NP
Norman P

1 reviews | Active since Mar 2009

08 Nov 2017, 15:08

Vodacom *****s my data

Vodacom offers with their data contracts a “night owl” option which is normally the smne size as the normal data contract but is only utilized between midnight and 5 am. The night owl portion is much cheaper and does not carry unused data over to the next month like the normal data. For this reason I normally schedule updates or downloads of big files to run after midnight. Once the night owl portion is used up in a month, I would then use the normal data is to ensure that the maximum of unused data that I pay for can be carried over. I have been a Vodacom customer for years and have multiple lines on my account. Last month I took out a new Vodacom 30GB+30GB Night Owl data contract. The very first night I downloaded about 6GB of data after midnight, I noticed that the data was deducted from my normal data instead of night owl data when I checked the balance the next morning. I reported this to 082111. The first person I spoke to confirmed that she can see that the normal data balance was about 17GB just before midnight down to 11GB the next morning. The balance of the night owl data did not change. A service request was logged. I received notification that the service request was resolved. Apparently the BILLING was found to be correct. As a “goodwill gesture” 20 GB was added to my account. Since my complaint was not about my billing and the night owls usage issue was still the same. I contacted 082111 again this time demanding to speak to a manager. I eventually manage to speak to someone explaining the whole situation again. Vodacom then changed their story. The 20GB was not a “goodwill gesture”, they now claimed to be for me to use while they try to find a solution for the night owl use. This was of course a blatant lie because another service request was opened then investigate. This was 2 weeks ago. No resolution yet. I have since made numerous phone calls to 082111 and even used Twitter to voice my dissatisfaction. The feedback/explanations that got was questions like whether I am sure I am trying to download after midnight? This even after I explained to them that I have been using the night owl functionality for YEARS. Or the guy from social media that tried to convince me that if I start a download at 1 minute to midnight and end at 2am, it will count as normal data because the “session is kept active”. He could however not explain why the same happened when I started a download at 00:15 or why it was never an issue before. I started to request that Vodacom get a knowledgeable person that “knows his or her stuff” to rather call me back. However, it seems Vodacom cannot find such a person because no such person had called me yet. What also happened was that in the normal data that was carried over from last month was lost, this is probably as punishment because I dared to complain. Last night I spoke to another manager at 082111 and he actually admitted that he can see on the service request that the person working on it made a note that they can see the night owl is not being used, but cannot explain why. This manager made a commitment that I will be contacted today and that he personally will follow up at 13:00. I was also to be included in e-mails. I had 2 missed calls while I was in meetings this morning before 09:00 but nothing since, also nothing in my e-mail. Vodacom is therefore *****ing my data because it uses my normal data while it should be using my night owl data. They also wiped all the carry-over data form last month with no or little feedback or explanation.

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Replies (3)
Vodacom
Vodacom's reply08 Nov 2017, 16:33
Official

Dear Customer,

Thank you for making us aware of your complaint.

Kindly be advised that a consultant will make contact with you in due course to assist with your query.

***Please note*** Beware of phishing ****s.

Vodacom will not contact you via Whatsapp to request your personal details

Regards,

Vodacom Consumer Website Team

Best regards,

NP
Norman P's update10 Nov 2017, 09:12
Reviewer Update
I have reported a problem with my night owl more than 2 weeks ago. Vodacom does not seem to be capable to resolve the problem. I finally posted it on social media and Hellopeter.com to get reaction. Yesterday I was contacted by Xolelani asked me to test last night because the IT deparment believe they have fixed the problem. Well I tested and it is still not working. Thus my mail earlier. Was it really necessary for Arlene to phone me this morning and ask whether I am sure that I tested? Are you serious? Sending me the mail that a "senior consultant" will contact me does not mean anything. I have received many such commitments in the past 2 weeks and I am suspecting that there are no such thing as a "senior consultant" at Vodacom. It is make-up term to use in a standardised messages to people like me while you search for someone less qualified to deal with the query in the hope that I will give-up on the problem and stop bothering you.
Vodacom
Vodacom's reply20 Nov 2017, 14:05
Official

Dear Norman

Kindly be advised our record reflects with reference to service request number *** that you were contacted and feedback provided.

Regards,

RJ

Best regards,