Thanks for the totally confusing data strategy, Vodafone UK

By on January 18, 2011 in News

So yesterday on the London Underground, I saw a Vodafone UK ad telling me I’d be able to get mobile data “abroad” from £2 per day. I joked that Vodafone was changing the definition of the word because it didn’t include places like America.

Turns out for me, it doesn’t include Paris either. What the hell is going on with Vodafone?

The ad tells me it’s £2 quid a day. The text message tells me I’m about to start blowing fivers for every 5 megabytes of data I use.

Could some explain to me the Vodafone UK data charging policy in France — for my account (Contract? Business? Who knows) — using small words and pretty pictures?

Posted via email from MIR Live

  • http://whatleydude.com James Whatley

    Good luck with that.

  • http://twitter.com/Kinny KRaSiVy 

    I believe there is cause for concern here.

    The advertisement in the Tube clearly reads: “Feel free to use your smartphone abroad. With Vodafone, take mobile internet abroad for just £2 per day.”

    My understanding of this is: “If I’m with Vodafone, I can use Mobile Internet data (on my smartphone) whilst away from the UK — in any country where there’s a network — for just an additional two quid a day without having to worry about anything”.

    It doesn’t state any limitations, places where I’m limited to using it, or any further costs. Nor are there any asterisks or comments stating “conditions apply”, etc.

    But when you visit the web page listed below, it gives you a whole different story.

    The “for just £2 a day” is actually the charge for the ‘Vodafone Data Traveller’ feature, which provides the subscribing user with either a 5MB/day or 25MB/day allowance depending on the country in which you’re travelling to (e.g. in the case for Paris, it’s 25MB/day when you pay the two-quid-per-day access).

    I find it very disturbing how such an ad can physically exist, but the message being conveyed is far from the truth. How can Vodafone make such claims and subsequently charge its customers the rates being listed on its web site?

    This confusion is going to upset a lot of customers, which will be the least of their (Vodafone’s) problems.

  • http://www.mobileindustryreview.com Ewan

    Big ask?

  • http://www.mobileindustryreview.com Ewan

    I will need to look closely at the advert — there is probably some
    tiny writing at the bottom with the disclosure!

  • Barry-Jon

    And when you read more closely again, you will notice that if you are on a contract you have to opt-in to receive those prices…

    “To get Vodafone Data Traveller call us on 40062 from your Vodafone mobile phone, or if you’re abroad you can call us on +44 (0) 3333 040 012 from any phone.”

    http://www.vodafone.co.uk/personal/price-plans/managing-my-costs/travelling-abroad/using-the-internet-abroad/index.htm

  • http://www.mobileindustryreview.com Ewan

    Exactly!

  • http://www.facebook.com/djbassic Bass-Ic Marc

    3MBs at £1 per MB = £1 per MB
    5MBs at £5 for 5MBs = £1 per MB

    Why can’t they just say they are charging you £1 per MB…

  • http://www.facebook.com/djbassic Bass-Ic Marc

    3MBs at £1 per MB = £1 per MB
    5MBs at £5 for 5MBs = £1 per MB

    Why can’t they just say they are charging you £1 per MB…

  • http://www.mobileindustryreview.com Ewan

    Agreed. Totally annoying.

  • Pingback: “Relax when you’re on holiday with 3″ — not flipping likely! | Mobile Industry Review

  • Abrakadabra

    It’s not the same.  Simply – they charge in 5MB increments. For example, if you use 7MB, you still pay 10 GBP.

Powered by WordPress. Designed by Woo Themes

Real Time Web Analytics