Vodafone improvises response in battle with Iphone
Ferrety fanboy confesses
WE ARE GETTING reports that Vodafone's customer service line for those wanting to leave the network is down.
The reason? Well an automatic message kind enough to speak to the INQ advised us that the department was experiencing a fault, and to try again later. The same message was kind enough to inform us of the same thing a few hours later. Readers have let us know that the problem seems to have been going on all weekend.
It seems that Voda might just be trying to avoid a deluge of defections across to O2 on the weekend of the Iphone's release by, er, simply putting its fingers in its ears, shouting 'lalalala' and pretending not to hear the sound of the 'kerching' of tills over at Telefonica.
We couldn't get hold of anyone at Vodafone PR to speak to, but a lovely lass in customer services was able to route us a different way through the automated-phone-menu-hell and put us straight through to a cancellation rep - who, when we mentioned we wanted to cancel our Voda contract to get an Iphone, asked us if there was a particular reason we wanted that phone, clearly with a script queued up to suggest some alternative handsets.
However, he didn't appear to have a response for "No particular reason, I'm just an Apple fanboy," which left the poor fella stuttering for words. It seems that Voda must have overlooked the number one reason for switching. Bad luck. µ
Comments
iPhone....
Well, considering there are cheaper, more fully featured mobiles on the market (ones that you can even change the battery & sim card on shock, horror!), including flash, java, 3G support etc I'm surprised anyone would switch network for that brick.Sure, it looks nice, but that's about it.....
N95 FTW
(actually, even my lowly N70 is more fully featured than the iBone)
iPhone
You called the helpline......and you got through to the right people? Scandalous what a shocking service! Not quite as shocking as charging £630 minimum in line rental plus £269 for the device. Is it really worth £799 I don't think so.Vodafone
I called last week to get my PAC code from voda and was asked why. I told them that I was thinking about getting an iPhone at which point I was subjected to 5 minutes of being told things I already knew about why the iPhone is 'terrible'. My explanation for being more concerned about how something works and the user experience rather than sheer box ticking of features left the women somewhat flummoxed.I thought that was that, but then proceeded to be called not once or even twice but three times by vodafone trying to offer me various offers and convince me not to get an iPhone.
I wonder if that's why you couldn't get through - all the reps are too busy calling people to persuade them NOT to leave.
iPhone
The deal is shocking £35 for 200min/textx18 =£630+269 = £899!!
For a decent 600 mins = £45 X 18 = £810 + 269 = £1079, A THOUSAND POUNDS FOR A PHONE!!1 NOT WORTH IT
Vodafone
I struggled to get my PAC from Vodafone - Called them 3 weeks before the iPhone launch and got the usual "why not have another phone instead" speach. Eventually they agreed to send the PAC within 5-10 working days. That time passed and still no PAC.Called again and was told a new request had been made and pushed up the priority list so I should receive it in 2 days time. Two days passed and still no PAC.
Called once again and finally they relented and just gave it to me over the phone.
If that wasn't bad enough, I've had 10 calls from various sales people at Vodafone in the last 3 weeks all trying to sell me a new phone. Regardless of me telling them to stop, they kept calling. I was with Vodafone for 6 years and with my recent experience and this farce, I'm glad I've left.
Vodafone employee
Hi,I work for vodafone UK, not in anyway related to sales or customer service, but i think you must have talked to some employees that arent as aware of the offering from Vodafone namely, that you could get a Nokia N95 8GB for free with a contract giving you 150 more minutes than the £45 iPhone contract, and 1000 texts for the same £45 a month. And with the saved £279.... you can go and buy a itouch.... Not quite the iphone, but you can still play your itunes tracks on it and you can get access to Vodafones 3G network rather than the iphones 2G.. along with GPS plus additional memory if you'd so require..
im a MASSIVE apple fan, but the iPhone, for what it is, seems too expensive for me - whilst i sit here typing on my Macbook Pro.
no problems here
no problem getting my PAC from Vodafone last weekendbut I won't be using it to get an i phone. much better on the market