I talked to Lee of the Vodafone Forum Intervention Team (“FIT”). He’s a smart chap – kind, friendly, professional. I went through my issue: That my data usage has been substantially lower than I’d like, that I’ve been intentionally limiting myself.
Lee made the point that, all things being equal, if my usage in April stays the same (roughly 275mb) then I’ll be perfectly fine for May since I now come under the 500mb allowance.
The trouble is, I think I’ve already ramped up my usage since I knew I had a larger allowance.
I can’t go another month of 2.35 + VAT per meg for over usage.
Data on the handset is a critical business requirement for me and it’s surprising that Vodafone, together with their 13 billion of profits haven’t recognised that there is a market for people like me who will pay more for a larger inclusive bundle.
I think the Vodafone strategy is highly focused on the fact that if you want more than 500mb, you’ll pay for it. Why else would they NOT have any other data bundles?
And here I am: A stupid customer, paying 2.35 +VAT per meg for 80 odd meg in April. Goodness knows what the bill will be next month, even allowing for the 500mb increase. Lee suggested I check my usage regularly via the online billing control panel. It’s a helpful comment, however I’m afraid it’s not what I want. I don’t want to have to keep checking. When I do, by the way, the unbilled calls section continually times out:
I discussed with Lee the possibility of using my Vodafone USB dongle’s sim card in a mobile handset for data only (and having another handset for phone calls). I wanted to make sure that was an approved thing to do. It is. He was careful to point out that all calls I make from that data-only SIM will be charged at the full rate. Good point, that. (Incidentally, at 35p/minute, I’d have been able to make almost 630 minutes worth of calls for the 220 pound data charges I had last month.)
I can’t see why I have to do this though.
Why do I have to use TWO phones because Vodafone’s weak, incapable, inpaired and infirm billing system can’t handle it?
Or worse, because some numpty in Vodafone, some head-of-price-plans, has decreed that it’s 500mb on a handset or nothing, goodbye?
It’s simply not good enough. Not from the world’s largest mobile company.
Two choices.
Put up, shut up.
Do something about it.
Well, I’ve got 250,000 of the world’s most influential mobile readers glued to the site. Let’s see what we can do. Your ideas, please?
The obvious thing to do is change provider — you are being mugged.
Shame voice doesn't work for you on T-Mob, cause their package is comeptitive.
3's good as well in my experience.
Go back to T-mobile……..
Isn't the new 500meg limit “fair usage”. IE, you don't get billed over 500 meg unless you are taking the piss?
You hit on the exact point John…
In fact it even says it on the T&Cs, so you should be fine
“The Pack gives you unlimited data access in the UK only, subject to a fair use limit of 500mb per month. If we think your use is excessive or that you are abusing the service we may ask you to moderate your usage and/or we reserve the right to charge you for the excessive element of your usage at the standard out of bundle rate for your price plan. “
The previous 120meg plan wasn't fair usage, and wasn't ever advertised as “unlimited” (although it was mis-reported as unlimited on a few sites). This one is unlimited. Just don't go using it for bitTorrent or stuff.
As you have just posted a demo of H3G data and portal – does this mean that you are now a 3UK customer?
I've always been a 3UK customer, se12jr — I posted that vid in response to
a reader enquiry about how the 3UK portal looked. I'm working on a Vodafone
update (still a customer of them, too)
Ewan – you are truly a 'man of many phones'! But one could ask the question “If you have a H3G phone with access to unlimited HSDPA based data for incredibly low prices, why would you want to sign up for a hugely expensive Voda contract for data?” I would guess that local coverage may be one deciding issue?
Voice, voice and thrice voice.
I simply CANNOT stand it when people can't hear me when I'm calling them.
Hello everyone!
Thanks for the update on the Blog 🙂 Just a couple of quick updates.
The
Thank you for the clarity, Phobos! 😀
No problem at all. :>)
I know that Data is a big point to many customers and it's only something that will increase in
importance in the coming months. As a Vodafone advisor and a personal user and advocate of data, I'm looking forward to the advances that are soon to come.
Clarity is something we all strive for I think.
PhobosDeimos
Forum Intervention Team
I'd like your view, if you can give it publicly, on Orange's shambolic
consumer data strategy… (doing a post on this shortly)
I am out of the business now until the 11th ofJune. I appreciate that with Vodafone’s mobile working solutions and global network you can contact me just about anytime, anywhere. However, in my absence if you need a swift response you may wish to contact 191 or 08700700191.
Thanks.
Mike Grundy
(Stoke Technical Support Team)
Re: Orange… it's organizational failure. The operator became very beaurocractic (sp?). Lots of people who work there, in all divisions, at all levels, realize there's a problem with data tariffs.
But they just got a new chief exec, so things should change pretty soon.
Here's hoping…
Re: Orange… it's organizational failure. The operator became very beaurocractic (sp?). Lots of people who work there, in all divisions, at all levels, realize there's a problem with data tariffs.
But they just got a new chief exec, so things should change pretty soon.
Here's hoping…
Hello everyone!
Thanks for the update on the Blog 🙂 Just a couple of quick updates.
The £2.35 charge per out of bundle MB was for our old data plans and don't apply to the new 500MB bundles. Users that breach the 500MB fair usage policy will be closley monitored and contacted regarding their usage. If further breaches of this limit occur then additional contact would be made with the user and appropriate action taken.
The other point was the use of a Data SIM for voice calls. This isn't possible as no voice lines are enabled for these data price plans. So you could text and use the SIM for data but no voice calls could be made or received.
Thanks.
PhobosDeimos
Forum Intervention Team
Thank you for the clarity, Phobos! 😀
No problem at all. :>)
I know that Data is a big point to many customers and it's only something that will increase in
importance in the coming months. As a Vodafone advisor and a personal user and advocate of data, I'm looking forward to the advances that are soon to come.
Clarity is something we all strive for I think.
PhobosDeimos
Forum Intervention Team
I'd like your view, if you can give it publicly, on Orange's shambolic
consumer data strategy… (doing a post on this shortly)
Re: Orange… it's organizational failure. The operator became very beaurocractic (sp?). Lots of people who work there, in all divisions, at all levels, realize there's a problem with data tariffs.
But they just got a new chief exec, so things should change pretty soon.
Here's hoping…