I have been a user of Vodafone Postpaid for the past 2 years. Recently, I have had a very bad experience with them.
I have had issues with vodafone about activating some crap star pack for 150 per month which I have informed the customtakeouter care and got the refund but it took nearly 40 to 50 customtakeouter Care calls (98860968860) - Bangalore (for which I was charged at 0.50ps / 3min) and 7 to 8 Visits to the Vodafone Koramangala Store to deactivate the service over a span of three months. They deactivated the service only after I threatened them to disconnect my number. (not really fair)
After that things were going pretty smooth. But I was getting charged for Roaming Call Forwarding nearly 30 bucks per month. The weird thing is for some of the months I had never traveled away from bangalore but still I have got these charges. I informed them but all in vain. So I thought I could live with that. (50 bucks per month to Vodafone Charity ).
This number was very crucial to me as I had all the business contacts, banking , credit card , almost everything on this. From the first time I have got the issue of star pack I was giving a thought about shifting to vodafone prepaid as whatever I get charged will immediately reflect. I went to Koramangala customtakeouter care Office some 8 times as I had mentioned before . Every-time I asked them to change to Prepaid they would give a reason stating that either "This is the middle of the month and you will have to pay the entire unbilled amount to change to prepaid" which is definitely valid , But when I go at the end of the month they would give some stupid reason like this is a corporate plan and cannot be changed to prepaid. When I called the customtakeouter care (9886098860) and asked for the details they would direct me to go to a vodafone store and submit my documents after clearing my accounts (Bills and unbilled amount) . I even asked the customtakeouter care guy on 9886098860 about the corporate plan and the feasibility of shifting to prepaid. This fella says it does not matter if its a corporate plan or whatever. Shifting to prepaid is through this way and I can get it changed to prepaid.
So one month passed and I went to vodafone store in koramangala as if I go in the middle of the month I had to pay the entire unbilled amount.
This time the customtakeouter care guy told me the same reason that my number cannot be changed to Prepaid. I got really pissed and decided to Disconnect my number right away no matter about my business contacts, banking etc. This fella did not even care and disconnected my number after I paid the bill. I asked him when the disconnection will happen and this fella informed me within 48 hours.
So I thought of using this time in migrating my mobile number in all my Bank Accounts and Credit cards.
After two days I got a call from Vodafone Care asking me the reason for my disconnection. They told me that I am a Premium customtakeouter and apologized for all that and asked me to give them 4 hours in which the issue will be resolved. I had my fingers crossed and decided I will wait just four hours and after that I would never consider this number as by that time almost all my banking and credit cards associated mobile number was changed. But then I though at least if I change to prepaid all my business contacts will be saved and fixing the banking issue will take two or three ore days.
The guy called me after two hours and I was happy, He asked me to go to the Vodafone store and get my number changed to prepaid. I was a bit reluctant and told him see I have already changed my number and sort of things and again this will be middle of month and I will have to pay unwanted unbilled usage.. But he told me that rentals will not be charged and only the bill amount has to be paid. I told him as I will be busy for the next week I could come only the following week and He promised me that rentals wont be charged for these days,
Then came the day I finally went to Vodafone store. I am not sure if this is coincidence or something. The same customtakeouter care Executive who disconnected my number was there. I decided this is Give back time. :-) . I went to him and told him that I want to migrate to prepaid and also told him everything that happened. This fella got reminded. Then, just to have his ego flattered. He started to tell me that it is not possible and the number which is disconnected is active. He called up his manager and told him the case while telling he told his manager that "As per customtakeouter’s Request the number has been activated" . I got really mad and asked him the phone to talk to his manager. He gave it I told him everything and also mentioned that it was not as per my request and that Vodafone customtakeouter care guy begged me to stay in Vodafone. Which was literally what has happened. Then I apologized to the manager and told him I am really pissed and this is whats happening. Every-time I come to change something or the other happens.
The manager talked in a very good manner and told me that this request will be processed as promised and I can change to prepaid after that this fella charged me Rs.827 for changing to prepaid where my unbilled amount was only 127.22 which I showed him from my mobile. He had a lot of Ego I presume. Then I casually told him . I am not going to continue with vodafone asked him for escalation email id and went out.
I sent a mail to vodafone.kar@vodafone.com but no use I got an acknowledgement mail which was the final mail I got from them. After that I am receiving Bills for every month and I have been replying ever since to these bill mails about the issue. Then I decided to act like them. Last month when I got the Bill I replied like I disconnected my number long ago and receiving bills after that. Luckily I have the acknowledgement receipt dated the disconnection date. So now I am simple gonna pretend that I have disconnected the number and not gonna pay the unbilled amount of 127. I suppose thats not a big loss in Financial terms for Vodafone but they have lost a customtakeouter. After that I made my whole family migrate to a different operator from vodafone now they have lost a group of customtakeouters. Whenever someone asks me about vodafone I tell them "Service is not Bad" but "customtakeouter Service is Really Really Frustrating."
This is a long Review, But just wanted to share what exactly happened in my case.
Trust me, Whichever operator you go for they are at the base "Business-Oriented" Nobody really cares about you. They just need your money and will go to whatever extent they want for it. As long as you pay the bill and stuff they are fine with it. When you go for a new operator with a good plan you’ll be happy till you have an issue. But when you go to them for issues thats when you will really know their true face.
-- Ex- Vodafone customtakeouter