My experience could be a warning to all those people who plan to take a post paid Vodafone connection. Responding to a telesales call which offered 1000 minutes free call to any local mobile calls, I took a vodafone connection. When the Vodafone representative came to me to collect all documents, I confirmed two things:
I will really get 1000 minutes of local calls to any mobile in Karnataka per month.
Though they insisted on a photocopy of my credit card, they ensured that my account will not be linked to my credit card. I returned the "Credit card debit authorization from" unsigned.
I got a call from the same telesales agent a week later to follow up on the connection. Then she advises me that the 1000 minutes free calls is only to other Vodafone numbers. I asked her why she told me the other way in the previous week. She had no answer to that.
I told her that I haven’t yet started using the connection and wanted to disconnect it immediately. She agreed to that.
A couple of days later I got a call from Vodafone call centre to enquire how I am "enjoying’ the vodafone service. I told her I took teh connection based on a lie and hence wanted to disconnect. She agreed and on her advice I wrote the necessary letters etc.
Next month I got a bill for some 230 rs and they had promptly deducted the money from my credit card. I called Vodafone and told them that I did not sign the authorisation form.I also send them an email and letter advising them of the same.
Funnily after that I got a call from the same sales agent asking whether I had any problems with the connection. I told yes, I have a big problem because they forged my signature. She disconnected the phone and I haven’t heard from them yet. I tried their number but that comes as invalid!!
Well...I called my ABN AMRO credit cards and disputed the amount. After a couple of months corresponding with them, they sent me a letter saying that I had actually signed the authorization form. they had attached the form also.
The writing and signature on the form was very evidently different from mine. The person who verified my signature is definitely a moron!! Well it has been around 6 months and even now there is no resolution to my problem.
Luckily as soon as I recieved the vodafone bill, I put a halt on all transactions on my credit card and paid the bill ( From experience, I know that it is a waste of time arguing or fighting with credit card companies!!).
With a loss of around 230 rs I am a wiser person. I will never give a copy of my credit card to anybody. I will never do any business with Vodafone or ABN AMRO. I will not commit to any scheme, especially offered through telemarketing with out getting the details in writing.