D